SCOUTS

SCOUTS

Eagle achievement

Jeremy A. Warneke, 24, of Austintown recently became an Eagle Scout after a court-of-honor ceremony at Western Reserve United Methodist Church in Youngstown.

He was a member of Cub Scout Pack 135 for four years at First United Methodist Church in Niles, where he attained its highest rank, the Arrow of Light. He joined Boy Scout Troop 3 in 1997, where his Scoutmaster is his father, Jim Warneke Sr.

He is the troop’s quartermaster and has served as scribe. He earned 42 merit badges and the Totin’ Chip and U.S. Heritage Award.

He has spent 50 nights camping, hiked for 42 miles and attended Grassy Brook Spring Camporee, Niagara District, Canada in April 2004 and the Order of the Arrow Ordeal in July 2007.

For his Eagle Scout service project, Warneke collected 950 pairs of shoes for the Share Your Soles Foundation. Friends at No Limits, other Scouts from Troop 3 and friends and family helped.

The shoes were sent to Uganda, boots to American Indian reservations and slippers to cancer centers.

He received a special plaque at the annual Share Your Soles Gala Event and received congratulations from Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Prince Ronald Mutebi of Uganda.

He is a 2005 graduate of Austintown Fitch High School and attends No Limits Alternative Center in Youngstown. He participates in Special Olympics Bowling and Special Olympics Track and has earned a collection of medals and ribbons. He is the son of Jim and Carol Warneke of Austintown.

Court-of-honor ceremony

Ryan A. Blaney, 18, son of Ron and Diane Blaney of Canfield, has earned his Eagle Scout award, which was presented at a court-of-honor ceremony last week at Canfield United Methodist Church.

He is a member of Boy Scout Troop 25 at the church and his Scoutmaster is Kevin Prus Sr. He joined the troop in March 2002 and is currently junior assistant scoutmaster. He also has served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, quartermaster and historian.

Ryan earned 21 merit badges and special awards of Fifth Year Seven Ranges Pipestone Award; troop award of Bob Roberts Memorial Backpatch with four points; and participated in Ordeal Member of Wapashuwi Lodge, Order of the Arrow and Gettysburg Historic Hike.

For his Eagle Scout service project he planned, designed, coordinated, and supervised the collection, packaging and shipping of 115 care packages for the Army National Guard 237th Forward Support Battalion and the 583rd Military Police Detachment out of Austintown, serving in Iraq.

The packages contained toiletries, socks, phone cards, a book, letters of support and many other items. This was done with the support of businesses, schools, churches and members of the community as well as Troop 25. His project was featured in a U.S. Postal Service online publication.

He is a senior at Canfield High School, where he is a member of the band and choir. He also is a member of St. Michael Church in Canfield. He received the 2009 Heroes of the Mahoning Valley Award by the American Red Cross Mahoning Valley Chapter.

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