The View 38002 August 2014

**************ECRWSS**** Election Coverage —Starts on Page 15 PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER inform. educate. connect. Arlington & Lakeland’s Community Newspaper 38002.com BIG SHOTS Arlington HS Trappers Clinch Fifth National Title in Ten Years 2014 Arlington Trappers Team at SCTP Championships in Sparta, Illinois. Photo courtesy of Arlington Trappers. Story by Terry Louderback After tens of thousands of shots, it all came down to just five targets separating the first and second place high school trap shooting programs in the country. Well, five targets and a little more than eight miles. The top two teams in the 16 yard trap event at the Scholastic Shooting Sports Foundation (SSSF) National Team Championships, were the Arlington HS Trappers, hitting 967 targets and the Bolton HS Trap Team hitting 962. Teams came from 28 states to the event held at the World Shooting and Recreational Complex in Sparta, Illinois, and the best came not only from the same county, but from the same zip code. After winning five national championships since its beginnings in 2005—and three in the past four years—the Arlington Trappers have become a powerhouse in trap shooting. The Trappers have never fin- 2014 Bolton High School Trap Team. Photo by Denise McClung August 2014 theview theview ished lower than in second place at Nationals. Arlington Trappers coach Kermit Simons, a former Marine Corp shooter, credits the consistent success of the team to his perspective as coach. Simons maintains that he has four goals as a coach--first to build better young men and women; next, to keep them "as safe as if they were his own children.” Thirdly, he aims to make them better shooters, and lastly— which happens if you do the first three, Simons explains—is to win competitions. And win they do. Arlington Trapper Natalie Richmond’s score of 194 earned her third place in the nation for 16 yard trap. Natalie Richmond, 3rd place Girls Senior/Varsity trap. Photo courtesy of Arlington Trappers. As well, in just their first year with a pistol program, the team competed at the Scholastic Pistol Program Junior/Senior National Championships, also held last weekend. They promptly finished in third place in the senior rimfire division. According to Simons, theirs was the highest score for a team that Continued on page 6 “Here We Go...” Municipal Schools Set for August 4 Start By Terry Louderback Two years and two days School was part Ribbon after the first vote was held Cutting and part town fair. to establish municipal Parents and teachers chatted schools, the Arlington while children waited in line Community Schools and the to play or for a balloon Lakeland System will animal. welcome their first students When it was time for the on Monday, August 4. official ceremony, all School board members, attention was on the podium, district employees, school to hear remarks from administration, faculty and Arlington Mayor Mike staff have put in long hours Wissman, School Board to build the new systems. Chair Dale Viox, and And now, the big day, as Superintendent Tammy over 5,000 students will Mason. attend the five municipal Shelby County Mayor schools in the two districts. Mark Luttrell, State To get another idea of the Representative Ron Lollar, magnitude of the endeavor, and State Senator Mark Arlington Chief of Staff Jeff Norris spoke about the Mayo stated on June 24 that Continued on next page the system had already hired 446 emp lo yee s, making it instantly the town’s second largest employer. A Dedication Ceremony for Arlington Community Schools was held on Saturday, July 19th. With bagpipers, Staff Photo bouncy houses, and Arlington Elementary student kettle corn, the event Rebecca Latimer performs the at Arlington High National Anthem at the July 19 Dedication. Inside this edition... Opinions Differ on Proposed Changes to Arlington Code and Zoning — p 5 Arlington Schools: The Heart of the Community — p. 8 Global Studies: AHS Student Studies in Malaysia — p 12