Ronan student completes Eagle Scout project
Berl Tiskus
ndrew Koehler stands by one of the two benches he fundraised for and placed between Ronan and Pablo for his Eagle Scout project.
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RONAN — Andrew Koehler noticed people using the walking and biking path along U.S. Highway 93 and thought benches would be a welcome place for people to stop and look at the Mission Mountains.
Now two bright orange benches on the west side of the highway offer killer views of the mountains because of Andrew’s Eagle Scout project.
An Eagle Scout project is a big undertaking, and Andrew has a notebook of all the details, including his beginning idea and explaining his project to receive approval from the Eagle Scout Council in Great Falls; fundraising donations; actually mixing the concrete and installing the benches; attaching the plaques and finishing the paperwork.
Because the benches would be near the highway, the Montana Department of Transportation needed special forms to OK the benches.
“That was a lesson in itself,” said Dave Koehler, Andrew’s dad and assistant troop leader.
“The benches had to be behind a guardrail,” Andrew said, since otherwise it would have been a safety issue for MDOT.
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes had to OK the project, too.
And an Eagle Scout prospect must have his project finished before his 18th birthday.
Even if a scout’s just an hour late, his project won’t be accepted, according to Andrew’s Scout Leader Gary Greiff. Andrew is 17, and his birthday is in July — so he’ll be okay.
Andrew and his scout group, Troop 1940, fundraised for the benches by selling World’s Finest Chocolates at Super 1 Foods, Walmart, Safeway and Harvest Foods on March 20.
“When we were selling chocolate, a lot of people thought (the project) was a good idea,” Dave said.
Andrew approached Western Building Supply Ronan manager Mike Hinman about donating to his project. After Andrew explained his idea and why it would be giving back to community, the business donated the cement for the bench footings.
In addition to thanking all of the community members who supported the chocolate sale, Andrew thanks Ms. Rowe, a third grade teacher at K. William Harvey Elementary School in Ronan, for funds. Jesse Gray, Ronan High School tech teacher, donated plaques for the benches; Mary Callahan helped with paperwork; and Connie Romero, whose son is an Eagle Scout, too, advised Andrew on his benches.
Andrew’s dad — who teaches fourth grade — donated the rebar, according to Andrew, plus the family also had a cement mixer. With help from the rest of the troop, Greiff, his dad and Ryan Dresen, the benches were installed.
“They each cost $324,” Andrew said, “and the shipping was almost as much as the benches.”
Finally the job is done, and Andrew is finishing up the paperwork for his project.
After all the bills are paid, Andrew ended up with a surplus of $342.63 so he donated it to the Bread Basket, Ronan’s food pantry.
“The money came from the community and this will give it back to the community,” Andrew said.
With schoolwork, cross-county running, National Honor Society, robotics and his Eagle Scout project, it’s been a busy year.
Ronan High School Principal Kevin Kenelty noted Andrew is a straight A student.
While his favorite subject is math, Andrew most enjoyed both his math and tech classes.
“He does all of his work and asks for more,” Kenelty said.
Next year will be Andrew’s senior year, and he wants to graduate from Ronan High School so much that he commutes from Missoula with his dad, according to Kenelty.
Only about 2 million Boy Scouts have become Eagle Scouts since the organization’s inception in 1912, and now Andrew will join the ranks.
