091718 photos

Tom Sellers of Center Township watches his Remi, a English chocolate labrador mix, paddle around the pool. Photo by Nathan Bottiger.

Tom Sellers of Center Township greets his Remi, a English chocolate labrador mix, at the edge of the pool.

Dogs with proper vaccines and behavior skills were let loose Sunday at Alameda Park. Photo by Nathan Bottiger.

Morgan Richards of Petrolia throws a tennis ball into the pool as Blaze, her border collie, and Tucker, her Saint Bernard, ready to chase it into the water. Photo by Nathan Bottiger.

A lifeguard watched over the dogs Sunday at Alameda Park for the Doggie Paddle Pool Pawty event. Photo by Nathan Bottiger.

Austin Shenette of Petrolia watches as Blaze, his border collie, takes off into the water with a tennis ball. Photo by Nathan Bottiger.

Dozens of volunteers from each of the three organizations fanned out to teach newcomers and mingle with their guests.

Scores of veterans, volunteers and local sportsmen came out to Conway Sportman’s Club on Magill Road for a morning of fish-catching and camaraderie.

The event was put on by Project Healing Waters, a national initiative to promote healing in veterans through fly fishing, in partnership with EdgeMarc Energy Holdings LLC and hosted by the Conway Sportsman’s Club.

As the name suggests, the program was started to help veterans heal without solely relying on medication or in-hospital treatments. So far, it’s been effective.

Shannon Koehler, 7, of Franklin Township feeds an alpaca, Bell Kora, on Saturday at Asgard Acres Alpaca Farm in Forward Township. Shannon and her family were among the hundreds who participated in the 2018 Butler County Farm Tour. The event included five farms that produce various products, which people could tour between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Carol Rost cuddles one of her farm's 38 alpacas on Saturday during the 2018 Butler County Farm Tour. Asgard Acres Alpaca Farm in Forward Township was one of five farms that hundreds of participants toured free of charge.