Cub scouts dig in to help out

RONAN - Boys and dirt go together, and this was evident last Saturday as Ronan Boy Scouts planted trees.

To celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Boy Scouts, and in conjunction with Arbor Day, a goal was set to plant 100 trees per group. With four in Ronan, the quota of the day was 400 shrubs. About thirty sets of hands were on duty digging up dirt, planting the small twigs and patting it down.

It took less then two hours for Packs 4940 and 1956 and Troops 1956 and 1940 to plant the greenery along the Ronan football field, an idea Andy Holmlund suggested. When they grow, the shrubs will serve as a sound barrier between the football field and the highway.

Ronan Telephone Company started by digging a trench and the boy scouts came along and filled it in. Not all of the baby trees were used, Louise Schlegel, of Pack 4940, said.

"They were set aside to lend to any open spaces we missed or ones that die," she said. "There were a few places that we missed, but I think the kids enjoyed it."

Schlegel said it was district superintendent Andy Holmlund's idea to create the sound barrier, but the Cub Scouts stepped in to take care of the labor, no matter what age or experience level. Six-year-old Nicholas Dresen, of Ronan, said he enjoyed digging in the dirt.

"We have a garden at home," he said. "I know how to do this."

Along with the boys, many parents showed up, shovels in hand, to help do tasks that were difficult for the little ones. Troop leader Gary Greiff was surprised at the early-morning turnout on a nice sunny day.

"I'm amazed at the number we drew," he said. "I didn't expect this many people."

What he did expect was the messy hands, shoes and clothes from the boys playing in the mud.

"Boys and dirt go together, you know," he said.