Rolla Daily Digest Wednesday, September 23, 2026
Ty's Take
The Kaleidoscope Discovery Center's new Curiosity Hall opens its doors with a state championship already on the books, which says something about what Rolla's figured out when it comes to getting young people excited about learning. That kind of traffic, that kind of momentum, doesn't happen by accident. Meanwhile, a century after Route 66 was born, an Italian filmmaker shows up to document what the road means to Americans who actually live along it, and you've got to figure some of those voices come from around here. Add in a community theater group taking on Dracula in October, and it's clear this town knows how to keep itself interesting between the engineering competitions and the float trips. Not bad for a Wednesday in Phelps County.
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Phelps County Focus
State championship marks first major event in Kaleidoscope Discovery Center’s new Curiosity Hall.
The Kaleidoscope Discovery Center in Phelps County hosted the 2026 Missouri Open State Championship on September 12-13, bringing together 70 chess players from Missouri, neighboring states, and as far as Washington State. The event marked the inaugural major competition held in the center's newly...
Italian documentary on Route 66 — 12 American voices, released for the centennial
Italian journalist Corrado Parlati released a 70-minute documentary called "Route 66: The Keepers of the Mother Road" on YouTube in September 2026, just before the road's centennial in November. The film features interviews with 12 Americans who keep Route 66 alive, including owners of historic...
OAT brings new, local life to ‘Dracula’ in October
Ozark Actors Theatre in Rolla is staging a fresh adaptation of "Dracula" this October, written by local English teacher and OAT board member Lesley Pitts. The production marks an unusual departure from the theater's typical three-show summer season, with the Cedar Street Playhouse remaining dark in...
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