Laurinburg Community Garden Organizer Sam Thompson was tired of getting caught in the rain.

"We needed a shelter of some kind on the community garden site, a place to get out of the sun, to take a break from the heat, and to run under when it started raining too hard."

Thompson thought the local boy scout troop might be a good place to start, so he contacted Brian Shatswell, scoutmaster for Troop 420 at Laurinburg Presbyterian Church.

"Sam needed a shelter, and one of our troop members, Thomas Coughenour, needed a project to get his Eagle Scout badge. He and Sam got together and developed a design. Sam approved it, and Thomas and some of the other scouts began construction."

The wooden shelter, made in a lean-to style with a slanted roof, was completed in just two weekends in April. Coughenour and his troop built two picnic tables in addition to the structure. Thompson was "extremely pleased" with the end result.

"My initial reaction was that this shelter looked like something you would find in a state park," Thompson said. "It's a lot more than I expected, and it really sets off the garden nicely."

Coughenour, 16, was happy to attain the boy scouts' highest rank through completion of the project.

"I feel like I've conquered a big hill by getting this shelter done," he said. "Obtaining the eagle scout badge is a really detailed process done by following the guidelines in the Eagle Scout project book. I'm very pleased with the final project, and with the help I received in constructing it. I think it looks pretty good."

David Harling is the troop committee chairman for Boy Scout Troop 420.

"The Eagle Scout project requires 20 to 25 hours of work," Harling said. "It is a formal procedure with strict guidelines that the scout must follow. The troop scoutmaster and the troop committee must give their approval, and then it goes to the Western District Eagle Scout Board of Review level for their approval as well."

Materials were purchased by the Coughenour family and were also received through donations from family members. Thomas' father Mike Coughenour expressed pride in his son's accomplishment.

"I was there from the beginning to the end of construction," he said, laughing. "I am very proud of what Thomas and his troop have done."

The community garden is located at the corner of Fairly and New Streets in Laurinburg. For more information visit www.activelaurinburg.com/gardenpage1.html.

Laurinburg Presbyterian Church sponsors the community garden.