BELTON - Dr. William Long´s wagon train will wind and twist its way through downtown streets today in Belton´s July Fourth parade, marking its 31st continuous year as a float entry. Pulled by a 12-horsepower Cub Cadet riding lawnmower with Long at the wheel, the train has 32 Radio Flyer red wagons in tow. It stretches out 160 feet from beginning to end.

CAMERON - Firebreaks and keeping sun-parched vegetation clipped are two ways farmers, ranchers and homeowners can reduce the threat of property damage from wildfires, said Jon Gersbach, Texas AgriLife Extension agent for ag and natural resources in Milam County. “As our summer continues to move along hot and dry, the risk of grass fires increases,” Gersbach said. “As we have moved from spring into summer, and have had very little rainfall in the past two months, all vegetation is quickly drying up, and while the (Milam) county is not currently under any burning restrictions, fire is a very real possibility.”

To stop fires from spreading, the extension service recommends discing around fences to turn up grass, especially near heavily traveled public roads, around houses and barns and other areas that property owners want to protect. Jon Gersbach, Texas AgriLife Extension agent, advised keeping the discs or grader blade attached to the tractor at all times to assist in destroying fuel for a fire and prevent a wildfire from spreading.

Everybody needs a hug - especially children who find themselves in stressful surroundings. Eddie Sammons, a resident of the domiciliary at the Olin E. Teague Veterans´ Center, took that sentiment to heart when he initiated the Hugs program.

BELTON – It was born as an epiphany to reach voters in a new and inexpensive way that used the latest technology to educate them about an up and coming political candidate. The idea was new and revolutionary and had the potential to bring the candidate out of obscurity. The man and his friend approached the technology with caution, but their actions eventually unlocked a whirlwind that stopped them from ever progressing past the testing stage. In fact, the backlash from the online community was so stiff that the incident actually helped shape part of the 1998 Texas GOP party platform.

BELTON - Justeen Patton has been a volleyball champion as a player in high school and college. She´s served as an assistant coach at a major university. But even with all of that experience, the 24-year-old Patton decided she wasn´t quite ready to take the next step and coach volleyball at the collegiate level.

EUGENE, Ore. - Former Temple Wildcat Mike Hazle begins his quest for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team today at the track and field trials. Hazle, a 1997 Temple graduate, has the third-seeded throw, 269 feet, 8 inches, in the men´s javelin entering the qualifying round of competition at 7:30 p.m. today.

EUGENE, Ore. - Jeremy Wariner isn´t invincible anymore - a point LaShawn Merritt proved once again Thursday night. Merritt pulled his second upset of the year over the world´s supposed fastest 400-meter runner, pulling away from former Baylor star and reigning Olympic champion Wariner in the final 150 meters to win the U.S. track and field trials.

BELTON - Every cowboy who gets on top of a bull understands there will be joys and pains. Professional Nick Price earned the joy of being the only rider to complete the 8-second ride, just after junior bull rider Colton Thornton of Eddy experienced the bulk of the pain.

WIMBLEDON, England - A spot in her seventh Wimbledon final already secured, Venus Williams headed back to Centre Court to catch the end of the next match. Scouting? Not really. More like rooting. And when Thursday´s second semifinal ended, Williams stood, smiling and applauding for the woman who won, the woman she will have to beat to earn a fifth championship at the All England Club: her younger sister, Serena.

OMAHA, Neb. - Brendan Hansen clung to the lane rope, glaring at the scoreboard. No matter how long he stared, the shocking result just wouldn´t go away. He wasn´t first - or even second.