The Enquirer

SYMMES TWP. - Trustee Eric Minamyer wants to do away with the annual dog parade. But he's OK with Santa.

In a debate over spending practices this week, Minamyer criticized the more that $3,000 spent on the dog parade and costume contest last month to celebrate the opening of the township's new dog park.

He said it was a waste of money because it didn't serve a goal of bringing township residents together.

Out of the 60 dogs entered and "citizens on the other side of the leash," few if any were from Symmes, he said.

"We made it possible for people from Kentucky to meet people from Fairfield," Minamyer said.

"Let's just not do another dog parade."

But when it came to spending $4,000 to have Santa make his rounds in the neighborhoods to hand out small gifts to children, Minamyer jumped in first to approve the motion.

Trenton Animal Society gets new head

TRENTON - The Animal Friends Humane Society has a new executive director.

Leland Gordon, formerly of the Animal Adoption Foundation in Okeana, will serve as the first executive director in the shelter's 52 year history.

"My goal at Animal Friends is to find homes for all adoptable pets thereby reducing euthanasia, to improve customer service, and to expand our community outreach programs," Gordon said.

The Animal Friends Humane Society is a non-profit organization serving Butler County that depends on private donations for its operation.

Shelter hours are Monday through Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Extended hours on Wednesday are until 7 p.m. and it's closed on Sunday.

For more information call 867-5727.

Bike safety fair today at Boys & Girls Club

PRICE HILL - Members of a Boys & Girls Club here can get free bike helmets at a safety fair today.

Nationwide, nearly 250 bike riders ages 5 to 9 die and about 365,000 are injured, says Krista Jones, injury prevention coordinator for Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

The fair will be at 11 a.m. at the Espy Boys & Girls Club, 2312 Glenway Ave. It is sponsored by the hospital's youth injury prevention program, the Greater Cincinnati Safe Kids Coalition and Finish Line Youth Foundation. For information call 471-2142.