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The Coshocton County Beacon • January 28, 2009
So You Think You’re Tough? Mark’s Musings
MARK FORTUNE Pictured are a group of unidentified Boy Scouts that attended the annual Klondike Derby and camped outside in frigid temperatures. (Beacon photo by Mark Fortune)
Boy Scouts from around the area convened at the Muskingum Valley Scout Reservation on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 16, 17 and 18 for the annual running of the Klondike Derby. The Klondike Derby is where a group of scouts pull a sled that they have built on a preestablished course with several stops – or stations. The stations range from building a fire and cooking pancakes to first aid, compass reading and more. Essentially the Derby is about learning to survive in the outdoors. Landon Arnold, of host Troop 438, which meets at Prairie Chapel United Methodist Church, was this year’s program director. Arnold explained that the Klondike Derby is meant to “help scouts learn to survive in the
winter time and brave the elements. We’ll be testing scout skills at each station with a set time limit. The scouts have to make a pancake in a mess kit is one example of this”, Arnold explained. When asked to comment on the weekends activities during the harsh weather conditions, Arnold quickly quipped, “Mother’s don’t camp!” Glenn Fischer, the local district chairman of the Boy Scouts, said that, “this is the first time we’ve let a boy run the event – that’s why we ordered the low temperatures and the snow!” Jeff Wickerham, Senior District Executive with the Muskingum Valley Council of the Boy Scouts added that, “we want to try and make sure the boys were prepared. We talked to each
scout master – if a boy was uncomfortable they did not have to participate. This event is meant to provide an opportunity to challenge these boys and give them (the boys) a chance to achieve and survive in these extreme temperatures. We had a meeting to make sure everyone knew the signs of frostbite – and were prepared”. Wickerham reported that there were 56 youth and adults camping with 40 of those spending Friday night outdoors in the frigid temperatures. A low temperature of minus 23 degrees was recorded early Saturday morning – a new record for the Klondike Derby. In fact, as one scout explained, “this is the first time we’ve actually had snow for the Derby that I have participated in!”
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new President, a new direction and a new spirit of energy for the country has emerged from Washington D.C. That is what I see happening right now with the Barack Obama administration. The majority of the pundits are saying that the first 100 days in office are critical and the timeframe to make things happen. While I agree that the first 100 days are most important, I think it is going to take longer than that to get the country moving again in the proper direction. Setting the proper stage will be key. 2009 may very well be a challenging year as areas of the country not previously affected by the economic downturn are
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now being thrust into the spotlight. I believe that we are adjusted to operating in a sluggish environment although there may still be some pain to endure as we monitor the recent cutbacks at the city and county level. These things are happening throughout the nation as local governments find themselves having to adjust to meet reduced taxes and less federal funding. Despite all of these conditions, our area is well poised for economic recovery and our leaders in local civic groups, government, business, faith and education are doing everything they can to work together and minimize the losses locally. The Coshocton County Commissioners are continuing to push forward with the rural broadband initiative which will have a deep and long lasting positive impact on our economy and open up our citizens to the world through the internet. Opportunities abound in this technological arena and one only has to look at the impact from YouTube, FaceBook, Google, Yahoo! or any of the dozens of other internet based companies to see that our
industrial landscape has changed forever. America is based on creativity and innovation, with scientists and inventors finding ways to help our country when it needed it most. The cotton gin, the combine, the electric light bulb and the steam engine transformed America and generated wealth beyond measure – but not without loss for many. Ask a canal boat captain what he thought of the locomotive and you probably had to hold your ears! I believe that we are once again facing similar challenges – and changes – in our country. Educating ourselves about new technology, new industries and new devices is what America is all about. Hang on world, and watch the people of America rise to the challenge once again! The President has asked us to do our part to help. Super Bowl prediction – Cardinals 24, Steelers 21. Kurt Warner will do it again.
Mark Fortune
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