Woman arrested on third DUI offense

HURRICANE, W.Va. -- Judy Ann Racer, 52, of Culloden was arrested in the early morning hours Sept. 24 on charges of felony third offense DUI.

According to the Putnam County Magistrate's office, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department initially stopped the woman in Hurricane after her car repeatedly ran off the road. Racer was also charged with a misdemeanor second offense of driving on a suspended/revoked license.

Racer was taken to the Western Regional Jail in Barboursville where she has since been released.

Broadcasting ceremony scheduled for Oct. 25

HUNTINGTON -- The Museum of Radio and Technology is hosting the Third Annual Induction Ceremony of the West Virginia Broadcasting Hall of Fame from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

Appetizers and refreshments will be served at the event.

Anyone wishing to attend should RSVP by Friday, Oct. 17, by calling 304-389-5585.

The museum is located at 1640 Florence Ave.

Library workers can work 4 days a week

ASHLAND -- Boyd County Public Library employees will have the option of working four days a week instead of five starting next month.

The voluntary program is being offered in response to rising gas prices and the general economic situation. More than half of the library district's 40 employees said they were interested in working a condensed week. Many of those employees live outside of Ashland.

A trial period runs from Oct. 5 through Dec. 27.

Full-time staff members who opt to work their 35-hour week in four days will work three 10-hour days and one 9-hour day. Part-time employees will work four 5-hour days.

None of the library's branches will be changing any hours.

More information is available at www.thebookplace.org.

Four counties hot spots for deer collisions

CHARLESTON -- Erie Insurance says vehicles are more likely to hit deer in Calhoun, Pleasants, Pocahontas and Wirt counties than in any other West Virginia county.

The Erie, Pa.-based insurer says there were more than 50 deer claims per 1,000 insured vehicles in each of those counties in 2007. That was the highest rate in the state.

Mingo County had the lowest rate with less than five deer claims per 1,000 insured vehicles.

Erie said the statewide average was 18 deer claims, an 11 percent increase.

Businesses cited for defying smoking ban

CHARLESTON -- Kanawha County health officials have filed criminal complaints against five businesses accused of defying the county's ban on smoking in bars and gambling parlors.

The complaints filed Thursday by the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department are the first enforcement actions since the county's expanded smoking ban went into effect July 1.

Violating the ban is a misdemeanor that carries fines of $200 to $1,000.

County health board President Brenda Isaac says the health department will continue to aggressively enforce the ban.

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