Moapa Valley Progress
Two Moapa Valley Scouters were awarded one of the highest distinguished service awards offered at the council level during a special ceremony in Las Vegas last month. On March 4, Logandale resident Bill Johnson and Overton resident Chalmer Fuharty were presented with Silver Beaver awards for noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth in the Las Vegas Council territory of the Boy Scouts of America.
As a child, Chalmer Fluharty never had the opportunity to be in Scouting. So as an adult, he made up for lost time. In 1972 he became Scoutmaster for the first time. He has served in many Scouting position since then. Previous positions include Cubmaster, Varsity Coach, Merit Badge Counselor, Scouting Coordinator, Unit Commissioner and Assistant District Commissioner. He is currently serving as a Committee Member in Troop 231.
Fluharty is known as a great dutch oven cook and has cooked for many different events. He served as head cook on staff for the Mountain Man Rendezvous several times. He was also a member of the High Adventure Team and was a Potosi Trail Builder.
Fluharty loved the boys he worked with and was influential in many becoming Eagle Scouts. He is especially proud of his three grandsons who worked hard to become Eagle Scouts. He now has five great-grandsons who, he hopes, will also work hard on the road to the Eagle rank someday.
During his many years of Scouting service, Fluharty has earned many distinctions. These include On My Honor religious award, Order of the Arrow Honors – Adult Ordeal, Order of the Arrow – Adult Brotherhood, Boy Scout Leader’s Training Award, Varsity Scouting Training Award, Varsity Coach’s Key, District Award of Merit, Wood Badge Beads and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Commissioner Science.
As a native of Moapa Valley, Bill Johnson has served local youth and adult Scouters in numerous ways. He has served in various Scouting positions including Cubmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Merit Badge Counselor, District Camping Chair, Day Camp Volunteer and District Camporee Director. He is currently serving as the Executive Officer of local Scout Troop 26 and is an Anasazi District Committee Member.
In his interaction with boys, Johnson has drawn upon skills gained from being a firefighter for 33 years with the Las Vegas Fire and Rescue; as well as his woodworking and outdoorsman skills; to inspire the youth around him to be “Glorious.”
Johnson and his family are avid hunters and enjoy their time at the family cabin in Panguitch Lake, Utah.
Being the father of three Eagle Scouts, Johnson and his wife, Sue, were busy seeing their boys through the Eagle process. Now he has three grandsons in the Scouting program all working hard to attain the coveted rank.
Johnson has received many other distinctions in Scouting over the years, including the District Award of Merit, Duty to God Award, the Liahona Compass Award from the National Parks Council, Wood Badge Beads and Adult Religious Award.
He has exhibited love and commitment through his service in his community, in his church and in Scouting.
