Boy Scouts from around the Tri-State came to town Saturday on their merits – merit badges, that is.

Monday, November 20, 2000

Boy Scouts from around the Tri-State came to town Saturday on their merits – merit badges, that is.

More than 185 boys and young men attended the second annual Merit Badge College, sponsored by Troop 106 from Central Christian Church in Ironton. The college was held at Ohio University Southern Campus.

"The kids registered for classes that would count toward a merit badge," said Dr. David Lucas, Troop 106 scoutmaster, who directed the college. "If they did their other prerequisites before coming here today, then they could earn up to three merit badges today."

Twenty classes were offered to Boy Scouts on merit badge topics that included citizenship, dentistry, aviation and golf. The courses were taught by OUSC instructors and experts in the fields covered.

"We tried to offer merit badges that the young men need in order to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout," Lucas said. "And some of them are just plain fun. We want these young men to walk away with a good experience."

The young men who attended the Merit Badge College came from as far away as Columbus, Lewisburg, Ky., and Milton, W.Va.