Siblings near the start of their Eagle Scout projects

REGIONAL — When it comes to working toward becoming an Eagle Scout, it’s all in the family for siblings Riley and Kayla Spies. The two are members of Worthington Scout Troop 134.With Riley set to begin construction of a community dog park in Adrian for his Eagle Scout project, Kayla is beginning her fundraising campaign to construct a veterans wall memorial at Round Lake American Legion Post 461.

Kayla, who has been a Scout since she was in fifth grade, said she got the idea for her project from Cubmaster Scott Carlson.“I was originally gonna do a different project, and then Scott brought up that they were looking for somebody to do a memorial wall project,” Kayla said. “That's how I decided to do it, because I know a lot of veterans and am related to a lot of veterans who have passed away.



"Kayla said she already knows what the memorial will look like, and has plans on how she will raise the $7,000 needed to fund it.“There's going to be a wooden flag in the center of the wall and two big plaques on either side of the flag with 2- by 4-inch plaques that have the person's name and the war they served in,” Kayla detailed. “For the fundraising, I will be going to companies (to ask for donations), I can also do pork feeds and hamburger feeds and I’ll also be selling T-shirts.

I have gone to one business already (Kids-R-It) and they’ve already donated $1,000.”Kayla said the project holds a special place not just in her heart but in those closest to her.“It means a lot for being related to the people who have served and to show them respect (with the project),” she said.

“It was also a veteran (Glenn Miller) that helped my brother and I join the Scouts. Everyone that I’ve talked to about this has been very excited about it. I just want all the people in the region to enjoy it, (and) for the veterans to see the youth cares about veterans.

”Dog park ready for constructionIn the last several months, Riley Spies’ community dog park in Adrian has raised all the money needed for its construction.Riley said while it is a relief to have the fundraising phase completed, the weather being on his side is another matter entirely.“It feels like a weight off my shoulders.

Now I can actually work on it. It's not a waiting process anymore and now it’s just building it and having fun with it,” Riley said. “Right now, we just need to go get the fencing from the Adrian lumberyard, get it down there and just pick a weekend to build it when nature is on our side.

It's like we’ve got shared experiences and we get to help each other out ...

That's just teamwork."You don't want the ground to be too soft or then the posts will lean and it won't be sturdy," he added. "You don't want it too hard either because the bit we use might get stuck and jam and it causes more problems.

”Another hurdle that’s been crossed is the park’s very slight move to facilitate farm equipment traffic.“It actually had to be moved because we didn't realize there was a farmer that needed to get through. There’s a field right off the interstate there and that's where he gets in,” Riley shared.

“With my dog park there, we would’ve been in the way, so we just had to move it over a little, only about 15 feet south. Beyond that, everything’s the same yet.”Even though construction is yet to begin, Riley said there is already excitement about its opening upon its projected June completion.

“The community has been all for it,” he said. “They've all been very supportive of it — it’s all been going very nice and smooth."Riley said Adrian Police Chief Ashley Kane is very excited to have the dog park available so she can take Adrian K9 Ghost there and run her around.

"I want (it) to last a while so that people and their pets can enjoy it and I can see it there in the future,” he added.With the two having been in Scouts together, the siblings have had a lot to bond over with their projects and experiences.“It's kinda eye opening because she's working on her project and I'm working on mine.

It's like we’ve got shared experiences and we get to help each other out,” Riley said. “When I had my hamburger feed, Kayla was in the background helping serve the food and everything. Now I do that for her.

I’ve helped her fundraise, she’s helped me fundraise. That's just teamwork.”To make a donation to Kayla Spies' Eagle Scout project account, visit First State Bank Southwest in Worthington.

]]>.