Notable & quotable

Damon Ing, a Texas Concealed Handgun License instructor, emerged as one of the quieter voices of reason at last week’s community forum in Arlington on whether teachers and other district employees should carry weapons on campus.

“This is a very strong, opinionated topic,” Ing said at the panel discussion sponsored by the Arlington Alliance for Responsible Government. “As far as school is concerned, that's not for me to decide. .... I think a lot more planning and processes like this should be gone through before any decision is made.”

He specified that handgun qualification is a certified course of 10 to 11 hours that includes use-of-force and conflict resolution. He also said that a large percentage of people who apply for a permit are rejected.

When asked if he thought teachers would be adequate first responders he gave a very qualified answer.

“Maybe so, maybe not,” Ing said. “When it comes to a deadly force situation .... I could put them through three to four years of training and it might not be enough.”

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Fourteen students, including three from Arlington public high schools, have been picked to be on the Texas Trust Credit Union Youth Advisory Council.

Students selected to the council, which meets twice a month to learn about personal finance issues and career opportunities, among other things, will also participated in a community service project benefiting the North Texas Food Bank.

The Arlington high school students involved are Joshua Hoskins from Arlington High School; Jazmine Shamburger from Juan Seguin High School and Zachary Rubel from Summit High School.

Members were chosen based on their extracurricular activities, leadership credentials, and desire to serve and actively participate in the council.

From Mansfield, the students include Sara King from Mansfield High School, Jessilee Shipman from Legacy High School, Madison Samas, a student at the University of Texas at Arlington, and Victoria Harkrider from Tarrant County College.

The council is part of Texas Trust's financial education initiative.

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For some Arlington police officers, the learning continues.

Five sergeants recently graduated from a one-month course at the Institute of Law Enforcement Administration that was designed to develop first-line supervisors.

The sergeants who attended the class were Jonathon Grant-Brooks, Charlie Brown, Cameron Huggins, Brad Norman, and Traci Thai.

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It was done quietly, which is saying something since it involves a politician and a six-figure donation to a well-known charity.

But it’s true.

Last month Congressman Joe Barton’s family’s foundation, without fanfare, gave the Arlington Life Shelter, an agency that provides shelter and support services to help the homeless, $100,000 to pay for renovations at its downtown facility.

The shelter received the gift during a celebration of its 25th anniversary – and event that was showcasing renovations that had already been done.

During the event, Arlington Life Shelter Executive Director Becky Orander gave a brief history of the agency once known as the Arlington Night Shelter. Arlington Mayor Bob Cluck was on hand, and he introduced the need for the shelter as he introduced Barton.

Of course Barton, a Republican who represents Arlington in Washington, is familiar with Orander and the shelter’s work. Earlier in the year the Joe Barton Family Foundation pledged $36,000 in matching funds to improve the the check-in and food service areas.

At the conclusion of the event, Barton, along with his family and board members, presented the shelter with a check for $100,000.

"We were overwhelmed with the show of support for the residents of the Arlington Life Shelter," Barton is quoted as saying. "The renovations will give these men, women and children encouragement and hope for their future."

The intial grant helped pay for an outside shelter, a family lounge, commercial grade appliances and round dining room tables. The original budget for the renovations was $70,600. With the additional money from the foundation, the Shelter was able to expand the renovations to the entire facility

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