Phelps County Focus

Established in August 2017, this newspaper was founded with a strong commitment to serving the local community. Publisher Donald Dodd, who leads Salem Publishing Company, Inc., has been part of the newspaper industry since 1980 and has always appreciated the ambition and achievements of Phelps County and its neighboring towns, including Rolla, St. James, Edgar Springs, Doolittle, and Newburg. As a family-run publication, we provide a diverse range of news, features, commentary, and sports coverage. Our tagline perfectly captures our mission: It’s all about you.

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BASEBALL: Bulldogs go 1-3 in games last week

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

After posting a home victory over a former conference rival, the Rolla High baseball squad dropped three games in the Missouri River Festival in Jefferson City Friday and Saturday, April 11-12 – including two in one-run, heartbreaking fashion. The Bulldogs beat West Plains 7-2 Tuesday, April 8 at FCNB Field. And in the Missouri River Festival RHS lost to Pembroke Hill 10-3 and Gateway Legacy 6-5 Friday and Kearney 5-4 Saturday. That left the Bulldogs with a 4-9 record.
BOYS TENNIS: Bulldogs second in Camdenton/Lebanon Tourney

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

The Rolla High School boys’ tennis team finished second in the Camdenton/Lebanon Team Tournament, held Thursday and Friday, April 10-11. The Bulldogs defeated Camdenton 7-2, Columbia Independent 8-1 and Kirksville 6-3 Friday. And in the championship dual meet Saturday the Lebanon Yellowjackets stopped the Bulldogs 6-3 to finish 4-0 in the event. Tuesday, April 8 Rolla defeated Waynesville 7-2 in dual-meet action at the Ber Juan Park tennis courts.
GIRLS BASKETBALL: Left without a team, three Newburg Lady Wolves became Dixon Lady Bulldogs

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

Three young basketball players from Newburg High School were left without a team earlier this school year. At the start of the 2024-25 school year it became obvious that Newburg High, with a rich girls’ basketball history, would not be able to field a team due to low numbers. A few students wanted to play. And when it was made official that there would not be a Lady Wolf squad for the campaign, another option opened up for them.
BOYS GOLF: Jordan boys lead Bulldogs to runner-up finish at Sedalia

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

The Rolla High boys’ golf squad had a strong performance at the Sedalia Country Club Monday, April 14, taking second place in the large-school division of the Sedalia Smith-Cotton Classic. Liberty North won the large-school division with 294 followed by Rolla second with 306 and Park Hill South 310. Rolla senior Chayton Jordan finished in a three-way tie for meet medalist honors, shooting two-over-par 72. Junior Chancen Jordan finished one stroke back with 73, placing fourth overall.
TRACK: Martensen leads the way for RHS in murderous Springfield meets

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

Junior Cameron Martensen highlighted things for the Rolla High School track team, which divided its squad for a pair of huge meets held at JFK Stadium in Springfield last week. The RHS boys’ track squad competed in the 46-school Jim Vaughan Boys’ Invitational Friday, April 11 while the Lady Bulldogs were one of 36 schools in the Springfield Girls’ Night Out event Thursday, April 10.
JUNIOR HIGH TRACK: Rolla in two meets last week

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

The Rolla Junior High School track teams competed in a pair of meets last week. The Rolla eighth-grade and seventh-grade boys’ and girls’ track squads participated in both the Nixa Invitational Thursday, April 10 and the West Plains Open Tuesday, April 8. In the Nixa meet Rolla won three events – Owen Schivitz in the seventh-grade boys’ shot put, Jaxson Bull in the eighth-grade boys’ 100-meter hurdles and Grace Fontenot in the eighth-grade girls’ 200-meter dash.
BASEBALL: State champ Rangers no-hit Wolves

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

Defending Class 2 state champion and current top-ranked Iberia is pretty good. The Newburg High School baseball squad painfully found that out Monday, April 14. The Iberia Rangers roared out of the gate and went on to shut out the Newburg Wolves 27-0 in Frisco League action Monday at the Newburg High Field. Newburg fell to 0-6 while Iberia improved to 9-3. The game was stopped after three innings. Iberia’s Tucker Jones threw the three-inning no-hitter, walking none and fanning eight.
BOYS GOLF: Tigers win second straight tournament

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

With the three low scorers in the field, the St. James High School boys’ golf team captured the Salem Invitational, held Thursday, April 10 at Spring Creek Golf Course. St. James won the six-school field by 27 strokes, shooting 411. Host Salem was runner-up with 438 followed by Sullivan third with 473, Licking fourth with 507, Cuba fifth with 521 and Cabool sixth with 597. It was the second straight tournament victory for St. James, which also won the Union Tournament March 31.
GIRLS SOCCER: Lady Tigers put up back-to-back victories

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Dave Roberts

The St. James High girls’ soccer team put up back-to-back victories after knocking off Fatima 2-0 Monday, April 14 at Westphalia. Senior Kenadee Smith and junior Isabelle Bolte scored the Lady Tiger goals in the shutout over Fatima. St. James ended last week’s action by beating Mountain View Liberty 3-1 Friday, April 11 at Mountain View. STJ goals came from Kenadee Smith, Bolte and senior Haylee Carnessali.
Lyric Live Theater season opens April 25

1 week ago | phelpscountyfocus.com | Allison Skinner

Friday, April 25, Greg and Lisa Story will open the season for the Historic Lyric Live Theater performing as their musical duo “Just Us” at the theater at 117 First St. in downtown Newburg. “We’re really excited about it,” Greg Story said of the upcoming season. “You know, we really try to have a variety of entertainment. We have two plays on the schedule, both comedies, ‘Fame in Thirds,’ and ‘The Ghost Cat.’” Both scripts are written by Story.