Dolphins name Mincy as new basketball coach SPORTS, 1C FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021 | JACKSONVILLE.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK DeSantis: Vaccines for all on April 5 All adults will be eligible for virus inoculation Jeffrey Schweers and Steve Patterson Jacksonville Florida Times-Union USA TODAY NETWORK Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Thursday the state will allow any adult to be vaccinated for COVID-19 begin- ning April 5. Anyone 40 or older can make an ap- pointment for the vaccine starting Monday, the governor said. “Florida’s Senior First vaccine strat- egy is paying off,” DeSantis said in a video announcing the decision. He said more than 3.2 million people 65 and older, or over 70 percent of the state’s seniors, have been vaccinated. The result of those efforts, DeSantis See VACCINES, Page 6A Admitting girls, including Marina Mitchell, was one of many changes during the first century of the Boy Scouts of America’s North Florida Council. Mitchell is one of the council’s first 13 female Eagle Scouts. PROVIDED BY NORTH FLORIDA COUNCIL/BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Nate Monroe Boy Scouts celebrate 100 Columnist Florida Times-Union USA TODAY NETWORK years with first Eagle girls Beth Reese Cravey Jacksonville Florida Times-Union | USA TODAY NETWORK BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA Grand jury NORTH FLORIDA COUNCIL In the summer of 1912, two years after the Boy Scouts of America was founded, Earl To donate, volunteer or get more Marx of Jacksonville became the country’s second Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest hears from information, contact the council honor. at 521 Edgewood Ave. S., About 100 years later on Monday, 13 girls will be recognized as the first of their gender Jacksonville, FL 32205; (904) in North Florida to achieve the same status. former JEA 388-0591; Those girls and 213 boys accomplished the task — daunting even under normal cir- [email protected] cumstances — during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The achievement “un- or go to nfcscouting.org. officials derscores” what youth have learned in Scouting for a century, said Jack Sears, exec- utive and CEO for the Boy Scouts of America’s North Florida Council. Three former JEA officials, includ- “We teach young people to be resilient and be prepared for anything that comes at ing an ex-chief executive officer, ap- them,” Sears said. “Look at the last 12 months — and 226 kids achieved Eagle Scout. peared before a federal grand jury in They found a way … to earn a very hard award.” Jacksonville on Thursday amid a crim- Jessica Parker, 19, of Saint Johns is one of the first female Eagle Scouts. She said she inal investigation into a botched effort treasures being the latest generation of a century of Eagles. in 2019 to privatize the city agency. “Having that many years and that many Scouts as my foundation is truly inspira- It’s not clear if they were the first tional,” she said. “It feels amazing that the trail I have blazed is going to impact so many witnesses to speak to the grand jury — Scouts, not just females.” whose deliberations are secret — or The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910 to develop character, citizenship, how long ago federal prosecutors con- leadership, life skills and fitness. vened the body. But the appearance On Feb. 17, 1911, 14 local boys formed the first Jacksonville troop. Thursday of witnesses came during a By 1920 there were 10 local troops, 200 members and a local governing body, the recent spate of activity during which Jacksonville Council, later renamed the North Florida Council. Jessica Parker, of St. Johns, is prosecutors sent numerous subpoe- In 1926 the first African American troop in the South was organized at Jacksonville’s one of the first 13 female Eagle nas for witness testimony across the Stanton High School. By 1934 there were 14 troops and 350 boys participating in Black Scouts of the Boy Scouts of city, which suggests they are moving a troops, with 17 receiving Eagle Scout status, according to the council. Integration of America’s North Florida Council. PROVIDED BY NORTH FLORIDA See JURY, Page 5A See SCOUTS, Page 2A COUNCIL/BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA YOUR HOME FL Lic. CBC1257350 l GA Lic. RLQA003805 REPAIR PROJECT. Contact us for a FREE ESTIMATE Cannot be combined with any other offer. Must be presented at time of appointment. Valid on jobs of $3,000 904-650-0149 CRAWl SPACEFOUNDATION CONCRETE or more. Limited time offer. 3/31/2021 FINANCING AVAILABLE JV-0003341273-01 ‘Doing God’s work’ Weather Volume 156 | No. 85 Home delivery pricing inside Virus comeback: Case numbers Homeless man picks up garbage High 90° | Low 64° Subscribe 904-359-4255 ©2021 $2.50 WGFEIG-00100u worry U.S. health officials. 4A along side of U.S. 1. 1B Hot. Forecast, 8B 2A| FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2021| THE TIMES-UNION said. “As a parent and grandparent, Scouting means Scouts learning to get along with our world — its people and natural resources — in a respectful way, while still Continued from Page 1A holding onto the fun and adventure of it all.” He said he learned communication, leadership and troops throughout the South began in 1974. interpersonal skills. Openly gay boys were admitted in 2013 and girls in “I also learned how to take care of myself, physically 2019. and mentally, and to be personally responsible for the In 2020 the national organization declared Chapter things I do and don’t do,” he said. Of all youth pro- 11 bankruptcy because of 300 lawsuits from men who grams, Scouting is the “most complete and well- said they were sexually abused as Scouts. The filing rounded,” he said. was necessary to “equitably compensate” the men and Enduring minor bits of discomfort, such as mosqui- for the organization to continue to carry out its mis- tos on a camping trip, helps Scouts handle larger chal- sion, the national office said at the time. lenges as they get older, Heekin said. The youth lead The bankruptcy did not impact local councils, each other, with adults around just “to keep them from which provide programming, financial, facility and ad- running into a ditch.” ministrative support to local units, Sears said. Cooksey loved the adventure. “Camping, outdoor activities, camaraderie, being Official: Ranks will return to around other kids,” he said. normal after pandemic As a parent, he has held adult volunteer positions and is a member of the council board. His brothers and Boy Scouts of America has grown into one of the sons are also Eagle Scouts. largest youth organizations in the United States with Cooksey said he loved working with youth, partic- about 110 million Americans having participated over ularly helping them learn the core values of Scouting, the years. Pre-pandemic, the Jacksonville-based such as trustworthiness, loyalty, kindness and thrifti- North Florida Council had about 13,000 members in 17 ness. With such values, he said, “They can go the dis- counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, tance.” Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Boy Scouting has also gone the distance because it Marion, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee and has evolved over the years, he said. He compared the Union. Regular participants dropped to about 7,000 Boy Scouts allowing girls to his alma mater, West during the pandemic. Point, allowing female cadets. But Sears said he expects the missing members to In 1927 Robert Heekin of Jacksonville, then about 15, The changes “opened up new avenues …new oppor- show up again once a “sense of normalcy” returns. poses in his Boy Scout uniform with his newly won tunities,” he said. Jacksonville and West Point bene- “They’ll be back,” he said. Eagle Scout medal on his shirt pocket. The Heekins fited as a result, he said. Among those who hung around was Parker, who did were a Scouting family: His nephew, local attorney “We’ve evolved to the different needs of society,” he not let the pandemic divert her path to Eagle Scout sta- Rob Heekin, is an Eagle Scout, among other relatives. said. Local and national Scouting has survived “be- tus. PROVIDED BY ROB HEEKIN cause we’ve been willing to change,” he said. Now a freshman at the University of North Florida Heekin said there was “no magic” to the survival of Hicks Honors College, she had yearned to join the Boy the Boy Scouts. Scouts as she watched her brother rise from a Cub started meeting virtually, it was still hard to keep the “Scouting has survived because young people have Scout to an Eagle Scout. “Girl Scouts … had never ap- younger girls engaged.” an attraction to the outdoors, unstructured play, ad- pealed to me,” she said. Merit badge fairs also were canceled, but she was ventures … and so forth,” he said. “And what parent When she was 14, she joined Venturing, a co-ed Boy able to meet the requirement through online programs doesn’t want his or her child to grow up to be trust- Scout program for ages 14 to 20 that is all about ad- held by other councils. Eventually she had 76 badges worthy, loyal, helpful, friendly courteous, kind, obe- venture, from rappelling to robotics, as well as leader- and completed the beekeeper project with the help of dient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent [the ship development, personal growth and service. She 20 youth Scouts and adults. Scout Law]? The challenge for Scouters is to keep it fun earned the Summit Award, the top honor in Venturing. The council’s other inaugural female Eagle Scouts and safe.” In 2019 when Boy Scouts admitted girls — the Boy are Olivia Pottenburgh of Jacksonville; Marina Mitch- Sears, who joined the Boy Scouts as a child and nev- Scout program for boys and girls ages 11 to 18 was re- ell of Ponte Vedra Beach; Courtney Laird of Orange er really left, agreed.