Archery banned in Fort Mitchell By Kevin Eigelbach Post staff reporter

It appears that history was made twice Monday at the Fort Mitchell's meeting of the City Council.

First of all, someone was arrested.

Second, the City Council passed an ordinance banning the use of bows and arrows within city limits.

Fort Mitchell resident Robert Dryer, 54, was arrested about 30 minutes into the meeting when he became belligerent during a heated debate on the proposed ordinance, according to police Sgt. Tom Loos.

"He refused to step down from the podium, he became loud and aggressive, he was ejected from the meeting, and he refused to leave," Loos said.

Officers had to forcibly remove Dryer, Loos said, and he wouldn't settle for anything less than being arrested.

Loos charged Dryer with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and disrupting a meeting - all misdemeanors.

"I think we made Fort Mitchell history tonight," Loos said.

"We couldn't come up with a single other arrest at a council meeting," Loos said

Dryer came to the meeting to make a presentation against the proposed bow-and-arrow ordinance, Loos said.

It was in vain, as council approved a second and final reading of the ordinance, according to Loos.

It says that no one shall be allowed to shoot a bow and arrow in Fort Mitchell.

It includes an exception for schools that offer archery programs for students, Loos said.

City Council has been debating the issue since at least last September, when the ordinance was first read, officials said.

Members of a committee council charged to examine the issue witnessed an archery demonstration, put on by city residents, in January, officials said.

The city started taking a closer look at the idea after a Highland Avenue family's cat was struck by an arrow.

The arrow hit the cat while it was playing in woods behind the family's house, city officials said.

Even though the cat survived, the family had to pay about $1,000 in veterinary bills, officials said.

Other Northern Kentucky cities also have banned using bows and arrows - as well as air rifles, pellet guns, slingshots, toy guns, pistols and rifles, according to officials.

These cities include Covington, Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Erlanger, Elsmere, Florence, Fort Wright and Park Hills, officials said.