Boy Scouts of America, Troop 42, named Cherokee District "Troop of the year 2011"

The Cherokee Scouting District held its annual banquet Jan. 28 in St Bernard's Auditorium in Jonesboro.

Pictured from left: Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Hunter Smith; Senior Patrol Leader Shannon Sparkman; and Scoutmaster Joe Hultquist. (photo provided)

During the recognition and awards portion of the banquet, District Executive Kathy Thompson awarded a plaque to Troop 42 in recognition of its selection as Troop of The Year.

It is extraordinary for a smaller troop to win the distinction, which is based upon criteria that includes maintenance of records, timely renewal of charter; volunteering to perform civic duties, attendance of district and Quapaw Council activities, performance of ceremonies and the achievements of individual scouts.

The selection team observed that troop 42, in spite of being relatively small, had satisfied the requirements to a level that went beyond the larger and more competitive troops.

In accepting the award, Scoutmaster Joe Hultquist applauded the efforts of the scouts, their parents, the other leaders of the troop, and the local scout committee and the First United Methodist Church of Leachville which is the sponsoring organization.

Hultquist expressed his pride in the troop as he pointed out the troop had never earned such a high level of distinction in its history.

"2011 was a great year for Troop 42," he said, "and 2012 is shaping up to be even better."