Albertville Teen Accomplishes Scouts' Highest Honor

Nolan Anderson, 15, of Albertville, received his Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America in a court of honor on Nov. 10 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Otsego, which sponsors Troop 378. 

The court of honor recognized two scouts from the troop who earned their Eagle awards, Anderson, and Taylor Hecker of Otsego. Bill Barber, a member of the advancement committee of the Northern Lights District of the Northstar Council led Anderson and Hecker in the Eagle Scout oath and pledge.

Scoutmaster Andre St. Gelais conducted the Court of Honor and presented the Awards. He said, “As we all know, moms and dad do a huge part in encouraging them and helping them along the way. “

In recognition of that effort, Anderson presented a pin to his parents, Ryan and Andrea Anderson, as well as, a mentor pin to Cory Hansen of Big Lake, a former scout leader. 

To become an Eagle Scout, the highest rank in scouting, Anderson participated in years of scouting, earning rank advancements and at least 21 merit badges, and completing a service project.

Anderson, a sophomore at St. Michael Albertville High School, worked with the Albertville Fire Department, City of Albertville and members of his scout troop to construct a stone garden path at the Memorial Park in Albertville for Jessica Weishair. Weishair was a band student from Pelican Rapids who did not survive the crash of a charter bus on April 5, 2008, on Interstate 94, going through Albertville.

Anderson said his troop leveled the ground and laid the stonework in a circle from carts of tiles, provided through fundraising in Pelican Rapids, “like a giant jigsaw puzzle.” 

A roadside memorial to Weishair and the bus crash became a frequently visited location for Weishair’s family and friends, but had to be moved during construction of the new Interstate 94 interchange at County Road 37. 

Fire Chief Tate Mills of Albertville worked with city leaders and the Boy Scouts to get the park established. It sits just to the north of the frontage road, west of the gas station and car wash, on the shores of School Lake.