Community Interest

Over the summer, I received letters from the local scouts in Troop 856 from New Melle. The troop went to a summer camp in West Virginia from July 7th to 13th at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, a High Adventure National Scout Camp.

At the camp, the scouts took part in various activities including white water rafting, zip lining, bicycle motocross track riding, mountain biking, and skateboarding. They also attended classes on important life skills like first aid and swimming, as well as courses focusing on communication and citizenship to help them become productive members of society. As a requirement, the scouts wrote letters to a local newspaper, TV station, or senators. I would like to share these letters with the readers and thank the scouts for choosing to write to the Boone Country Connection.

Dear Ms. Miller,
I want to let you know that I greatly appreciate the visibility the Boone Country connection provides to my Boy Scout Troop, 856, in New Melle.
I noticed the article posted recently about Jacob Kramer receiving the heroism award. Articles like this and previous ones provide awareness to parents in the Boone Country area about the opportunity for scouting.
As a result of COVID, our troop was impacted by a decreased number of new scouts entering the program, and visibility like this provides the exposure that can encourage new scouts to enter the program.
Thank you very much, Ms. Miller, for your support.
Joshua Goetsch - Troop 856



Boone Country Connection
I’m a member of Troop 856, and I thank you for your support and stories about our troop. Our troop has been highlighted many times in the Boone Country Connection. Some of the stories included our Scouting For Food, our highway cleanup, VFW flag ceremonies and our cleanup at the IHM sausage dinner. Later in the future we will do a Christmas tree lot and clean up and help out at the sausage dinner, events in which you have run advertising for our Boy Scout troop. I am currently in West Virginia at a scout camp, and I am assigned to write to an editor and thought of our local paper. Thanks again for all you do!
Marvin Thater - Troop 856

Hello Kathy Miller, my name is Grayson Williams, and I am a Boy Scout working on the communications merit badge. One of the requirements is to write to an editor. I have chosen to write to you about why it is important to be involved in your community. One reason why it is important to be involved in your community is that you can support and help others to make the community better. Another reason is that if you are involved in your community when you know what is happening and can attend events or gatherings. And lastly, if you are involved in your community, then you have a sense of connection or belonging with your neighbors. I bring this topic up because your newsletter helps to demonstrate these qualities. For example, by sharing information about the New Melle festival, people can gather and show fellowship in their communities. I remember going to the festival and enjoying it very much. So, thank you for writing the Boone Country Connection to build a better community.
Thanks, Grayson Williams

Boone Country Connection
Thanks for spotlighting Jacob Kramer a fellow scout in Troop 856. I am working on a communications merit badge and I have to write to an editor about my opinion. My opinion is your publication spotlighted one of my fellow scout members, Jacob Kramer. I appreciate you for showing what he’s done for the community. The local BSA council has seen it and got the word out about what he’s done. The head of BSA came to a meeting to congratulate Jacob Kramer. Thank you for all you do spotlighting our small local troop.
Tyler Stiern - Troop 856

Scout Troop 856 in New Melle meets at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 8 W Hwy D, every Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. The Scout Troop is for ages 10 to 18. For questions or more information, please contact Scoutmaster Eric Stiern at (636) 798-2728 or email Eric at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

New Melle Cub Scouts Pack 3856 is open to kids from Kindergarten through 5th grade. The Pack holds its meetings at IHM Church in New Melle. All boys and girls from any school are welcome to join. Contact Wesley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 636-445-4948.

For more information about Scouting and the Troop nearest you, visit beascout.org and search by zip code.