Virgin River Valley District of the Boy Scouts of America held their annual Leader Recognition Banquet on Thursday, Jan. 29. Scout Leaders from the 11 units sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, leaders from Pack 8 sponsored by the Elk's and leaders from Troop 60 sponsored by the Mesquite Resort Association attended. Mark Tichenor, District Chairman, gave special recognition to the District Award of Merit recipients Chris Allen, scoutmaster of Troop 41 Bunkerville First Ward and Ryan Toone, Scoutmaster of Troop 998 Mesquite7th Ward. Chris has been active in the scouting program helping with the pinewood derby races and the merit badge pow wow. In the 4 1/2 years he has served as scoutmaster he has helped a lot of boys progress in scouting. Ryan Toone has been a merit badge counselor at summer camp and the merit badge Pow Wow, a Varsity Scout Leader, and round table commissioner. They were presented with an engraved plaque, a certificate and a knot to wear on their uniform. The District also thanked eight leaders with a second miler award in appreciation for their great service this year in the scouting program in Virgin Valley. John Meierhoff, leader of the 11 years old of Troop 488, a round table commissioner, who is always enthusiastic and loves to build things with his scouts. Jarred Johnson, a merit badge counselor, was awarded the 2nd miler for his service in providing physicals for scouts going to summer camp. Brain Havilland has been involved in the Venture and Varsity programs and is certified to do rappelling with the scouts. Art Shaner has been a leader in scouting for 25+years as a scoutmaster, program director for summer camp at Kolob, on the Eagle Scout Board of Review, a Unit Commissioner, and has helped many of his scouts reach the rank of Eagle Scout. Kendall Anderson attended the National Scout Jamboree and is an Eagle Scout and he has been assistant scoutmaster and Venture Crew Leader. He is very passionate about scouting but in a way that lets the boys lead. LDS Stake President Kraig Hafen and President Theron Jensen were presented with 2nd miler awards for their support of scouting in our valley. The LDS church has funded the merit badge pow wow, day camp for cub scouts including pack 8, the Eagle Scout knives and has provided physical facilities for many scout activities. Many thanks to John Felix for handcrafting the 2nd miler wood plaques. Kyle Memmott received the Scout Trainer Award, the Unit Leader Award of Merit and the Scoutmaster Key. Craig Haderlie, District Commissioner, received the Arrowhead Honor and the Commissioner's Key Award. Ryan Moon, Field Service Representative of the Las Vegas Area Council of BSA presented Mark Tichenor and Craig Haderlie with the Gold Award in Journey to Excellence for the district. He said there are 20,000 scouts in the Las Vegas Area Council and 425 of those live in Virgin Valley. For the 3rd year in a row the Virgin River Valley District has received the Gold Award in Journey to Excellence. This is the highest rank ever in the history of the LVAC. There are 17 criteria that give the basis for the score. Virgin River Valley District received 2,575 points out of a possible 3,100. Ryan Moon was the keynote speaker for the evening spoke about heroes. He said, "We honor you the leaders and parents for all your service and sacrifice in helping these boys grow in to great young men. “Scouting reaches deeply into the community in service projects and Eagle Scout projects." He asked, "What is a hero? Is it a quarterback, a sport's car driver, a leading soccer g scorer?" He answered the question by stating, " A hero is a person to be admired, is outstanding and of notable qualifications." He quoted President Spencer W. Kimball who said, "Boys need heroes. It is good to have heroes like Washington and Lincoln but boys also need heroes nearby to hike and camp with and talk man to man with." Ryan continued, "There are a lot of heroes in this district like Keith Belnap who has worked in scouting for 65 years and continues to keep records of the leaders and re-charter the units. Kelton Chamberlain who has served in scouting for 56 years and still goes to pack meeting to represent Akela and give an inspiring Arrowhead of Light Ceremony. Another hero is Roger Gessell who volunteers his time to keep the scout store open and stocked and help with Troop 60; Petra Jones of Troop 60 who has kept those young men advancing through the ranks. It is volunteers like you that make a difference in the lives of boys in helping them learn in the scouting program. Thank you for your service and commitment to the scouting movement. " Three scout leaders from our district will receive the Silver Beaver Award, the highest leadership recognition presented by a Council, at the Las Vegas Area Council Silver Beaver Banquet in March. The recipients from our district are Duane Thurston, Bevan Reber, and Craig Haderlie. There are 21 Silver Beaver Awards this year in the LVAC and three of them are from Virgin River Valley District. The Virgin River Valley District has transferred into the Utah Parks Council and the Snow Canyon District. Paul Tikalsy Jr. will be the council's field service representative for Virgin Valley area.

Margaret Sylvester Hardy was 103 years old on her birthday last January 28th, 2015. She still resides in Mesquite at Highland Manor where friends and family helped her celebrate with a lovely birthday cake. Margaret’s family moved to the valley in 1905 and purchased the rock house that still stands at the corner of Willow Street and 1st North. Her mother, Clara Woodbury Barlow was a widow with 5 small children and after marrying her father Joshua William Sylvester had three more children including Margaret. Her father also bought land 3 miles east of Mesquite in Arizona Territory and traveled from Mesquite each day to work there. Eventually the family moved to the farm to make it easier to tend to the work but it made it difficult for the children to get to school and Clara to have help with her difficult births. Margaret was born in 1911 at the home of the Mesquite midwife, Mary Jane Abbott where her mother had gone to await the birth. Her father was then 67 years old and the farm work was very hard on him. Some winters the family went to relatives in St. George to stay during the school year. Margaret remembers the difficulty of everyday life in the valley, especially the water that was obtained from the river by way of ditches for washing, cleaning and even drinking. It was often muddy and never really tasted good. Everyone worked hard and even the smallest children had chores of their own. The girls learned to cook and take care of a home early in their lives and the boys helped with the animals and crops. But Margaret has sweet memories and great love for her parents and siblings. Margaret married Heber Hardy when she was 16 years old and they had 6 children. One son died as a young man and another son passed away in 2001. She is a life long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and has held many positions in the auxiliaries and even served a mission in her later years. She still attends her church meetings held at Highland Manor. During the 1950s Margaret was the local president of the LDS women’s auxiliary, The Relief Society, during the building of the new chapel on the boulevard and held many fundraising dinners and dances to support its construction. Before this time meetings were held in the Relief Society building on North Willow Street. The women learned homemaking and parenting skills, studied the scriptures, made quilts and other needlework, supported each other, and planned community improvements. They donated many hours of work during the construction of their new chapel and even signed over their old building for sale to go toward the cause. Margaret spent all day every Saturday with her responsibility of evaluating welfare needs, collecting goods, and distributing them to families in town. She also directed the care of widows and the sick. Margaret had to have the support of her husband Heber Hardy and her children to be able to give so much service to others. After her youngest child started school she worked as a lunchroom cook for many years. Margaret loves Mesquite and has many fond memories even of the difficult times and the hard work that was required to live and raise a family here in the early years. Though her sight is failing she is happy and enjoys being visited by her many descendants and friends. She is dearly loved by everyone who has known her.

Elder Johnson, Craig Anderson, Theron Jensen, Kraig Hafen and Elder Terry

After nearly ten years serving as president of the Mesquite Nevada Stake Theron Nephi Jensen was released January 25, 2015 at a conference held for all members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Virgin Valley. His counselors, Kraig Hafen and Craig Anderson were also released with a vote of thanks and gratitude from the huge congregation that nearly filled both church buildings on North Arrowhead. Sustained by the members to now fill those positions are David Jay Anderson as president, Danny D Allen as first counselor, and Laren Boyd Abbott as second counselor. Presiding at the meeting were authorities from church headquarters in Salt Lake City, Elder Paul V. Johnson and Elder Craig B. Terry. Elder Johnson, Danny Allen, David J. Anderson, Laren Abbott and Elder Terry

Jefferson C. Thornley has been called to serve a 24 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Thornley will report to the Missionary Training Center in Peru on January 27, 2015. After a few weeks, he'll serve in the Cochabamba, Bolivia Spanish Speaking Mission. Jefferson is the son of Cody and Jodi Thornley of Mesquite. Elder Thornley will speak in the Whipple Chapel on January 18th at 1pm.

Elder Mckinnin Lloyd returned home after serving a 24 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the New Mexico, Farmington Mission. Elder Lloyd is the son of Bryan Lloyd and Laura Ewles. On Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 11a.m, Elder Lloyd will be speaking in the Mesquite 5th Ward in the Whipple Building. Welcome home!

Boy Scouts from the Virgin River Valley District BSA, took classes at a merit badge Pow Wow held on Sat. January 10, 2015 at the Whipple Chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scouts ages 11- 17 from the 12 Troops sponsored by the LDS church and Troop 60 sponsored by the Elks Lodge attended classes. There were about 150 scouts who participate taking classes in Cooking, Sports, Energy, Emergency Preparedness, Citizenship in the Community, Genealogy, First Aid, Personal Management, Art, Fishing & Fish and Wildlife Management, Fingerprinting and Traffic Safety, Fire Safety, Scouting Heritage, and Horsemanship. The merit badge counselors who taught were all volunteers from the community, including police officers and teachers from the schools. A flag ceremony was held at 7:45 and there were classes until lunch, with classes continuing until 2:30. Next Sat, Jan. 17, they will meet again at the LDS Stake Center for additional merit badge classes on Environmental Science, Dentistry, Computers, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Electricity, Music, Family life, First Aid, Chess, Communications, Reading, Auto Maintenance and Geo caching. When the scouts complete their merit badges the individual troops will hold courts of honor to present the awards. Many thanks to all the volunteers who offered their time to help the scouts of Virgin Valley learn and complete the requirements for these merit badges.

Sister Julie Ramirez returned from her mission on December 17th, from the Chicago, IL Spanish Speaking Mission. She subsequently provided her mission report in the Littlefield, AZ Ward Sacrament Meeting on December 28, 2014. Miguel & Julia Ramirez are Julie's parents. Welcome home.

Elder Andrew Allen has been called to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will serve for 24 months in the Anchorage Alaska Mission. Elder Allen will be speaking at the Bunkerville Chapel in the Bunkerville 1st Ward on December 28, 2014 at 9 am. He will enter the MTC on January 7th. Sara and Chris Allen are the parents of Elder Andrew Allen.

The Paongo sisters have returned after each served an 18 month mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Sister Gabriella Cynani Paongo served in the Illinois, Chicago Mission. Sister Francis Ganae Fiona Paongo served in the Dallas Texas Mission. They are the daughters of Lavinia Paongo and the late Fe'ofaaki Paongo. The Sister Paongos will speak on December 21, 2014 in two wards. First at 9 am in the Bunkerville 1st Ward, in the Bunkerville Chapel and at 11am Mesquite 2rd Ward at 11am in the Whipple Chapel in Mesquite. Malo E Ngaue!

Elder Ryan Garlick returned from serving his two year mission to Baltimore, Maryland Mission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 4, 2014. He subsequently reported his mission in the Littlefield Ward Sacrament Meeting on December 14, 2014. Ryan left this area January 2nd to attend BYU Idaho". Ryan’s parents are DeWayne & Susan Garlick.

Seven Webelos from Pack 8 received their arrow of light at a ceremony held on Thursday, December 18. 2014 The Webelos who advanced to boy scouts are: Kobe Romero, Allen Villanueva, Braden Vincent, Estaban Gasca, Ethan Richards, A.J. Mendez and Martin Cordero. Akela, dressed in his full Indian head dress presented each scout with an arrow with a white feather tipped in black to remind them of what they have accomplished and what they can go on to accomplish in scouting. Akela was represented by Kelton Chamberlain, a veteran scouter. Each boy was presented with a framed certificate and patch to wear on their scout shirt by their leader, Jennifer Tichenor and master of ceremonies, Dave West. The Webelos crossed the bridge made of 12 planks represented the 12 points of the scout law and they were welcomed into Troop 60 by boy scouts in that troop. At the pack meeting the Tiger Cubs put on a skit in which Santa told them that he had been a cub scout too. The first year Webelos played Christmas music on their chimes. Many of the scouts there earned their Cyber Chip patch which signifies that they know how to safely use the internet and have good manners when using the internet and cell phones. The scouts were also able to play and exciting game of Ga Ga ball in an inflatable ring thanks to Ryan Moon, Field Service director from the Las Vegas Area Council BSA.