If Girl Scout cookies can help win a war, then Service Unit Number 661 deserves a badge of honor.

The troop organized Operation Cookie Connection, and collected 1,800 boxes of cookies for servicemen and women. The service unit represents elementary and middle schools at Colerain, Houston, St. Bernard and St. John the Baptist

Donations also came from Girl Scout troops from Ross, Reading, White Oak, Fairfield, Oxford, Milford, Mason and Northern Kentucky, said Susan Haverkos, manager of Service Unit 661.

"The girls were really excited about the project," Haverkos said. "Some troops donated cases of cookies, using their cookie profits made from selling cookies. One troop collected $140 at a supermarket."

The operation involved a collection at St. John's on March 8. A group of Marines picked up the boxes March 10. "I guess the best part of the operation was when the Marines came to pick up the cookies, the girls formed a line, passing the boxes to the truck," Haverkos said. "The Marines talked to the students, discussing the importance of serving God and country. They also signed autographs."

The project was started by Karen Owens, co-leader of a fifth-grade troop at St. John. Service Unit 661 has 30 troops, representing about 400 Girl Scouts.

The beat goes on for Keeneth "Malachai'' Williams, a drummer from Covington who died last week at age 48.

Musicians who knew him and many who played with him gave a benefit for the popular drummer at Sonny's Blues Cafe and Lounge, 4040 Reading Road, North Avondale, Sunday night.

Blues singers and blues lovers came from around Cincinnati, featuring such groups as: In Too Deep, Alice Hoskins and Unfinished Business, Saundra C. and The Blues Masters, Uncle Russell and the Kin-Folks, Sonny Hill and the Night Shift, Dale Preston and Star Pierre.

"All I had to say is, `This is for Malachai,' and they all came," said Roger Ren, drummer for In Too Deep. "This is the kind of love we have among us."

Williams at one time played drums with In Too Deep. For many years in Cincinnati, the Williams drum beat could be heard with many groups; Albert Washington; Alice Hoskins; Dickie Monroe; H-Bomb Ferguson; Stacy Michard; and Wilber Longmire.

Some referred to him as somewhat of a grassroots blues drummer.

"I loved his style," said Rhonda Matchem, a barmaid at The World of the Satisfying Place Bar in Walnut Hills. "He had a real bluesy touch to drumming. You usually think of drumming as just the beat behind the other music, but he had that touch I can't explain. It was something you had to be there to hear it to appreciate it."

Services for Williams will be at 11 a.m. today at the Ninth Street Methodist Church, Covington.

Allen Howard's "Some Good News'' column runs Sunday-Friday. If you have suggestions about outstanding achievements, or people who are uplifting to the Tristate, let him know at 768-8362, at ahoward@enquirer.com or by fax at 768-8340.