The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office let its charter of Boy Scout troop 911 expire at the end of 2013. Tim McCandless, CEO of Boy Scouts of America-Inland Northwest Council, said Northwest Backcountry Rescue is now chartering the troop, starting officially at the first of the year. Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger said last year he was considering dropping the sheriff's office chartered troop when Boy Scouts of America ended its membership ban on gay youth. He said then that his Christian faith and the language in the Bible informed his view of homosexuality. "Boy Scout troop 911 is stronger than it has ever been," McCandless said Friday. "It has great adult leadership, a strong charter, and it has been very active." He said the troop has 22 active scouts and 15 volunteer adults. "The troop never stopped meeting," he said. Wolfinger couldn't immediately be reached for comment Friday/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here. (File photo: Duane Rasmussen)

Thoughts?