Above: Meet Rolfe, Southborough’s former police dog
Each week we take a look back at the top stories reported in the Southborough Villager 10 years, 20 years, and 30 years ago. Here are the stories that were making headlines during the week of November 28.
10 years ago: Officials prepare for Dec. 11 vote
While Town Meetings in both Southborough and Northborough approved plans to renovate and expand Algonquin, the decision still had to go to town-wide elections on December 11. But school administrators weren’t waiting on the vote to get started on the renovation project. To meet state deadlines for funding, then-Superintendent Robert Melican said the district would start advertising for architects, even before the December 11 vote. “We just can’t sit around and wait for that date to happen,” Assistant Superintendent Brad Jackson said. (Southborough Villager, November 30, 2001)
20 years ago: Board OK’s dismissal of hoop coach
After a 2-hour discussion with parents, players, and coaches, the regional school committee upheald a decision to dismiss Algonquin head basketball coach Phillip L. Phillip after a 20-year tenure. The athletic director at the time, along with parents and some students, accused Phillip of being too hard on his players. For his part, Phillip decried the stain on his reputation and said he was just doing what it takes to win. “People have to earn their way from the bench to the playing surface,” Phillip said according to the Villager. “Competition is everything. If I’m going to play, I want to win…That’s the way the world is. I didn’t make it that way.” (Southborough villager, November 28, 1991)
30 years ago: Rolfe Places 1st
Did you know Southborough used to have a police dog? He was a German and Belgian Shepherd and his name was Rolfe. Thirty years ago this week, 4-year-old Rolfe placed first in a competition for police dogs from New York, New Jersey, and New England. The Villager wrote Rolfe was trained to do everything on command and could track down people or articles, or protect his handler if threatened. I don’t know how long Rolfe worked with the Southborough Police Department, or why he was never replaced. Anyone know? (Southborough Villager, November 20, 1981)
I worked at the PD when Rolfe was there, after Rolfe retired Sgt. Waller got another dog, can’t recall the name of the dog but he came directly from Germany and took most of his commands in German. After Sgt. Waller retired, Officer Tom Boland had a dog, however when Tom went to work for the Marlborough PD the dog went with him.