ATHENS, Ohio -- Rusty Smith, WOUB-FM Radio program manager, was recently awarded the 2002 Ohio Educational Telecommunications Network Commission (OET) Award in the Technical Achievement category for the locally produced program "Live from Fur Peace Ranch." The winners are selected by Ohio Public Radio.

"Live from Fur Peace Ranch" is a series that presents artists of national and international acclaim in performance at an intimate concert space. The concerts take place at Jorma Kaukonen's guitar instruction camp near Darwin, Ohio. Smith is able to record, mix, and edit the entire program from a laptop computer which has allowed him to achieve his main goal of efficiency. Smith was presented the award on May 21 at the Statehouse in Columbus.

The purpose of the OET Technical Achievement Award is to recognize a significant innovative technical achievement within Ohio public radio stations. The award is designed to award technical creativity and uniqueness.