Eagle Scouts honored by city officials

Mayor Mary Sue Gulotta and the Plaquemine Board of Selectmen honored three local Eagle Scouts for their hard work to help others during the board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12. They included Eagle Scouts Justin John Maniscalco, Joseph Beatty and Walker Barker, Jr.

Maniscalco’s Eagle project was part of the Lions Club Lions Recycle for Sight Program.   He created drop boxes in the community, where more than 300 pairs of used eyeglasses were collected. This project aids people who have partial or complete loss of sight, and helps eliminate preventable and reversible blindness. He completed his Eagle board of review in September 2014, earning him the rank of Eagle Scout in October 2014.

Beatty’s Eagle project focused on Wildlife Conservation.  It consisted of building and installing wood duck nest boxes that were placed in strategic areas along Bayou Plaquemine.  This project is part of the Louisiana Forest Stewardship Program.

Barker’s Eagle project was to promote the City’s Litter Awareness Campaign to help protect Bayou Plaquemine from litter. He placed more than 50 custom-designed storm drain stencils along city streets as a reminder to motorists and pedestrians that trash flows into the bayou. He worked with the city on this project, and the city provided the stencils.

The designation as an Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Boy Scout of America program. Only a small percentage of Boy Scouts attain this rank, which requires earning at least 21 merit badges.