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Steven Baker, Tony Masello receive District Award of Merit
YOUNGSTOWN
Twenty-four Boy Scouts who earned the Eagle Scout rank in 2014 and numerous adult scouters and volunteers were among those recognized Sunday at the annual awards banquet of the Whispering Pines District of the Greater Western Reserve Council, Boy Scouts of America.
Kurt Hilderbrand of Poland and Troop 80 in South Range, was named 2014 Scouter of the Year.
Other highlights of the evening were the awarding of the District Award of Merit, the highest honor a district can bestow upon a volunteer for outstanding service; and the Silver Beaver Award, an national award and the highest award presented by the council to a scouter or non-scouter for exceptional service.
Recipients of the District Award of Merit are Steven Baker of Troop 22 and Tony Masello of Troop 48.
Byron Harnishfeger, scoutmaster of Troop 60 and a member of the Order of the Arrow who has served in numerous leadership positions at the district level, received the Silver Beaver Award.
The 2014 Scoutmaster and Cubmaster of the year are Richard Cook of Troop 55 and Joseph Wrenn, respectively.
Scouting’s Order of the Arrow, (OA) an organization of scouts and scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily lives, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
Part of the Whispering Pines District celebration of OA’s 100th anniversary is to document the local history of OA, said Mike Kupec, communications adviser for OA here.
However, Kupec said he has not been able to find much information about OA Mahoning Lodge 396, which was started here in 1948. He asked that anyone who has information about Mahoning Lodge 396 or Neatoka Lodge 396 contact him at 330-519-3988.
The Whispering Pines District awards banquet took place at St. James Episcopal Church in Boardman.