MONDAY is Columbus Day, and banks, post offices, libraries, government offices and some schools will be closed. If you are fortunate to be employed in one of those places, we hope you enjoy what remains of this three-day weekend.

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MOTORISTS are being cautioned by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ohio State Insurance Institute, Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Department of Public Safety to be on the look-out for deer as they travel on highways. According to information from the Ohio Insurance Institute, the risk of colliding with a deer is greater in October, November and December and is primarily due to peak deer mating season. Most deer-vehicle crashes occur at dusk and dawn. The peak hours are 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. followed by 5 a.m. to 8 a.m.

According to figures provided by the St. Clairsville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, there were 108 deer crashes in 2013 and to date in 2014, they have handled 51 deer related crashes. The patrol reminds motorists to take a defensive approach to driving and remember not only to watch the other driver, but for deer crossing the roadway. Motorists are urged to pay attention in high deer crossing areas as indicated by deer crossing signs.

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THE Belmont Soil and Water Conservation District will hold is 69th Annual Meeting and Election on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6-8 p.m. at the Belmont Gym. Voting for supervisors can also be done at the SWCD office until 4 p.m. on Oct 23, or absentee by requesting the proper absentee request forms from the SWCD office located 101 N. Market St, St. Clairsville.

Two supervisors are to be elected. The candidates are Lou Kutys, Dan Freund, and Brian Murphy Not seeking reelection are Ed Mowrer and Tim Wojchowski.

Guest speaker will be Joe Greathouse, Director of Science and Conservation at the Wilds. He will speak on Hellbender Conservation. There will be the Conservation Cooperator of the Year Award and Field Day Certificates will be distributed to those who took part in the summer programs.

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THE Bridgeport Rotary Club will sponsor a Christmas in New York red-eye bus trip to New York City It will leave the Bridgeport High School parking lot on Friday night, Dec. 5, and will return on Sunday, Dec. 7. Those making the trip can tour the city, shop, see a show or just enjoy the decorated sights of the city. Cost is $80 per person and deadline for reservations is Oct.25. For information or to make a reservation call Vickie at (740) 676-0759 evenings.

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TODAY you can give Mom a day off from cooking by attending the Annual Turkey Dinner at St. Anthony Hall at 630 Main St.t, Bridgeport, from noon to 3 p.m. The menu includes turkey, dressing, mashed and sweet potatoes, gravy, green beans, coleslaw, cranberry sauce, rolls, beverages and desserts. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children. Take out orders are available. There will be many raffles for some excellent prizes including an Ipad, money tree and scratch off lottery tree.

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THE St. Clairsville Rotary Club will hold its Annual Spaghetti Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 11 a.m., to 7 p.m. at Marian Hall, under St. Mary Church, St. Clairsville. Tickets are $10 and children 6 and under are admitted free. Carry-outs will be available.

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THE Bellaire Sons of Italy Lodge will hold its annual cooking class at the lodge hall, 3348 Belmont Street, today from 2-6 p.m For information or to register, call 676-1138, 676-7137 or 676-3178.

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AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is seeking volunteers to help with the nation’s largest volunteer-run tax preparation and assistance service. Almost four out of five of the people who turn to AARP Foundation Tax-Aide are 60 or older with low household incomes.

Training classes are held in January so required IRS certification can be completed by Jan. 31. If you are interested in becoming an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer, contact district coordinator Bob Wilhelm at (740) 685-5069, or Bob10045Ohio@yahoo.com. Volunteer usually are stationed at local senior citizen centers, local libraries and malls.

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WE are into the flu season and health authorities are urging people to make sure they get a flu shot. The Belmont County Health Department is giving immunizations on Wednesdays from 9-11 a.m. and for children on Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m. Cost of the vaccine is $25 which is covered by Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurers provided that the client presents the insurance at the time of service. Home visits for home-bound residents of Belmont County can be scheduled by calling the health department at (740) 695-1202, extensions 19 or 24.

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MARK Your calendars for Wednesday, when the Domestic Violence Awareness March takes place in St. Clairsville at 6 p.m. It will begin at the Tri County Help Center office at 114-1/2 N. Marietta St, and proceed to the Belmont County Courthouse where a brief ceremony will be held. Featured speaker will be Judge Shawn Hervey of the Harrison County Common Pleas Court There will be a reading from Girl Scout Troop 5774, music performed by Sarah Mahan-Hayes and a remembrance of victims from Belmont, Harrison and Monroe counties who have died as a result of domestic violence. Following the ceremony, the procession will return to the Tri-County Help Center office.

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Will a catastrophic earthquake ever happen in our Ohio Valley? We never know, but we should be prepared. The fourth annual Great Central U.S ShakeOut Earthquake Drill will be held on Thursday at 10:16 a.m. During the self-led drill, participants practice how to “Drop, Cover and Hold On.”

Endorsed by emergency officials and first responders, the safe response to an earthquake is to: Drop to the Ground; take Cover under a sturdy table or desk if possible, protecting your head and neck; and Hold On until the shaking stops.

“Knowing what to do in the event of an earthquake is as important as knowing what to do the event of a tornado or a prolonged power outage,” said Nancy Dragani, executive director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency. “Ohio may not see a catastrophic earthquake, but we should know what do to in case the unforeseeable happens.”

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THE Bellaire Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its Annual Dinner/Membership Drive on Saturday, Oct. 18, from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Sons of Italy, 3348 Belmont St., Bellaire. Each chamber member will receive two free dinners. Additional dinners may be purchased for $15 per person.The dinner menu includes steak, baked potato, green bean casserole, salad, dessert and cash bar. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m.with the time to meet old friends and make new ones. Dinner will be served when you are ready. There will be a DJ and karaoke beginning at 7 p.m.. door prizes and 50-50 raffle. For information call the chamber office at (740) 676-9723.

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THE Belmont SWCD recently lost its AG Technician. Levi Arnold has resigned to accept a position as AG Technician in Guernsey County.We are going to miss Levi. He always welcomed us with a smile when we came into the office. We wish him good health, good luck and much success.

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FAITH IN ACTION Caregivers is looking for volunteers. Two hour training sessions, Orientation to Caregiving, will be held Monday, Oct. 20, at 9 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. The sessions are designed to prepare responders for the ministry of volunteer caregiving. The sessions will be held at St John Lutheran Church, 38 N. Fourth St, Martins Ferry.

Reservations are requested and can be made by calling (304) 243-5420.