The Howard County Fair came to close on Sat., Aug. 13, to the sounds of Richie Fields, a local artist who has reached some fame in the field of country music nationally yet continues to please local audiences with his music and his showmanship at fairs, carnivals and music festivals.The sounds of the lambs, the beef and dairy cows, the chickens and goats and the occasional neigh of a horse are silenced as the animals are loaded onto trailers and taken back to the farms.The PRCA cowboys are off to other rodeos, the demolition vehicles move onto another venue and the household building is emptied.In western Howard County, families perhaps squeeze in one more brief vacation as they begin to look forward to the 2016-17 school year. Tax-free shopping opportunities fill the stores with parents trailed by students looking for the latest in backpacks, notebooks, locker trimmings (the latest fad) and all the accouterments. The first day of school for staff is Aug. 22 while students begin school on Aug. 29 . New student orientation at Glenelg High is Aug. 25.Most fall sports teams have been practicing for most of the month.During an interview with the new principal of Glenelg High, David Burton, he continually spoke about his interest in the breadth of student achievement which he calls theThree As:academics, activities and athletics. When questioned about his history,he revealed that he was born in Covert, Michigan, but now lives in EllicottCity with his wife and two daughters, Kiarra, age 16, and Karyssa, age 12, and the family dog, Jordan.Burton graduated with a B.S. in biology from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and earned his Master of Education in administration and supervision from Trinity College in Washington, D.C.Prior to his position at Glenelg, he served as principal of Long Reach High School for six years and Parkdale High School in P.G. County for four years prior to that.He served as president of the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) for the year2011-2012 and received an award for "outstanding contributions" during his time as president of The Council of Educational Administrative and Supervisory Organizations of Maryland ( CEASOM) for 2015-2016.This wealth of academic and leadership experiences he will apply to a strong and competent administrationat Glenelg.Burton spoke fondly of his favorite activity — fun on family vacations where he values time devoted totally to his family without distraction.One of his favorites he recalls, was a family trip to Hawaii.He is a man who likes to try new and sometimes edgy, activities and recalls bungee-jumping and is planning to parasail on his next beach vacation.On his bucket list are jumping from a plane and riding in a hot air balloon.Burton is focused on learning the Glenelg community and welcomes input from staff, students and parents.He voiced having great support from the prior principal, Karl Schindler, and from the other administrators at the school. He is pleased with his move to Glenelg and plans to assist the school so it can continue to flourish as the outstanding school it has always been.Condolences to Vaughn Turner, an active community member and currently manager of the Howard County Fairgrounds, on the unexpected loss of his son, Gene Turner, age 45 of Dillsburg, PA. on Aug. 7.Geneis survived by his father, Vaughn;wife, Jami;children, Sarah and Caleb, a sister, and several nieces and nephews. Gene is retired from the police department for Harrisburg City where he served in the K-9 Unit and then in the Narcotics Unit for the Pennsylvania State Attorney General. He also served in the Army Reserves and in Iraq with his K-9 partner doing bomb detection.He was a man of great faith and attended the Country and Town Baptist Church in Mechanicsburg.His service was held on Aug. 17.The family asks that memorial contributions be made either to the Wounded Warriors Project or the SPIKES K-9 FUND. ORG.