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5 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS - The BUS

Lori Graham drives a bus for the Butler Transit Authority. She drove a school bus for 11 years before she started working for the BTA eight years ago.

Butler County is filled with a variety of people doing interesting things. This weekly feature offers snapshots of some of them by asking them five questions. The latest installment appears below.

The Butler Transit Authority's six Gillig buses transport hundreds of Butler County residents to destinations along The BUS' five routes daily.

Driver Lori Graham of Butler, who drove a school bus for 11 years, has been picking up BTA passengers for eight years.

QUESTION: Who was your most interesting passenger?ANSWER: “We have lots of interesting passengers. A lot of the guys from the V.A. are interesting. They have great stories from their time in the service. The seniors, too, have a lot of good stories about their lives.”

QUESTION: What essential item do you bring on every trip?ANSWER: “This job is all about patience. That's the most valuable thing you can bring.”

QUESTION: What unusual items do people leave behind?ANSWER: “We get everything from people's keys, cell phones and bags to ... some gross stuff. They usually remember to take their kids.”

QUESTION: What are the biggest challenges you face in your work?ANSWER: The winter driving. I love driving in the snow, though. You just have to watch out for other drivers who don't. The scariest thing you have to look out for, though, is the other drivers. Everybody wants to beat the bus.”

QUESTION: What do you do to entertain yourself on a slow day?ANSWER: “Every time you pick up a passenger, there is a new personality. The people are what keeps it from being boring. It's not often that we are totally empty.”

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