A benefit will be given for former Dayton, Ky., city councilman Mike Brooks, from 1-8 p.m. March 17 at the Madison Theater, 730 Madison Ave., Covington.

        Mr. Brooks, 43, a life-long resident of Dayton, is battling a rare form of cancer, renal cell carcinoma, which attacks the kidneys. The disease is in the fourth stage, having spread to his bones, throughout his body and to portions of the spinal area.

        “The cancer has caused tumors to form along the spinal area and are causing compression fractures,” said Linda Brooks, his wife. “We are scheduled to begin a new treatment today, to relieve the pain.”

        Before Monday. Mr. Brooks had to be flown to Milwaukee, Wis., for treatment. “We were fortunate enough to get help from Angel Flight, run by the Ohio Volunteer Pilots Association,” Mrs. Brooks said. “But the last time we went to Wisconsin, we had to use Midwest Airline and that costs $400. Travel expenses and other costs not covered by insurance are paid out of pocket.”

        Mr. Brooks served on Dayton City Council for six years and was a Queen City Metro driver for 15 years. He also served on the Dayton Urban Renewal Board for several years.

        Mrs. Brooks said tax-deductible cash donations and items to be raffled are needed. They may be sent to the Brooks residence, 939 Thornton St., Dayton, Ky., 41074. An account has been set up at Fifth-Third and Firstar banks in the name of Mike Brooks Jr. and Linda Brooks.

        Mr. Brooks has been married to Linda 24 years and they have four children.

        For more information, call 859-655-4803.

        • • • Four art students at C.O. Harrison Elementary School have been selected to be honored this month during National Youth Arts Month.

        They are: Olivia Eckstein, a fourth-grader, whose work will be exhibited in the Young People's Art Exhibition at the State Office Tower in Columbus; John Mettler, third grade, and Justine Price, fourth grade, at the Ohio Youth Art Month Exhibition at the State Teachers' Retirement System in Columbus and Alexis Miller, fifth grade, Southwest Regional Youth Art Month Exhibition at the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Cincinnati.

        Sherry Fuller, art teacher, made the selections. Ms. Fuller has been invited to exhibit one of her works, a drawing and painting on fabric, titled “Desert Wildflower.”

        • • • A Germany family festival known as “Fasching” will be held from 1-6 p.m. Saturday at Fairview German English Bilingual School, 2232 Stratford Ave., Clifton.

        The event will be a fund-raiser and a display of German culture.

       Allen Howard's “Some Good News” column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.

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