$47,327: Money is pouring in for three Alaskans, former Alaskan killed at Jamboree.
People from across the country have given more than $47,000 so far to a fund for the families of the three Alaska Boy Scout leaders and one former Alaska Scout leader killed July 25 in an electrical accident at the National Scout Jamboree in Virginia.
As of Tuesday, $47,327 had been donated to the Scout Memorial Fund at Denali Alaskan Federal Credit Union, said Keith Fernandez, the credit union's assistant vice president of marketing. Some contributions were earmarked for a particular family, but most weren't, he said.
"It's come from all ages and all over the United States," Fernandez said.
The credit union intends to keep the account, number 80487, open through the end of August and will likely make arrangements to distribute the money then, with at least $10,000 going to each family, he said.
"The dollars will go a long way to helping them," said Bill Haines, chief executive officer of the Western Alaska Council of the Boy Scouts.
The four Scout leaders killed were Mike Shibe, 49, Michael LaCroix, 42, Ron Bitzer, 58, and Scott Powell, 57, who had moved last year to Perrysville, Ohio. Shibe was at Jamboree with his twin sons. One of LaCroix's sons was also there.
The men were helping to erect a large rented tent at a campsite on Fort A.P. Hill. The tall center pole struck a power line, and they were electrocuted as horrified Boy Scouts watched, according to witnesses.
Another Alaska Scout leader and two contract workers went to the hospital, but all are now out and recovering. Reports that one of the contract workers died are incorrect, said Michael Harman, a Richmond, Va., attorney for the tent business, Tents & Events Inc.
Investigations by the Army's Criminal Investigation Command and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration are continuing.
Daily News reporter Lisa Demer can be reached at ldemer@adn.com and 257-4390.
