| “It’s All About You!” | |
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner | Carpenter Media Group |
| Publisher | Donald Dodd |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | 101 West 7th Street,Rolla,Missouri 65401,United States |
| Website | phelpscountyfocus |
ThePhelps County Focus is aweekly newspaper published inRolla,Missouri, United States. The paper covers Rolla andPhelps County, Missouri, including the city ofNewburg.
ThePhelps County Focus traces its history back to several Rolla newspapers that date back to the 1870s.[1] Edward W. Sowers and two others bought the weeklyRolla New Era in 1942. Sowers later acquired full ownership and changed the paper's name to theRolla Daily News. He worked as publisher until his death in 1982.[2]
TheRolla Daily News was noted for its coverage of the development of Rolla as a town, with a dedicated "Progress Edition" having been published annually during the town's growth in the 1940s and 1950s.[3]Madeleine Albright worked as a reporter at the newspaper in the 1950s.[1] The paper the site oflegal notices regarding the environmental impact of theRoute 63 Corridor Project.[4]
The Sower family eventually sold theRolla Daily News toAmerican Publishing Company, and then the paper later became owned byGateHouse Media.[2] Gatehouse closed theSt. James Leader-Journal inSt. James in 2016[5] and theWaynesvile Daily Guide inWaynesville in 2018.[6] Both were absorbed into theRolla Daily News.[7] In 2019, Gatehouse acquiredGannett and then took on the name.[8]
In August 2021, Gannett sold the newspaper to Phillips Media Group.[9] The paper was sold again a month later to Salem Publishing Company.[2] It was then merged into thePhelps County Focus, which was launched in August 2017 as a competitor.[10] In January 2025, Salem Publishing Company sold thePhelps County Focus,The Salem News andPulaski County Weekly toCarpenter Media Group.[11]