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1 week ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Work at school buildings damaged by the March tornado is continuing and progressing, the Rolla Board of Education heard at its meeting May 5. Some students are in classrooms in other buildings, even off-campus buildings, and they’ll continue to the end of this school year in just a few days. But Dr. Monica Fulton, assistant superintendent, said the work is progressing so well that, barring any unforeseen events, students will be back in the correct buildings in August.
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1 week ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Board members, volunteers, supporters, exhibitors and fans always look forward to Phelps County Fair, and this year that event – “the social event of the season” for some of us – will be held May 29-31. Board President Stacy Yoakum told Phelps County Focus it will be just like the August fair with one exception. “There’ll be no market animals and no sale,” he said. Instead, there will be a market livestock show and sale later this year, probably around the traditional time of the fair.
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1 week ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Rolla City Council Monday night moved quickly through an agenda of city business such as street paving, park facility restoration and animal shelter construction. In its second meeting following the April 8 general municipal election, the new council stuck to the basics of city operation without ranging into long discussion about any proposed municipal legislation related to state or federal issues.
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2 weeks ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Look for increases in your Rolla Municipal Utilities bills next fiscal year, as the Board of Public Works and RMU management raise revenues to pay for higher wholesale power costs and finance capital improvements. General Manager Rodney Bourne’s presentation on rates was an update for the board at its April meeting on the part of the work on the fiscal 2026 budget that has already begun.
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2 weeks ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Members of the judicial branch of government served breakfast to a packed Rolla Lions Club Den Tuesday, April 22, and it looks like there might have been a record-setting amount of money raised for CASA of South Central Missouri at this 15th annual Justice Is Served breakfast. “While we don’t have final fundraising totals yet, we are on track for our best year ever,” Amber Stienbarger, executive director of CASA, told Phelps County Focus.
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3 weeks ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Former Missouri Rep. Hannah Kelly has announced she will run for Missouri Senate in 2026. Kelly completed eight years in the Missouri House in 2024, the term limit. Now she is aiming to succeed 16th District Sen. Justin Brown, Rolla, who finishes his eight-year limit this year. “I’m ready to fight for you,” Kelly said in a press release sent to Phelps County Focus. The announcement describes Kelly as a farmer, a realtor and a fifth-generation resident of Wright County.
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3 weeks ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Long-known as one of the nation’s top engineering colleges, Missouri University of Science and Technology is preparing a move into biology. Yes, biology. On April 16, the University of Missouri System Board of Curators came to Rolla for its traditional April meeting and joined local administrators to break ground for the new Bioplex building.
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3 weeks ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
For five Rolla City Council members, their last official act Monday night was to vote to approve the election results that put six new council members into office. “I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank our outgoing council persons,” Mayor Lou Magdits said. Voted out of office were Josh Vroman, Ward 1; Megan Johnson, Ward 2, and Victoria Steen, Ward 6. Matt Fridley, Ward 3, and Dr. Robert Kessinger, Ward 4, did not run for re-election.
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1 month ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
A group of Missouri S&T students have been working with Newburg city government officials and the town’s restoration committee to come up with ideas on restoring civic facilities and generally beautifying the once-thriving railroad town nestled in the hills. “On April 22, Missouri S&T engineering management students will present their project ideas on ways we can improve Newburg. All students will be available to answer your questions about their designs,” city government has announced.
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1 month ago | 
phelpscountyfocus.com | R.D. Hohenfeldt
Eighth Congressional District residents have been invited to a two-hour town hall meeting April 22 in Phelps County. “How are actions of the federal government affecting you, your family, your neighbors, and our country?” organizer Kathy Love stated in an email sent to Phelps County Focus and approximately 15 other newspapers throughout the district with a request for meeting announcements.
