Somerset —
A former Nancy Elementary teacher is the new leader of Meece Middle School. Calvin Rollyson has been hired by the Somerset Independent school board, and has spent the last several days settling into his new office on Barnett Street. Classes begin August 11 — just in time for Rollyson to share his birthday with students and staff members. School officials are hoping Rollyson will be a long-term solution to a recent trend of short-lived stints in the principal’s position at the city’s middle school. David Horseman held the position for just one year before he resigned this summer. In the last decade, the middle school has had four principals. “We thought it was important that (Rollyson) was from this area and that he knew some of the parents and students,” Superintendent Dr. Teresa Wallace said. “We’re hoping he will be here long-term.” Rollyson was raised near Jabez and graduated from Pulaski County High School in 1983. As a young adult, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and spent 22 years in the military as an Army Ranger. He retired from the military in 2005 and began teaching at Nancy Elementary School. “I taught with a very talented group of teachers there,” Rollyson said of his former workplace. In 2009, he obtained his Rank 1 status, qualifying him to become a principal. This will be his first year as principal of any school. Rollyson may be a product of the Pulaski County school system, but he is excited about continuing his career with the Purple and Gold. “I’m excited about the opportunity to be here,” he said. “In the military, I was around a lot of different people and cultures, and I learned to be a strong supporter of wherever I’m at. Somerset has a strong tradition in excellence. When I was in school in the ‘80s, we always heard about how great Somerset schools are. Somerset has a reputation, and I’m looking forward to upholding that reputation.” As an Army Ranger, Rollyson lived by the motto: “Rangers lead the way.” “I want Meece Middle School to lead the way in academics and in producing productive citizens,” he said. “I want what’s best for Meece Middle School. My goal is for Meece to be the best it possibly can be — and I’m looking forward to having the students by the best they can be. I believe in being positive and being motivated.” Rollyson lives in Nancy with his wife, daughter and son. He enjoys hunting, fishing, basketball and football.Local News
Related Photos
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Former Nancy Elementary School teacher Calvin Rollyson has been named the new principal of Meece Middle School. Classes begin August 11 — on Rollyson’s birthday. Tricia Neal Photo
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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. -
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.
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