The Enquirer

HAMILTON - A social worker who had referred families to Habitat for Humanity will soon see her own Habitat home become reality.

"I'm pretty sure I'll be thinking a lot of thankfulness and a lot of happiness. I'll have something to leave my son when I leave this earth," said Jeanette Taylor, who with her son Lawrence Saey, 12, will participate in a groundbreaking at 11 a.m. today at 816 S. Second St. in Hamilton. U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester Township, will also be among participants for the Congress Building America and TriState Habitat for Humanity ceremony.

Congress Building America is a nationwide public-private partnership among Habitat for Humanity International, an ecumenical Christian ministry, and Congress. TriState Habitat serves eight counties in southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Indiana.

Fire chief named institute's president

SYCAMORE TWP. - Fire Chief B.J. Jetter was recently elected president of the United States Branch of the International Institute of Fire Engineers based in Alexandria, Va.

The institute, with 10,000 members, is involved on an international scale in fire and life safety issues, fire management and fire service technology.

Jetter will focus on developing a global plan for responding to terrorist events or other disasters.

He noted that U.S. firefighters and those from other countries often help one another when disaster strikes.

"We have to be working and training on common ground so we don't miss a step when we go out together," Jetter said. "That can be achieved through research, training and education."

Chief in Sycamore since December 1994 and an adjunct professor at two colleges, Jetter also serves as deputy commissioner of Hamilton County Urban Search and Rescue and vice president of Greater Cincinnati Hazardous Materials Unit.

Fairfield man to lead veterans commission

HAMILTON - A former Butler County Veterans Service Commission member has been appointed director of the agency.

Curtis W. McPherson, 52, a member of the independent commission from 1998 to last January and former state American Legion treasurer, began work Tuesday.

The Fairfield resident replaces George Boettjer, who resigned effective Monday. Boettjer had been on paid leave since July 2 pending an internal investigation.

McPherson, who served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War, said he was the liaison between the veterans' office and oversight commission for three years. He had worked 30 years for Bearing Distributors Inc. of Roselawn.

Butler County commissioners Tuesday appropriated $80,000 to the agency's relief fund - a 22 percent increase over the $365,000 annual allotment in January - because of increased demands from Iraq war veterans, McPherson said.