Drum beats mixed with the sounds of trumpets, saxophones, trombones, clarinets, flutes and an occasional cymbal spread across high school campuses almost every day.

That means it's marching band competition time all over the region.

The 145-piece Sycamore High School Marching Band heads to the practice field after 2 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It's preparing for the Ohio Music Educators' Association State Marching Band Competition Oct. 26 in Dayton.

"We qualified in Tipp City on Sept. 13," said David Swift, band director. "But we keep going to the other competitions."

Those will include West Clermont and Logan Elm on Saturday.

Sycamore High band member Christine Troy, 17, a senior, practices for the Scottish routine "Culloden," Wednesday. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

"The Oct. 4 competition in Massillon is bigger than the state meets," Swift said. "We will be competing with bands from around the country."

The band also will be in Versailles, Ind., on Oct 18.

"This is a busy time for our marching band because we also appear at 10 football games," Swift said.

Rich in friendship

When honored at a retirement party last month, Errol Butt was left utterly speechless at the love, support and generosity of fellow Warren County employees. They had chipped in $3,000 for Butt, 47, who is battling cancer and retired from his longtime job as an investigator for the county prosecutor's office.

"That's the most money we've ever collected for any employee for any retirement. He was really, really liked," said Charlotte Erbeck, prosecutor's office manager.

About $200 of the donations went toward buying a badge designating Butt as a retired law-enforcement officer. The remainder was used to send Butt and his wife of nearly 23 years, Bev, on an all-expenses-paid trip to Niagara Falls. The couple rented a car, drove to the destination and spent three nights at the Sheraton on the Falls in Ontario, in a corner suite with a view of the falls.

Butt and his wife returned from their trip last Thursday.

"It was more than I ever expected," Butt said. "Not to be corny, but they say you can measure your wealth by the friends that you have. With those people in the courthouse and in other departments in the county, I'm richer than I could ever have hoped to be."