April 4, 2008 by Muir Scouter.

Mounted Thai Boy Scouts fire slingshots loaded with tamarind seeds in an effort to reforest open land in Sang Khla buri, Kanchanaburi Province. Their goal is to grow 100,000 new trees.

AP via SFGate

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January 8, 2008 by Muir Scouter.

From the Associated Press:

(01-08) 07:18 PST COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The president of Maldives was saved from assassination Tuesday when a boy scout grabbed the knife of an attacker who had jumped out of a crowd greeting the leader, an official said.

President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was not hurt, but his shirt was ripped when the attacker tried to stab him before the boy and security guards intervened during the event on the small island of Horafushi, said government spokesman Mohammad Shareef.

“This fellow in the crowd with a knife in his hand attempted to stab the president in his stomach,” Shareef said by telephone from Male, the capital of Maldives. “But a 15-year-old boy came in the way, and grabbed the knife. One brave boy saved the president’s life.” . . .

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October 5, 2007 by Muir Scouter.

From the Nashville Tennessean:

Middle Tennessee Scouts receive record gift

By NATALIA MIELCZAREK
Staff Writer

Bill Latimer lost his father to World War II. His Scout master in Union City, Tenn., stepped in as a mentor and role model.

Latimer went on to become a successful businessman, trading commodities and running a grain business.

But he never forgot the lessons of honor, truth and stewardship he learned as a Boy Scout.

More than half a century later, Latimer, 69, gave back by donating $4 million to the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts of America, the largest gift the group has ever received. The sum, announced this week, will pay for 1,500 acres of pristine land on the Cumberland Plateau that will become Latimer High Adventure Reservation.

“Our Scout master was just a real fine man,” said Latimer on the phone from his Union City home. “Anytime you can have a role model is good. Scout masters do that for kids. At that time, none of us had any money so there was no opportunity to do what I think this high adventure will be able to do.”

The land is about two hours east of Nashville at the border of White and Van Buren counties. The property will be available to Scouts and other youth groups from around the country year-round to hike, explore caves, canoe, climb and mountain bike.

Luke Ownby is already visualizing his trip to the wilderness.
“I really enjoy the outdoors; it’s just you and the elements. You pitch your tent and enjoy nature, and this is another chance to do that,” said Luke, a senior at Fairview High school and Boy Scout with Troop 624 in Nashville. “I’ve never met the man before, and I’d like to thank him.”

Middle Tennessee Council officials said they’ve been on the lookout for a sizeable piece of property in Tennessee for years and came across this particular plot 10 months ago. They took out a loan to pay for it, but Latimer’s gift will now cover the cost, said Joe Long, executive director of the Middle Tennessee Boy Scouts, which has more than 50,000 youths and volunteers.

“We just don’t have the words to thank him; it’s a dream come true,” Long said. “If we can keep a kid in Boy Scouts for a certain amount of years, he’s going to become a different person, and high adventure is so important because it’s exciting. It’s what scouting is all about.”

And that’s what Latimer, who still lives in Union City, said he wants his gift to do — create opportunities for the youth like he once was, looking for a place to belong.

“You just get in with a good group of young people, and you need to associate with good people; that helps keep you out of trouble,” Latimer said. “I truly believe in what the Boy Scouts do. They help develop young kids.”

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071005/NEWS01/71005064

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