Webelos from Cub Scout Pack 3370, chartered to the Deerfield School PTA, attended the Monster Truck Jam on Jan. 21 at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo.

The scouts saw the big trucks up close and met the drivers during a private “pit party” autograph session before the show. The boys’ favorite monster trucks included “Black Stallion,” “Ninja Turtle” and “Grave Digger.”

Scouts who participated were Alex Houston, Hunter Dedloff, Lucas Werner, Nick Pippert, Stephen Fulton and Tyler Robbins.

¢The Pelathe District of the Boy Scouts and the Heart of America Council conducted the annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on Jan. 21 at First United Methodist Church, West Campus. Hosts were Mark Gleeson and Rod Zinn.

The opening flag ceremony was put on by scouts from Troops 52 and 59 and led by Joe Stogstill. David Berkowitz, chaplain of Troop 52, gave the invocation. The main speaker was Ann Wick, of the Kansas Department of Education, who spoke on adult leaders. Glenn Sharpe, Pelathe District chairman, spoke on district highlights of 2006. He noted that 24 boys received their Eagle awards during the year and that the district has more than 1,100 youth members.

Additional remarks were from Bruce Wagner, activities chairman, and Mark Brayer, director of support services for the Heart of America Council. Wagner, of Troop 52 and 59 as well as a past committee chairman for Pack 3059, and Mark Stogsdill, scoutmaster for Troop 59, and former cubmaster for Pack 3052, received the district award of merit, the highest award for volunteers on the district level.

District officers and/or committee chairmen for 2006 were Glenn Sharp, district chairman; Tom Sheely, vice chairman; John Scott, district commissioner; Keith Wood, advancement chairman; Bruce Wagner, activities chairman; Pat Donahue, training chairman; Harry Smith, camping chairman; Trip Anderson, Friends of Scouting/family chairman; Greg Yowell, Friends of Scouting/community chairman; Frank Wright, membership chairman; Allen Wiechert, National Eagle Scout Association representative; David Berkowitz, communications chairman; and Jacob Allen, district executive. About 80 people attended the dinner.

¢Boy Scouts and leaders from the Pelathe District attended a Kanik Winter Camping adventure Jan. 12-15 at the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, N.M. They participated in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, hiked to Lover’s Leap Canyon in the snow, and worked on their winter camping skills. Youths attending included Alek Joyce, crew leader, Troop 52; Kirsten Shuck, assistant crew leader, Venture Crew 2055; Co-Chaplain Evan Wilson, Troop 65; Co-Chaplain Clarissa Wagner, Venture Crew 2055; and Brian Workman, Venture Crew 2691. They were accompanied by adult leaders Jim Joyce, Mark Workman, Philip Wrigley and Bruce Wagner.

¢Boy Scout Troop 64, chartered to the Eudora Lions Club, camped out Jan. 19-20 at the De Soto Wilderness Park southeast of Eudora. The scouts set up camp, cooked their meals, hiked and enjoyed exploring the creek. Scouts attending included Nathan Bradley, Andrew Briery, Connor Bradley, Alex Whitten, Colin Forsberg, Tom Stanley and Joseph Walker. They were accompanied by adult leaders Jerry Criqui, Jim Briery and John Scott. Additional adult leaders Bryan and Christie Howell joined the group Saturday afternoon. The troop returned just prior to the snowstorm.