Riley Gossling of Alta Vista was awarded the highest level of Boy Scouts, the rank of Eagle Scout.
    He celebrated this accomplishment Saturday, July 11, at the site of his Eagle Scout project, the handicap accessible fishing dock at the New Hampton Municipal Airport Lake.
    The dock is in memory of his uncle, Tom Hurd, an avid sportsman who was also confined to a wheelchair.
    “My brother was a paraplegic who loved to hunt and fish. Riley wanted to do something special in his memory. I have heard a lot of people say they have used it,” said his mother. 
    The son of Rod and Debbie Gossling, Riley received his Eagle Scout rank on March 25. He started Scouting as a first grader and went through the Cub Scout ranks of Tiger, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Jr. Webelo and Sr. Webelo. He then received the Arrow of Light and became a Boy Scout.
    As a Boy Scout, he earned the ranks of Scout Tenderfoot second and first class, was accepted into the Order of the Arrow, then the Star of Life and ultimately earned his Eagle Scout.
    Over the course of Scouting, Riley has earned 32 merit badges and had the opportunity to spend summers at Winnebago Scout Reservation and Camp Ingawanis.
    He has ventured on a hiking trip to Lake Superior, a canoe trip to Boundary Waters, winter camping at OkPik and youth leadership training in Wyoming. He was a leader at Snowy Owl Winter camp out and has plans to attend the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Fort A. P. Hill, Virginia in 2010.
    Riley will be entering his sophomore year at New Hampton High School in August and is active in baseball and basketball.
    “I have to thank the community for their support of this project,” Riley said. “I am happy to hear that so many people are making use of it.”