Boy Scouts
The Boy Scouts meet every Monday at United Disciples Christian Church at 7:00 p.m.
From October 2008 WPRA News
Boy Scout Troop 11 will once again be selling holiday wreaths starting November 1. Delivery will be on November 22. Recently, Boy Scout Troop 11 went on a campout at Coleman’s Farm, located west of Peoria. As part of this event, the eleven scouts and six adults participated in a litter program--called Scout Sweep--in conjunction with Pheasants Forever. For four hours the group worked at the interchange of 1-74 and the Kickapoo-Edwards exit, collecting fifteen pounds of aluminum cans to recycle and twelve bags of trash. The area that the scouts cleaned up is only a small portion of the highway, so much trash was still left. The scouts would like to remind people that whenever somebody throws trash out a vehicle window, someone else will have to pick it up. Although some of their time was taken up with picking up trash, the scouts still enjoyed the fresh air and had time to hunt for mushrooms for their supper.
From August 2008 WPRA News
West Peoria’s Boy Scout Troop 11 is pleased to announce that in June 2008 Evan Murphy became its 59th Eagle Scout, the highest rank attainable in scouting. Evan and his parents, Barb and Rich Murphy, live on Sherman Avenue.
To earn this rank, Evan participated in a project to remodel the United Disciples Christian Church, which is the sponsoring institution for Troop 11. Evan, who is sixteen-years-old, will be a junior at Notre Dame High School, where he participates in band and drama.
According to Scoutmaster Bob DeSutter, yet another member of Troop 11 will soon be ready to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, bringing the total number to sixty since 1943—which is quite an accomplishment for West Peoria.
Troop 11 is having a busy summer. In June, eleven boys went to summer camp for one week. In July, Troop and Pack 11 and the Eagle Scouts participated in the color guard at West Peoria’s Fourth of July Parade and took part in the flag raising ceremony after the parade. At the end of July seven scouts and two adults will be leaving on a ten-day trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
From May 2008 WPRA News
On March 18, Boy Scout Troop 11 welcomed its newest members. These young men, who advanced from WEBELOS to Boy Scouts, are Joseph Zilkowski, Jim Hoerdeman, Frank Drew, Mathew Mooty, Merritt Stott, Michael Shannahan, and Tyler Meyer.
From March 28-30 for their spring outing, members of Troop 11 visited Wright Patterson Air Museum in Dayton, Ohio. They saw aircraft ranging from World War I planes to stealth bombers. An added treat was their visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum in Indianapolis.
The eight Scouts who went on this trip were Joe Hoerdeman, Thomas Gestrine, Andrew Gestrine, Tyler Franciscovich, Ian Beckler, Evan Murphy, Kane Hudson, and Jesse Patterson. Their adult chaperones were Bob DeSutter, Rich Murphy, Monica Franciscovich, and Ken Beckler.
In May members of this troop will be enjoying Camp-O-Ree at Camp Wokonda near Mossville.
Trash bags from the annual sale will be delivered early in April. Anyone interested in purchasing a box of 100 for $14.00 should call Scoutmaster Bob DeSutter at 674-6668. Remember it's always a good time to join scouting.
From February 2008 WPRA News
Cub Scout Pack 11 will start its annual trash bag sale on March 3. Anyone wishing to place an order can contact any scout or Bob DeSutter at 674-6668.
Troop 11 Boy Scouts were recognized with either a Merit Badge and/or a Rank Advancement at their annual Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner during which a Court of Honor was held.
The newest members to be welcomed to the troop are Andrew and Thomas Gestrine.
In time for the 2007 Christmas season, Cub Scout Pack 11 rebuilt the Cub Scout Christmas float. The Christmas float-whose travels through our streets has been a West Peoria tradition for many years-had been destroyed during the snowstorm on December 1, 2006, when the township building collapsed on it.
A big thank-you goes to those who participated in this rebuilding project. The boys who helped were Jim Hoerdeman, Joseph Zikowski, Nate Taylor, Michael Garayalde, Frank Drew, Merritt Stott, Mathew Mooty, Tyler Mayer, Ryan Casey, and Michael Shanahan. They were assisted by adult leaders, Jeff Hoerdeman and Bruce Zilkowski.