Eagle Scout

Two local college students have been named to the Eagle Scout Court of Honor, attaining the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. Santa Monica residents Steven and Gregory Samarge, 18-year-old fraternal twins, have received congratulatory letters from, among others, President and Mrs. Clinton, Mayor Richard Riordan and Gov. Pete Wilson. The Venice high school graduates attend Santa Monica College; at 6 feet, 285 pounds each, they play center and offensive tackle on the college football team.

Kevin Robert Rausch also received the Eagle Scout award recently in recognition of his outstanding service to the community and achievement in the Scouting program. Rausch earned 21 merit badges with the Scouts. For his Eagle Scout project, he installed a sound system and cabinet for sound equipment at Community Christian Church, earning him the status achieved by only 2% of all Boy Scouts, officials of the youth organization said.

Re "Scouts fought background screening," Dec. 2 How sad to see the Boy Scouts of America join the Roman Catholic Church as an organization professing good while shielding evil. I am an Eagle Scout and the father of an Eagle Scout. If I'd known 20 years ago what your articles have uncovered, I wouldn't have allowed any of my children to join this dangerously hypocritical organization. I should have resigned as well. James Willwerth Altadena ALSO: Letters: Paying for TV we don't watch Letters: Going to the mat for rich taxpayers Letters: Israel's largesse for the Palestinians

A former Eagle Scout who killed his parents and sister and paralyzed his brother in a hatchet attack in their San Diego home 25 years ago was found hanged in his cell, authorities said. Daniel Altstadt was pronounced dead at 4:07 a.m. Friday, Fresno County Deputy Coroner George Pimentel said Saturday. That was about an hour after guards found him in a cell with a shoelace wrapped around his neck, said Lt. Rick Martinez of Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga. Efforts to revive him failed.

Leo Ramos, 11, of Glendora has won a Westec Award for Youth Heroism. Leo was recognized for helping save the life of his 5-year-old cousin Daniel Castenada. Leo performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Daniel after the little boy was pulled from the bottom of the family's swimming pool last July. Daniel recovered after the incident. The award is given by Westec Security to honor youths who save lives or prevent injury by acting bravely in emergencies.

Jonathan Charles Irvin, 17, has earned an Eagle Scout award, Scouting's highest honor. Only 2% of Boy Scouts ever reach Eagle standing. Prerequisites include 21 merit badges and volunteer service. Irvin, a senior at Woodbridge High School, said his project involved building an irrigation system for the Irvine Ranch Water District's Urban Forest.

Caspers Wilderness Park has two new signs, thanks to 14-year-old Cutberto Hernandez. The youngster put up the signs, which identify the Old Corral Picnic Area and the Owl and Quail Group Area, in an effort to earn his Eagle Scout badge. Hernandez raised money and organized a group of about 30 other Scouts to build the signs, which are 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide. Denault's True Value Hardware contributed supplies for the project.

* Patricia Higgins was honored recently with the seventh annual Joyce W. Stewart Memorial Award by the Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme. The honor recognizes excellence in providing equal employment opportunity leadership to CBC's female and minority employees. Higgins works at the Seabee Logistic Center Information Technology Support Office and was instrumental in maintaining the center's equal employment opportunity goals and programs.