AUGUSTA — A West Gardiner woman pleaded guilty to a charge of operating under the influence Wednesday, the morning her jury trial was to begin in Kennebec County Superior Court.

Sharon McCollett, 60, was sentenced to the seven-day alternative sentencing program and fined $700. Her driver’s license and registration privileges were suspended for three years.

The offense occurred Jan. 26 in Readfield.

Two Bridges headgets state board nod

AUGUSTA — Two Bridges Regional Jail Correctional Administrator Col. Mark Westrum was appointed to the State Board of Corrections by Gov. Paul LePage.

Westrum — a 25-year police veteran who served as Sagadahoc County sheriff and now serves as correctional administrator of Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset — was elected chairman of the State Board of Corrections upon his appointment.

Rent, tax relief forum to be held Nov. 14

RICHMOND — Lawmakers and a representative of Maine Revenue Services will host a forum to help residents apply for the Maine Property Tax and Rent Refund Program, also known as the circuit breaker tax exemption.

Residents may be eligible for a sliding-scale rebate of up to $1,600 from the state if they pay more than 4 percent of income in local property tax or more than 20 percent of income for rent.

The free event is 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, at the Richmond Senior Center, 314 Front St.

Applicants should bring copies of their 2010 state and federal income tax returns; or, for individuals who are not required to file tax returns, statements that identify all sources of income. Applicants should also bring a copy of the June 2010 to June 2011 property tax bill, or proof of rent paid during 2010, such as a lease or rent receipts.

Change batteries when clocks change

Fire officials across the state are reminding residents to “change your clocks, change your batteries” this weekend as daylight saving time ends.

In a news release, Capt. Scott Doyle of New Gloucester Fire and Rescue said batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors need to be changed twice a year, and that smoke detectors older than 10 years are no longer reliable.

Daylight saving time, which began March 13, ends at 2 a.m. Sunday.

Free to Breathe walk is Saturday

AUGUSTA — The third annual Free to Breathe Augusta Walk will be held on Saturday at City Center on Cony Street.

Event organizer Deb Violette of Augusta said Free to Breathe participants are trying to make a difference in the lives of those affected by lung cancer through the National Lung Cancer Partnership’s research, education and awareness programs.

Supporters can gather on sidewalks in their neighborhoods, nearby parks or on streets throughout their town to walk in spirit with others across the country who’ve joined the movement to defeat lung cancer.

To register, donate, sponsor or volunteer for a Free to Breathe event, visit www.FreetoBreathe.org.

Compiled from staff reports