Multimedia

By Suekyong KimPark Hill neighbors talk about holiday traditions.

By Parker Michels-BoyceCasey "The Balloon Guy" Shamey's balloon stand was among the attractions at Flat Branch Park at the Fourth of July carnival, sponsored by Columbia's Karis Community Church. Coordinators estimate that the event drew more than 1,500 people.

By Andrell Bower and Dayna FieldsIsabel Burggraaff from Thilly Avenue has an extravagant garden that she has been working on garden for five years. Complete with a pond, a small waterfall, stepping stones and over 50 types of plants, she believes she has accomplished her goal of a soft, natural and peaceful ambiance.

By MARK LEWIS and RACHEL SWETNAMMU’s Repertory Theatre kicked off its summer season with a showing of “Cabaret” on Wednesday night. Backstage at the Rhynsburger Theatre, cast and crew caked on makeup and squeezed into glitzy costumes to recreate the classic play, which is set in 1930s Germany.

By Jennifer Ledbury and Maria TotoraitisMU graduate student Jennifer Hamel brought bug communication to life on Thursday, July 3 at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia. She brought a group of thornbugs to the library so children could listen to how bugs "talk." In addition to live bugs, the children listened to recordings made by Reginald Cocroft, associate professor and head of the Cocroft Lab at MU. The event was part of the library's summer reading program, which is themed "Catch the reading bug."

By Justin MyersThe hydrogen car, which took three years to design and build, will race from northeast Texas to western Canada.

By Thanyarat Doksone and Jim BuellRetiring Columbia Police Chief Randy Boehm attended his retirement reception held by the city of Columbia at the Daniel Boone Building on Sunday. The chief has served with the Columbia Police Department for 31 years and will take a job as manager of security for MU Health Care on July 7.

By Catherine Crane and Melissa UrchelerAssistant chef at Churchill’s restaurant, Emmitt Joyner, explains the importance of complementing food and wine at the Wine and Food Festival 2008 at the Holiday Inn Express in Columbia on Friday evening.

By Photos: MELISSA HUFFER and SARA STOGNER; Audio, slideshow: KRYSTEN CHAMBROTOakland Family Aquatic Center debuted a 125-foot-long water slide Friday. But Saturday marked the first time many used it. The pool cost $180,000 and was paid for by a city park sales tax.

By SU JINGAbout 50 people participated in a disaster drill organized by Columbia’s Office of Volunteer Services on Thursday, June 26, 2008. The purpose of the drill was to practice and test the community’s management of volunteers in the event of a disaster. Volunteers registered, were interviewed and placed, and then received identification and training for a position in response to a hypothetical major power outage.