Mesquite District

Three Eagle Scout candidates from Scouts BSA Troop 194 in Pleasanton completed their Eagle Scout Service Projects in partnership with the City of Charlotte Public Library, the Atascosa Central Appraisal District and the Pleasanton Parks and Recreation benefiting the City Pool.

The purpose of the Eagle Scout Service Project, in addition to providing service and fulfilling the part of the Scout Oath, “To help other people at all times,” is to learn, or improve upon,  their leadership skills. Related to this are important lessons in project management and taking responsibility for a significant accomplishment. Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA).

Tex Anderson, Zander Temple and Wanish Tortes-McGinnis all Life Scouts from Scouts BSA Troop 194, presented their Eagle Scout Service project proposals to the Mesquite District Eagle Review Board on July 27^th via their very first Zoom meeting under the direction of Richard Morris, Mesquite District Eagle Board Chairman, including board members Andrew Belew, Thomas Bentimiglia and Christopher Mendoza, Mesquite District Executive, all three scouts received approval on their projects.

Safety is a large part of the planning of an Eagle Scout project, each of the three Eagle Scout Candidates held safety meetings with all volunteers the morning of their project. They discussed with all volunteers the wearing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as safety glasses, work gloves or disposable gloves, masks and the need to social distance. Also discussed was the designated place for all tools not in use so that no one would trip or fall over them.

Wanish Tortes-McGinnis’s Eagle Scout Service Project was completed on Saturday, August 22^nd. Wanish and his twenty-five volunteers created a reading garden area at new Charlotte Public Library in Charlotte, Texas. The City of Charlotte staff removed the existing dead grass and existing top soil the area in preparation of this project. The volunteers planted two olive trees, one desert willow tree, twelve shrubs and the group added new topsoil to the garden area all the way to the fence. After the planting was complete, the group laid out a drip water system to water all of the plants. A 10’x10’ pergola was also assembled by the men of the troop which will provide shade to the visitor’s reading in the new garden. By adding this reading garden feature, it will create a beautiful area for families to come and spend time together at the library. Three Adirondack chairs and two lifeguard style chairs will be placed under the pergola for readers to sit under the shade. The library’s stakeholders and patrons provided the funds to purchase the twelve-drought resistant and native plants, chairs, pergola, two olive trees, one desert willow tree and four-square yards of top oil. Plants and soil were provided by Atascosa Garden Market. Volunteers were fed breakfast tacos and bottled water. Special thanks to Chili Banderas for discounting the breakfast tacos. The opening date for the new library is November 1^st. This project was under the direction of Marianne McGinnis, Librarian.

Tex Anderson’s Eagle Scout Service Project was completed on Saturday, September 12th. Tex and his eleven volunteers refurbished an existing garden area at the Atascosa Central Appraisal District office in Pleasanton. The original raised gardens had been planted by students of the Pleasanton Elementary years ago and contained rocks hand painted by the students. The group of volunteers created a water conservation butterfly garden planting esperanza, lantana, salva, gaura, and Gregg’s mist foliage that draws in butterflies and hummingbirds. They added new soil and mulch and the frames were repaired and painted dark brown. After the garden was finished the group placed the painted rocks around the two beds and in the inside the garden beds to create shapes to decorate the garden. Two humming bird feeders hanging from shepherd’s hooks were also added. Volunteers were fed breakfast tacos and bottled water.  The plants, wood, paint and hardware were provided by the Atascosa Central Appraisal District. This project was under the direction of Donna Berry, Administrative Assistant for the Atascosa Central Appraisal District.

Zander Temple’s Eagle Scout Service Project was completed on Saturday, September 19^th. Zander and his twenty-five volunteers painted the building exterior at the Pleasanton City Pool.  In preparation for this project, three city staff employees painted primer on the building exterior which help minimized the amount of oil-based paint needed to cover the area. The building was painted in three colors, Navaho beige on smooth surface, saddle soap brown on the textured surface and the trim and doors were painted in a dark bronze color. By painting the exterior of the building at the city pool, it will match the color scheme of other buildings in the Pleasanton Sports Complex and the Pleasanton River Park. Most of the Scouts had never painted before so this project also taught them a new skill. Volunteers were fed breakfast tacos, bottled water, pizza, and brownies. Special thanks to HEB for donating 96 bottles of water and Chili Banderas for discounting the breakfast tacos. All of the oil-based paint was donated by the City of Pleasanton. This project was under the direction of Greg Leach, Parks and Recreation Director, City of Pleasanton.

The three eagle scout candidates are working on completing their final project reports in preparation for their Final Eagle Board of reviews that will take place in October or November. Joett Morrison has served as the Eagle Coach to all three Eagle Scout candidates and stated that she is very proud of all three young men as they did a great job in guiding each of their volunteers to complete this service projects. She has seen them grow up to respectable young men and they are all a true blessing to their families and to their community. All photos and article courtesy of Joett Morrison.

(Group Photo for Wanish Tortes-McGinnis Eagle Scout service

project at the new Charlotte Public Library)

Back row standing left to right are Joett Morrison, Asst. Scoutmaster and Eagle Coach, Koal Schaub, Eagle Scout, Wanish Tortes-McGinnis, Eagle Scout Candidate, Seth Macmanus, Jason Schaub, Jairo Ortiz, Cade Macmanus, Eagle Scout, Paul Macmanus, Scoutmaster, Garrett Mills, Connor Below Asst. Senior Patrol Leader, Brandon Below, Asst. Scoutmaster, Cole Hannah, Senior Patrol Leader, Ian McGinnis, Christopher Mendoza, Mesquite District Executive. Front row left to right are Travis McGinnis, David Longley, Kyle McGinnis, Marianne McGinnis, Librarian, Autumn Tortes-McGinnis, Abel Martinez, Dwain McGinnis, Casey McGinnis, and Kristin McGinnis. Not pictured, Tahlisa McGinnis, Clay McGinnis, Ruby McGinnis and Bill Fehr.

(Group Photo for Tex Anderson’s Eagle Scout service project at the Atascosa Central Appraisal District)

Back row left to right are Donna Berry, Walter Berry, David Longley, Ian Anderson and Chuck Hannah, Asst. Scoutmaster. Front row left to right are Mackenzie Newman, Larry Pierce, Paxton Henke, Tex Anderson, Eagle Scout Candidate, Cole Hannah, Senior Patrol Leader, and Garrett Mills.

(Group Photo for Zander Temple’s Eagle Scout service project at the Pleasanton City Pool)

Back row left to right David Longley, Carter McMain, Mackenzie Newman, Larry Pierce, Garrett Mills, Rudy Castillo, Cade Macmanus, Greg Leach, Parks and Rec. Director, Wes Newkirk. Middle row left to right Carmen De La Torre, Alberto De La Torre, Nancy Miller, Seth Macmanus, Jairo Ortiz, Tex Anderson, Eagle Scout Candidate, Connor Below, Jody Johnston, Misty Morrison-Newkirk, Jasper Newkirk and Joett Morrison, Asst. Scoutmaster and Eagle Coach. Front row kneeling left to right Brandon Below, Asst. Scoutmaster, Zander Temple, Eagle Scout Candidate and Paul Macmanus, Scoutmaster. Not pictured Haley Pierce, Clayton Newman, Danny Morrison and Nicole Johnston.