Auburn Optimists Salute Boy Scout Troop #321

Written by Nemaha County Herald

National Boy Scout Week was celebrated during February and the Boy Scouts of America are celebrating their 100th Year this year
......so what better time to honor our local Boy Scout Troop #321 who celebrate 50 years of continuous service to the Auburn area. That was the atmosphere at the local Optimist meeting held this past Saturday morning, at Darling’s Cafe, where scouting and all it does for the community and youth of our area was saluted by Optimist members who know a lot about volunteering. The early morning event began with a buffet styled breakfast.

After the meal, the program commenced with (above photo) Optimist President Dennis Wittmann presenting a $250 check to Troop #321 Scout Master Doug Billesbach.

Auburn’s Boy Scout Troop #321 members who are working on or have achieved their “Eagle Scout Rank” are: Ben Billesbach, Wyatt Gauchat, Levi Haynes, Greg Florence, Eagle Scout Tyler Westerfield, Eagle Scout Jason Teten and Eagle Scout Kevin Volkmer.

The funds will be used to defray costs for the scout’s summer camping program. Scouts who are working on their Eagle Scout status then shared their community service projects with the group. Projects currently underway or finished include: a new gazebo in Legion Park, updating the handicap parking at a local church, refurbishing the Legion Park benches, modifying church pews so that they are handicap accessible at the St. Joseph Catholic Church, construction of a Ten Commandment Monument at the Catholic Church and a landscaping project at the New Life Church. Twenty-one ––individual merit badges and a Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project must be completed for an individual to reach the goal of Eagle Scout. This isn’t an easy accomplishment and has been bestowed upon just over two million young men since it was first awarded 1912. Auburn’s Troop #321 has 14 active scouts in its program.