-Messenger file photo
Katie Rickels, then 11, shrieks as she stretches to reach a Trefoil cookie during “Cookie Twister” at the Girl Scout Cookie Kick-Off at the Crossroads Mall. The Girl Scouts introduced the Hometown Heroes Gift of Sharing program, according to Becky Carpenter, adult development and product sales director for the Lakota Council. “People can purchase cookies which will be sent to American troops overseas. We like to say, we can’t bring them home so let’s bring home to them,” Carpenter said.