Libby native earns Eagle rank in Alaska

Like many boys, Keegan Halsey of Wasilla, Alaska, was a Cub Scout. He joined with his friends, and like many of those friends as he grew, Halsey felt the allure of a paycheck and the desire for a car, distractions from achieving Scouting’s highest accomplishment.

But that’s also where Halsey differentiated himself from his peers.

“We’re just so proud he went back to finish his Eagle,” said Halsey’s father Daniel. “We’re proud of him.”

Halsey, 17, is a Libby native. He joined Scouting 10 years ago when he and his parents, Daniel and Peggy, lived in Libby. A member of the Libby Church of Latter Day Saints, the Halseys moved to Alaska as his father pursued his career in the construction business.

Halsey’s grandmother, Hazel Halsey, still lives in Libby, and she, too, is so proud of her grandson.

“He really is a good boy,” Hazel Halsey said. “His project was not an easy one, and it did so much good for the people up there.”

The rigors of rank advancement for boys along the Eagle Scout trail are filled with advancement that includes earning merit badges and outdoor skills. Also, boys must complete a project that benefits his community. Halsey chose to construct a drive-thru window at the Gathering Grounds, a nonprofit coffee shop that serves as an outreach center and provides shelter for homeless Alaska teens.

Keegan Halsey said the project selection was easy, that he wanted to do something for the organization, and he simply asked what they needed.

The Halsey family has long been affiliated with Libby.

Hazel Halsey, and later her son, Daniel, were owners of Mac’s Market from 1982 to 2002.

“We spent a lot of time at Mac’s,” Daniel Halsey said.

Keegan Halsey’s maternal grandmother is Linda Bills, also of Libby.