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EWSPAPERS OF
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AGE
5
February 14, 2013
B
ELLEVILLE
- R
OMULUS
Soaring
Teen earns Eagle Scout rank
Students disciplined
following game fracas
City seeks input on grant use
Dakota Watkins is the newest
Eagle Scout from Romulus Boy
Scout Troop 872.
Eagle Scout is the highest rank
in Boy Scouts. Watkins is the 15th
Eagle Scout from Troop 872 since
1998, when the troopwas founded.
Watkins' achievement was cele-
brated during a Court of Honor
Feb. 6 at St. Aloysius School, home
of Troop 872. He was recognized
for his lifelong efforts in Scouting,
his 22 merit badges, his work as a
senior patrol leader and his out-
standingwork in the community
Watkins, 17, is a native of
Romulus and attended Romulus
schools through eighth grade. He is
currently a junior at Livonia
StevensonHighSchool.
Watkins has been in Scouting
more than 10 years since he joined
Cub Scouts in first grade. He
learned a variety of skills, per-
formed community service, earned
badges, attended Scout Camp and
earned all of the ranks of Scouting.
The rank of Eagle is the most
challenging. In addition to pro-
gressing through the Scouting
ranks, earning at least 21 merit
badges and serving in a troop lead-
ership position, a Boy Scout must
plan, lead and complete a major
service project and then complete
anEagleScout board of review.
Despite only being required to
serve as a senior patrol leader for
six months, Watkins held the posi-
tion for 1½ years. In that role, he
organized the patrols and activities,
assigning fellow Scouts to various
tasks.
For his service project, Watkins
organized a computer class for sen-
ior citizens at the Romulus Senior
Center inAugust. An expert in com-
puters, Watkins taught seniors such
basics as how to use a mouse, navi-
gating the Internet, computer secu-
rity and safety andMicrosoftWord.
He said the project took about
125 hours to plan and execute. At
the end, Watkins presented each of
the participants with a certificate
of achievement.
Watkins said his next goal is to
attend Ferris State University and
earn a bachelor's degree in com-
puter information technology in
business. He wants to manage a
team of information technology
professionals, overseeing people
who provide technical support to
other computer users inbusiness.
Watkins said his leadership
skills learned in Scouting prompt-
ed his creation of the Grilled
Cheese Club in high school. The
after-school club was designed as a
way students could make new
friends while enjoying music,
grilled cheese sandwiches and
other food. It has become so popu-
lar that some days Watkins himself
can't find a seat.
Watkins said Scouting also
taught himmorals he plans to carry
with him the rest of his life, to truly
be prepared and how “being a
leader is a privilege.”
At the Court of Honor, Watkins
thanked his parents Jenny Bell and
Tony and Melinda Watkins, his sib-
lings and other family members,
his Scout leaders and his fellow
Scouts for all of their support.
Belleville students will be on their
best behavior tomorrow night when their
school basketball team meets the
Romulus Eagles in the Romulus High
School gymnasium.
That's because their behavior at the
last game between the two teams
prompted punishments including verbal
reprimands and school suspensions.
Following that game Jan. 25, students
from Belleville left the bleachers and
crowded onto the gym floor and were
involved in a scuffle with other students
and players, prompting the disciplinary
action by school administrators. Some
players on the Belleville team also faced
a one-game suspension, according to
reports of the situation.
The altercation was brought under
control almost immediately and was
apparently prompted when the rival
teams left the floor to go to the locker
rooms at the same time using the same
hallway. Pushing and shoving ensued
and included students, players, coaches,
school officials and even police officers
attempting to calm the situation. The
incident was controlled by administra-
tors , teachers and police in about 10
minutes, reports said. The game was
delayed by about 20 minutes because of
the fracas.
Police reports indicated that no
arrests were made although extra offi-
cers were dispatched to the school to
control the situation.
Belleville lost the game to Romulus
89-55. The game begins at 7 tomorrow
night at RomulusHighSchool.
Romulus police did not confirm any
special security measures planned or
additional officers for the game, but said
the department was aware of the rivalry
andwould control the situation.
Belleville officials have $57,000 to spend
in the city and need some suggestions from
residents as to the best use of the fund.
The money is part of the Community
Development Block Grant program, a feder-
al revenue source, and the projects allowed
have some restrictions. One of those restric-
tions requires that the funded projects be in
areaswhere the average income of the popu-
lation falls beneatha specific level.
Members of the Belleville City Council set
a public hearing on the use of the funds for
Feb. 19 in the council chambers.
Mayor Kerreen Conley said the council is
open to suggestions and looking for creative
ideas for using the grant funding.
Already suggested has been the addition
of a flashing traffic signal light near the sen-
ior living facility on West Columbia Street.
That plan would require an income analysis
of every student at the nearby high school
with a resultant finding that a specific per-
centage of them be from a low to moderate
income home to comply with the federal
guidelines, as the high school is in close
proximity to the senior facility, according to
city officials.
If no project meets the criteria, the funds
can be designated for future barrier free
improvements, officials said, allowing them
to reserve the funding for a project in the
future.
Gathering at the Court of Honor for new Eagle Scout Dakota Watkins are
current Boy Scout Troop 872 members and alumni, including several
other Eagle Scouts. In the front row are Eagle Scout Colton Laginess
(left), Scoutmaster Wayne Laginess, Justin Sayer, Eagle Scout Dakota
Watkins, Ian Kerr and Kevin Beard. Standing are Assistant Scoutmaster
Sgt. Anthony Norman (left), Ben Mach, Eagle Scouts Alex Norman and
Kyle Linderman, Assistant Scoutmaster Ken Beard, Scoutmaster Tom
Kuderik, Charter Organization Representative Mark Lewkowicz, Robert
Kerr and Leader Stuart Kerr.
To advertise in The Eagle
Call 734-467-1900.