James Ross earns rank of Eagle Scout

A family friend needed shelving done at Lakeway Habitat for Humanity Store in Talbott earlier this year.

She called a scout, James Ross, who ended up not only building shelving for a storage area, but shelving for the main store.

Ross recently earned the Eagle Scout Award, Scouting BSA’s highest honor. Ross served in Troop 91 at First United Methodist Church. The troop is led by Scoutmaster Larry Swinson.

“I built 12 shelves in their storage area because their storage area was much disorganized,” Ross said. “I painted these shelves blue and green to match their colors.

“I also built two shelves to use in the store area. I stained these shelves to be more presentable,” Ross said.

Ross first came about this idea because the person who runs the store, Sandra Wieber, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Lakeway Habitat.

She is an old family friend who inspired Ross to serve build the project.

“She had contacted me about needing storage shelves in the area because it was a mess,” he said.

Ross put in 90 service hours, including planning.

In all, there were 250 service hours that involved volunteers. Those who volunteered included other scouts, their parents, Ross’ family and members of the West High football team. Ross’ court of honor was held in April at First UMC in Morristown.

The son of Dave and Hope Ross of Morristown, he attends First Baptist Church of Morristown and graduated in the Class of 2022 at Morristown-Hamblen High School West.

He will attend Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville in the fall to major in computer engineering.