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Last Updated 10:11 PM Sunday, September 05, 2010
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News
| 5/19/2009 10:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Vandals Strike
Scout Facility
Sally Cook
Staff Writer
DANVILLE - Photos on a teenager's Facebook Web page led to the arrest of vandals who struck the town's Boy Scout camp.
Recent vandalism to the Boy Scout Camp in the town's 100-Acre Woods Forest has left the site devastated and Scout Master David Towle very unhappy.
Following an investigation, state police charged Bruce Melendy, 19, of Danville, Tyler Willson, 19, of St. Johnsbury, and Steven Cross, 21, of Passumpsic, with vandalism and underage drinking, Two unidentified juveniles were also charged and more arrests could come, according to police.
Towle said one person took photos and put them up on his Facebook Web page so the culprits were easy to identify.
Earlier this month, benches were burned, the Scout law sign and flag pole were pulled down with a truck and burned at an out of control, underage drinking party at the site.
Scouts have been to the site several times before to clean up piles of broken beer bottles, trash, and condom wrappers so that the site is presentable to the entire town, Towle said, adding that his father mows the field and walkways so they are safe.
"These acts of vandalism were not just an insult to the Boy Scouts, it is a slap in the face to the entire town," Towle said. "We would like to work with the town and the Danville Conservation Committee to make this a special place where scouts, students and all Danville residents can go to enjoy the outdoors."
As a community service, he said, the troop has assisted the school's summer program by hosting field trips to the site. On three occasions, Danville students arrived by bus to spend half a day at the site to learn about nature.
"They saluted the flag that flew on the flagpole (that was torn down and burned), sat on the benches (that were burned) and read maps from the box (that has been pulled apart)," he said in a message sent to Town Administrator Mert Leonard.
Scouts are planning a camp out June 5-7. Towle said that will be enough time to restore the grounds.
He said they plan to replace the flag pole, build new benches, and repair damage done to the fields before the summer school program arrives for field trips. Scouts have other ideas for improvements that could be done to the benefit of residents.
"Everything will be put in tip-top shape for the entire town to enjoy," Towle said.
The Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts troops, he said, appreciate the town allowing them to use the grounds.
"It has been the location of many memories that will stay with a young man for a lifetime," Towle said.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Article comment by:
RESPONSE TO LYNDA M.
I hope you're not referring to the young boys (ages 11-17)as "hate mongering bastards" SHAME ON YOU! It is their work that was destroyed and not the lawyers that fight over the issue you describe. Where does it say in the Bible that underage hooligans are allowed to get drunk, pull a flagpole out of the ground and burn benches that were made by 12 year old boys?? Does the Constitution cover them under the 1st Amendment?? Please get a tighter belt and keep your beliefs in your own pants. As for "heterosexual married men", doesn't your father fall into the same category?? I'm sure he is/was a great man. Don't insult his kindness or that of the 1,000,000 Boy Scout leaders as an attempt to groom young boys into unspeakable acts. Unfortunately there probably are people that we all despise in the Scouts but they are also in our school systems, Girl Scouts, 4H, daycares, Little League, and yes dear Lynda, even in our churches. They are in your church, where you shop, where you eat, and in your neighborhood. Now that you've cast your own hypocritical stones, the Boy Scouts will gather them and make a campfire ring to light a fire to pay homage to you for your great wisdom and having the same ideologies. I hope your ranting made you feel better. GOD BLESS YOU LYNDA.
Posted: Monday, June 15, 2009
Article comment by:
Lynda Mkrtchyan
I read the article online (I live in Caliornia)and all I could do was laugh. I can't believe those hate-mongering bastards (Some of them)finally got what they were asking for!I never support organizations that discriminate, and they should be ashamed of themselves for representing one that does! Would someone point out in scripture where Jesus himself condemns gay people? what comes to mind is John 8:7 where Jesus says to the Pharisees who brought in a woman caught in adultery "You who is without sin be the first to cast a stone at her." I am actually a rather conservative Christian who also knows that most pedofiles who prey on young boys are actually heterosexual married men. Centuries ago people should have taken their beliefs, shoved them down their own pants and kept them the hell out of everyone elses!!!!
Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2009
Article comment by:
Jeff
Jessica if you are going to trash one person for misspelling words, why not point out DHS Alumni's error in the post right before it?
distroy? It is spelled destroy.
DHS Alumnus indeed.
Posted: Thursday, May 28, 2009
Article comment by:
Jessica
Clearly these young adults need to be punished, if they were the main people who started this or not, they were involved. Also "get the rite people" if you are going to come to defend your "friends" at least know how to tell the difference between right and rite. Right, not rite (which is a religious act) This along with “Culprites” (sorry it’s spelt culprits) Sounds like you both have done some dumb things.
Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009
Article comment by:
TASHA
if they are all over 16 and if they were all drinking, why won't the paper print the names? they printed the names of the boys that pushed over the headstones. this is no worse LET'S HAVE THE NAMES!
Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009
Article comment by:
IT'S NOT ABOUT REVENGE
The Outdoor Code
As an American, I will do my best to -
Be clean in my outdoor manners. I will treat the outdoors as a heritage. I will take care of it for myself and others. I will keep my trash and garbage out of lakes, streams, fields, woods, and roadways.
Be careful with fire.
I will prevent wildfire.
I will build my fires only where they are appropriate.
When I have finished using a fire, I will make sure it is cold out. I will leave a clean fire ring, or remove all evidence of my fire.
Be considerate in the outdoors. I will treat public and private property with respect.
I will use low-impact methods of hiking and camping.
Be conservation minded
I will learn how to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, wildlife, and energy.
I will urge others to do the same.
>>The scouts don't want revenge, that's not what they are about. Kudos to Mr. Towle for not wanting to take it out on the culprits. IT SOUNDS LIKE HE JUST WANTS IT PUT BACK TOGETHER. How should Mr. Towle explain to his scouts from the 1st grade and up why their hard work was destroyed. Because there was a drinking party?
Addressing "get the rite people" do you think whichever friend(s) of yours that were there should pay according to their level of "participation" I think so, too.
Posted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Article comment by:
David A.
Every morning when they step up to the mirror they see a person staring back at them. Right now they only see a stranger. Until they know that they are looking at their own humility, they can't be saved. A public apology and community service should do the trick.
Posted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Article comment by:
get the rite people
i happen to know them pretty well, and i know that none of them were the main culprites of anything, they walked on to it and then made the poor decision of participating in it, so get your story rite
Posted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Article comment by:
DHS Alumni
I will not claim to be the "perfect" young adult, by all means I drank with the best of them and attended multiple under age gatherings. However we never distroyed property and were disprespectful to our fellow peers in such a way.
Mr Towle- I admire the work you do, and the influence you have on your troup. It takes a very kind person to post that they do not hate the people that did this.
Good Luck! I hope the town and police take this seriously!! Its one thing to have a good time, its another to distroy property and the hard work of peers!
Posted: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Article comment by:
OUT OF STATE
I JUST THINK IT IS FUNNY THAT ONE OF THE KIDS THAT DID THIS. HIS FATHER IS A STATE TROOPER. OR USED TO BE IDK BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'VE BEEN IN VT.
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