A group of Butler County deputy sheriffs will ride into Washington, D.C., today — literally.

        Members of the Butler County Sheriff's Mounted Patrol from Hamilton will participate in the inaugural parade of President-elect George W. Bush.

        Twenty-three mounted patrol deputies will go. Nineteen will ride. All are volunteers, called special deputies.

        “It's the chance of a lifetime,” said Regina Rapp, 29, a five-year veteran of the Oxford Police Department who also volunteers as a special deputy. “It's a great honor to represent our state. As far as we know, we're the only unit from Ohio.”

        She will ride a horse named Buckwheat.

        “We had to submit pictures of our unit and information,” Officer Rapp said. “We've been busy practicing and shining things. We're looking forward to working with other law-enforcement groups from around the country.”

        Last summer, the group filed an application with the inaugural committee in hopes of participating.

        “We sent them a videotape of our training and details of our unit. We were thrilled when they called us and said we were actually accepted,” said Sgt. Frank Smith. “We'll take 19 horses on two semis that we've hired.”

        The unit has received donations for the trip in the last two weeks. All of the members have other jobs. They work with the patrol because they love horses and are interested in law enforcement.

        “What donations we don't come up with, we'll pay for out of our own pocket,” he said. “We don't mind. It's a ride into history.”

        LEBANON — You could shoot a photograph for the cover of Sprint's next Warren County telephone book.

        Photos must be of a Warren County scene.

        The theme is: “Pride in the Past and Future of Warren County.”

        Entrants must live in Warren County and submit a 5-inch-by-7-inch color vertical print. Each person may enter up to five photos.

        Subjects may include an object, flower, historic building, animal and other things; but not people, churches and commercial buildings.

        Entry blanks may be obtained from libraries and the Warren County Historical Society Museum, S. 105 Broadway, Lebanon. Entries must be submitted to the museum (or mailed) by 4 p.m. Feb. 26.

        The phone book reaches 53,000 Sprint customers.

        Winners will be announced March 1. A reception will be held at the museum.

        For more information, call the museum at 932-1817.

        Randy McNutt's column appears on Saturday. Contact him at 860-7118 or at The Enquirer, 4820 Business Center Way, Cincinnati, Ohio 45246.

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