SomerSplash closing leaves some folks all wet

Local News

August 11, 2009

By TRICIA NEAL, Staff Writer The Commonwealth Journal Tue Aug 11, 2009, 08:53 PM EDT

Somerset — As of today, all major local school systems in Pulaski County are back in session. But with a week’s difference between the earliest school-year starters — Science Hill Independent on Aug. 5, and those trailing behind — Somerset Independent, which began today, many parents were left high and dry when they attempted to take their youngsters to SomerSplash water park during the most recent hot August days.

A sign at SomerSplash says the park will be open on weekends only when local schools return to session. Which “local school” was not specified, but Aug. 5 was the water park’s last day of weekday operation.

During this week’s Somerset city council meeting, councilor Steve Kelley suggested that the Commonwealth Journal find out the park’s current hours of operation and publish them to reduce confusion.

No one was available to answer the phone at SomerSplash Tuesday afternoon, but a recording states that, now through Labor Day, the park will be open Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m. The park will also be open on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

However, SomerSplash’s Web site further states that “park hours are subject to change without notice due to weather and other conditions,” “the outdoor water park will not open if the forecast high is below 70 degrees,” “the park will close if the temperature falls below 70 degrees or in the case of inclement weather,” “the park will close due to low attendance in accordance with posted information,” and “hours may be subject to change in the case of pre-scheduled special events.”

Bottom line: If you want to visit SomerSplash this year, you may go on Aug. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29 and 30, and Sept. 5, 6, and 7 — provided the park doesn’t close for any of the reasons listed in the above paragraph.

Councilor Tim Rutherford said during this week’s meeting that he believed some of the park’s policies, in particular its rain check policy, need to be reviewed.

In other city council business:

• The council heard the first reading of an ordinance that will, upon its approval in two weeks, annex about a half-mile of right-of-way along Slate Branch Road into the Somerset city limits.

The right-of-way contains city-owned water and sewer lines. No properties will be annexed into the city as a result of the passing of the ordinance, however, any owners of properties touching the right-of-way will be able to request to be annexed.

A copy of the ordinance is available in the city clerk’s office.

• Councilor Jerry Burnett said he and other council members received a letter from Robin Baker of the Master Musicians Festival explaining the festival’s policies concerning vendors.

During the last council meeting, Burnett relayed a citizen’s complaint that local vendors were not asked to be a part of the festival. Baker explained that vendors must approach MMF organizers if they want to be included.

Burnett said he had been trying to call Baker to apologize for the confusion, but had been unable to reach her.

• Council member Jerry Wheeldon thanked the city for extending sidewalks west on Ogden Street. Mayor Eddie Girdler said workers plan to extend the sidewalk on the north side of the road “all the way to the parkway,” and on the south side to Baxter’s Coffee Shop.

• Council member Jim Rutherford praised the city’s street department for its hard work. He also thanked SomerSplash water park employee Jason White, who “went above and beyond the call of duty” recently when his son sustained minor injuries at the park.

• Somerset High School 2009 graduate Sabra Alexander was recognized by the council for her achievement — perfect attendance throughout 13 years of school. Alexander was given a “Somerset Colonel” plaque and a small gift.

Text Only

Local News

Eubank woman keeps the faith as she battles cervical cancer
February 11, 2012 1 Photo
Congressional districts set
February 10, 2012
Kentucky exempt from NCLB regulations
February 10, 2012
Survey may attract commercial passenger service
February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Hal Rogers defends Somerset’s Streetscape project
February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Somerset on verge of becoming natural gas hub
It sounds like a Buck Rogers fiction series, but it’s true. The city of Somerset is about to become the energy hub of Kentucky, maybe even regionally or nationally.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler, gas company manager Dan Henderson and city engineer Reggie Chaney discussed the grandiose energy network this week with a reporter for the Commonwealth Journal. It’s more than a vision. City officials say it’s about to become reality.

February 9, 2012 1 Photo
Old districts are back ... for now
The more things change, the more they stay the same. Such is the legislative redistricting debacle in Frankfort.
Judge Phillip Shepherd in Franklin Circuit Court on Tuesday tossed out the General Assembly’s controversial redistricting plans and reverted everything back to where it was before.

February 9, 2012
Fast-moving blaze guts mobile home off Slate Branch Road
February 2, 2012 1 Photo
Big Bang Theory
Pulaski County is not at war. The booming you may hear at dusk is mock cannon fire to scare away birds.
Stuart Spillman, environmental director for the Lake Cumberland Health Department, said at least three cannons are on loan from the department to residents who want to scare away swarms of starlings and blackbirds settling in to roost.
He said a cannon is being used by a resident on Laura Lane off Ky. 39; another is in the Oak Hill Road area and a third is on Ashurst Street in the eastern part of Somerset.
Spillman said a timer on each cannon allows it to “fire” at whatever frequency is desired. The cannons must be used as the birds circle before going to roost. “After they settle in, nothing will chase them out,” Spillman said.
The Health Department doesn’t operate the cannons unless there is a specific complaint in an area where there are lots of birds, Spillman noted. He said so far this year the birds are not as bad as in the past.

February 2, 2012
Boil water advisory is lifted countywide
The water controversy that Pulaski County has been boiling over — so to speak — for the last week is finally over.
At 10 minutes after noon Wednesday, the “boil water” advisory for the Western Pulaski Water District was lifted — almost a full week after the problems began around 1 p.m. last Thursday.
Prior to that, the Somerset Water Service — along with the other water providers in its system, including Science Hill Water, Southeastern Water, and Eubank Water — lifted their advisories, with Somerset on Saturday afternoon and the last, Southeastern, by Monday morning. Western Pulaski was the last in the system to complete sample testing for potential contaminants, due to not being able to access its Pikeville-based testing lab until Monday.
Somerset Mayor Eddie Girdler thanked the public for its patience and understanding during the duration of the boil water advisory — put in place to keep citizens from drinking water that could have been contaminated after an accident last Thursday at the water plant site — and also thanked all the city employees for their hard work during this time.
“The boil water advisory went about as well as would be expected,” said Girdler.

February 2, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

SomerSplash closing leaves some folks all wet

Site Map