Scouting took center stage Thursday on the “Mornings unPHILtered” show. Statesboro City Councilman Will Britt, the Boy Scouting District Executive for the Ogeechee District, discussed upcoming Scouting events and also city-related issues.
    Britt told host Phil Boyum this year's scouting “Jamborama” would open Friday afternoon at the Kiwanis Ogeechee Fairgrounds. Britt said he is expecting between 300 and 400 Boy Scouts to set up camp beginning on Friday night.
    On Saturday, Scouts will conduct several skill demonstrations. There will be fire-fighting and police units offering demonstrations, as well, and Britt said there is a possibility that the Air Force Blue Angels may do a fly-over.
    Britt said the Boy Scouts will be joined on Saturday by some 300 Cub Scouts, who will participate in some of the event, too. The American Red Cross Bloodmobile also will be at the Fairgrounds, and Britt said he hopes to collect at least 60 pints of blood.
    There will be two can drives: one to collect canned food; and one to collect empty cans for recycling. Any funds collected will be used by area Cub Scout troops to buy Teddy Bears to be given by emergency responders to comfort young children.
    Britt said there are five Boy Scout Troops and five Cub Scout packs in Statesboro right now.
    Also, Britt said the Boy Scouts will hold a special dinner on Thursday for Ed Cone. A Bulloch County resident, Cone has been involved in Scouting since the early 1950s, and the scouts wanted to honor him.
    Britt said all area Scouts, as well as Cone's family and friends, will assemble at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall around 6 p.m. He said the dinner would begin at 6:30 p.m., and tickets to the event are available.
    Britt and Boyum discussed Boyum's story on Sunday about the Downtown Statesboro Development Authority purchasing "The Galleria," which sits just east of City Hall, for $750,000.
    Britt shared that the City Council and GSU President Dr. Brooks Keel have discussed establishing a downtown city campus for GSU, where some of the college's departments would offer classes.
    Allen Muldrew, executive director of the DSDA, said in addition to a city campus, the city plans to use a portion of The Galleria for one of its departments and the Averitt Center would use part for equipment storage.
    Getting more people to live downtown, and offering a wider-array of community services in the city center, Britt said, would have a dramatic effect in helping revitalize the downtown area.
    
    “Mornings unPHILtered” airs live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on statesboroherald.com and also simulcast on WWNS-AM 1240 on the radio. You also can listen anytime at BoroLive.com on statesboroherald.com