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1 week ago | 
thesalemnewsonline.com | Andrew Sheeley
Descendants gathered in Salem on April 26 for the unveiling of a monument honoring the lives of some of the Ozarks’ earliest pioneers. Pulling back the canvas concealing the granite edifice at the John and Anna Stagner Cemetery were Randall Stagner and his brother Ronald Stagner. Both are part of a lineage connecting directly to the namesakes of the graveyard. “The county, the city and all the local officials here could not have been better about helping us in this process,” Randall Stagner said.
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1 week ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
Descendants gathered in Salem on April 26 for the unveiling of a monument honoring the lives of some of the Ozarks’ earliest pioneers. Pulling back the canvas concealing the granite edifice at the John and Anna Stagner Cemetery were Randall Stagner and his brother Ronald Stagner. Both are part of a lineage connecting directly to the namesakes of the graveyard. “The county, the city and all the local officials here could not have been better about helping us in this process,” Randall Stagner said.
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3 weeks ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
Prolonged rainfall this weekend soaked the annual opening of The Gardens at the St. James Winery and Public House Brewery, but the adverse weather didn’t cancel the Show-Me Artists debut in Phelps County. Instead of taking place outside, the show made its home in the interior event space made possible by the brewery’s equipment relocating to the Public House’s Rolla taproom.
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1 month ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
Arts Rolla’s Environmental Art Show will be at The Centre this month until April 29. This year more than 70 pieces are included from artists across the region. Each one is made from either recycled materials or communicates an environmental message. Many of the artists submitting pieces were on hand April 4 during the event’s First Friday opening reception. “There’s a high amount of creativity,” said Loretta Peterman, Arts Rolla’s president.
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1 month ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
The debris left by the March 14 tornado is clearing across Rolla, and power is returning to most of the city. Success for the ongoing recovery is now transitioning from needing volunteer labor to requiring resources. The Phelps County Disaster Relief Fund has become a primary focus of that fundraising. In less than three weeks, the fund has collected in excess of $56,000 in donations.
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1 month ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
Collette Walker, Diane Curtis and Joy Hicks were enjoying a pool party last year when Rolla’s lingering need for an animal shelter came up during the conversation. Instead of lamenting, or placing blame, the trio decided the best thing they could do is bring new energy to the cause. They’re all now co-founders of a new nonprofit, the Loving Paws Project, which next month will hold its first fundraising event to close the gap toward finishing the shelter.
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1 month ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
Students from across Phelps County gathered at Phelps County Bank on March 20 to hear the winners announced for the annual Take-A-Stand art contest. This year marks the 30th anniversary since Phelps County Bank and the Phelps County Child Advocacy Network launched the annual lemonade stand fundraiser, which last year collected $76,493.04, and has raised nearly $1 million over the past three decades.
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1 month ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
Rolla begins recovery efforts in wake of tornadoA tornado outbreak left a path of destruction across Missouri on Friday night, March 14. Rolla was among the communities sustaining significant damage. Over the course of minutes, the tornado landed in darkness and cut through the city from Highway 63 to Interstate 44. Several neighborhoods and commercial areas now face a long road towards recovery.
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2 months ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
A preliminary National Weather Service storm survey determined an EF-2 tornado with peak winds of 120 mph passed through Rolla the evening of March 14. The survey found the tornado landed four miles southeast of Doolittle and tracked northeast through southern and eastern portions of Rolla. It crossed then Interstate 44 before lifting just south of the Little Prairie Conservation Area. The tornado traveled an estimated total length of 8.7 miles. At its peak, it reached a width of 175 yards.
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2 months ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | Andrew Sheeley
Volunteers gathered in Rolla on Sunday in the parking lot at the corner of Highway 63 and Lanning Lane. That intersection was center to the miles-long path of destruction left by Friday night’s tornado. In groups of 20, the volunteers were split up to fan out into the surrounding area and begin the long process of cleaning up the storm's debris. Tonya Leigh was among those wearing work gloves and waiting patiently to begin her volunteer shift.
