A 6-year-old, sable-colored German shepherd is sporting some high-class honors out in Williamsburg.

Bella vom Highland Haus and owner Kathy Cook won top honors in the 2003 National German Shepherd Dog Club of Canada show last month.

Cook said they won all four trials and were awarded the highest score in each trial.

Kathy Cook and her dog, Bella vom Highland Haus, won top honors at a German shepherd show in Canada. (Photo provided)

"She also had the highest combined score overall by competing in the two highest-level classes in each trial," Cook said.

"This earned her the honor of Obedience Victrix. This is the second year she has won that honor."

Cook and Wezel (that's her nickname. Bella vom Highland Haus is her registered name) competed in the Dayton Dog Show last weekend, but didn't do well.

"Dogs are like kids. You never know what they will do. They know what to do, but sometimes they just will not do it," Cook said.

They will compete in the Greater Louisville Dog Show this weekend.

Cook owns the Blue Ribbon Dog Training Academy in Williamsburg.

Fire safety sessions

Krista Jones considers smoke detectors in the home as important in children's lives as television and cell phones. Well, maybe not as entertaining.

"Smoke detectors are considered the most effective means for early warning in case of a fire," said Jones, Greater Cincinnati Safe Kids coordinator.

The Safe Kids Coalition and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center teamed up with local firefighters this month to give a series of fire safety presentations in Avondale schools.

Last Thursday, the presentations were at Burton Elementary, South Avondale and Rockdale Academy.

Money and a visit

They're excited at Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, Delhi Township. First the school was selected by Staples to receive $5,000 in the Coach of the Week program. And the school gets a visit from Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

GIVING BACK

Name: Impact 100

History: Founded in 2002 by Wendy Hushak

Where: 509 Rolling Rock Lane, Anderson Township.

Information: 513-624-9509

Mission: "Impact 100 is a foundation committed to improving Greater Cincinnati by collectively funding significant grants to charitable initiatives," Hushak said. "It was born out of the idea that many women today want to be involved in their community but often cannot participate due to time constraints. Impact 100 recognizes and accommodates the modern woman's complex life by offering a philanthropic opportunity that makes no demands on her beyond a donation and a vote once a year.''

She said members donate $1,000 annually.

What others say: Last year's grant winner was the McMicken Dental Clinic. Judith Allen, clinic director, said "The $123,000 grant we received enabled us to replace all our dental equipment which was 20 years old and falling apart.

"This is a wonderful group of women. I joined the group because I was so impressed with what they were doing."

The 2003 grant winner was Tender Mercies, which received a $184,000 grant Thursday night.

OUR KIDS

Not much makes Emily Pennington happier than books. The 9-year-old fourth-grader at Mercer Elementary School just won a national award for writing an essay about what makes her happy.

Her essay, "Books Make Me Happy," was judged the national winner in a contest sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Braille Institute.

"She is a ferocious reader," said her father, Tim Pennington of Newtown. "She is a fan of books and the written word."

Emily is blind, but doesn't let that limit her activities to writing. She plays in the TOP Soccer program for children with physical or mental challenges and is an accomplished pianist.

Her essay was also judged the best in the fourth-grade category and in all entries in grades 4-12. She earned a plaque and a $500 savings bond.