Boy Scouts back home after Arkansas adventure

Six Boy Scouts and their two leaders who were stranded by high water in Arkansas for two days are back home safe in Louisiana. 

Chester Stutes, the grandfather of 14-year-old Caleb Stutes, one of the members of Troop 162 who were evacuated early Tuesday by helicopter, thanked all those who helped and prayed for the boys’ safety.  

Upon returning Tuesday to Lafayette, La., well-wishers greeted troop leaders Jeff Robinson and Andy Trahan and Caleb Stutes and fellow Scouts Dylan Ducote, Ian Fuselier, Blake Dugas, Stephen Miller and Jamarcus Labostrie with hugs, cheers and applause.   National Guard pilots spotted the stranded troop’s campfire early Tuesday.

Robinson says that when the helicopter was unable to land, the rescuers dropped down a bag filled with food, supplies and walkie-talkies and returned at sunrise for the pickup.