The View 38002 March 2014

**************ECRWSS**** PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER inform. educate. connect. Arlington & Lakeland’s Community Newspaper 38002.com theview theview March 2014 Lakeland Votes to Initiate Feasibility Study of Bolton Annexation By Terry Louderback Photo courtesy of Allison Clark The Arlington HS Varsity Cheer Team shows off smiles and new white Championship jackets after winning the Game Day title. UCA NATIONAL HS CHEER CHAMPIONSHPS Arlington, Briarcrest Varsity Cheer Squads Bring Home National Game Day Titles AHS JV and Arlington Middle takes third place By Terry Louderback The Mid-South took Orlando by storm at the UCA National High School Cheerleading Championships on February 8 & 9 with Arlington High School’s Varsity Squad winning the Super Varsity Game Day Championships. Briarcrest Christian School won the Game Day Title in the Medium Varsity Division. Game Day competitions consist of three different game scenarios: sideline, time out cheer, and band chant. Teams were judged on execution, crowd effectiveness, energy, and overall performance AHS Varsity also placed in the top five nationally for cheer in Super Varsity. The AHS JV team (pictured right), performing a routine that had to be reworked the week before nationals due to an injury, earned third place honors in Small Junior Varsity cheer. Arlington Middle School’s cheer team also received third place in the Large Junior High division, losing to Germantown’s Houston Middle School team. For photos and information on AMS cheer, see page 12. Photo courtesy of BCS Top: Briarcrest Varsity Cheerleaders at Nationals, including Lakeland residents Mandy Borth and Kingsley Branham Left: AHS JV Cheer perform for family and friends at Show Night on February 4 Staff Photo Before a packed house at the IH Clubhouse on February 25th, the Lakeland Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 to initiate a cost and benefit study on the feasibility of annexing 35 square miles north of the current city limits. Commonly referred to as the “Bolton Reserve,” this area stretches from Austin Peay Highway eastward to the Fayette County line and northward to Tipton County. An estimated 2,500 individuals reside in the area, which has been designated a “rural reserve” in the Shelby County Growth Plan. At the February 18th Commissioners meeting, Chris Price, a resident of the reserve area, presented a petition requesting that the City of Lakeland annex the area. Tuesday night’s resolution was the next step in the process towards annexation by Lakeland. At both meetings the residents who spoke commissioners listened to speakers were evenly divided on annexation. The issues that concerned residents included schools, city services, taxes, and rural life. After listening to all the comments, the commissioners voted in favor of analyzing the impact of an estimated 148% increase in geographical size on the city’s resources. Before the vote, Lakeland Mayor Wyatt Bunker reminded the crowd that according to current state law, reserve residents will be the ones deciding their fate at the ballot box. “If the majority doesn’t want annexation, Lakeland can still be a good neighbor.”