HAVING FUN — James Montgomery tossed a balloon across the dance floor at the Mingo Junction Police Department’s Daddy-Daughter Dance with his daughters, Jayda, left, and Javayah. A third daughter, Jazmin, also accompanied her father at the event, which was attended by many Friday evening in the meeting room at the village’s Municipal Building. -- Warren Scott

MINGO JUNCTION — Years before most will attend a formal dance in their high school days, many young ladies wearing colorful dresses were presented roses on Friday evening and invited to step onto a dance floor after posing for photos with the important males in their lives.

In this case, the males were the many fathers and father figures who accompanied them to the Daddy-Daughter Dance held by the Mingo Junction Police Department at the Municipal Building.

Lights in the building’s meeting room were dimmed and streamers and balloons were strewn about, with about 80 guests entering across a purple carpet.

The guests danced to music played by a disc jockey, solved puzzles together or simply batted balloons around before sitting down for a meal served up by city staff and others who volunteered their time for the special event.

In its second year, the free event was headed by Village Police Chief Willie McKenzie, who said he was inspired by similar events at Steubenville’s Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center that he attended with his own daughter, who is now 14.

McKenzie said it’s often natural for fathers and sons to spend time together, passing footballs, playing video games or enjoying other activities.

“But daughters need their own personal time with their fathers or other male role models,” he said, noting the event was open not only to fathers but grandfathers, uncles and others who play a part in the girls’ lives.

“We want to show the daughters how they should be treated by a man. That starts with their fathers,” said McKenzie.