Boone Life

Events at the fair included a pony pull, market lamb competition and more.

On Sunday, the Boone County Fair held a demolition derby, a horse show and a baby boy contest.

Only free goods, services and performances were allowed at the event, which previously had been held twice in Columbia and started in San Francisco.

A love of horses united participants, their families and the spectators.

The Baby Girls Contest might have been just as fun for the parents as it was for the little ones.

Highlights for the day included the parade in the morning and the Baby Girls Contest later in the afternoon. Evening storms caused the side-by-side mud race to be canceled, and many activities at the carnival died down because of the rain

This year's Boone County Fair Parade featured several 4-H Club floats, horses and antique and classic cars.

A grizzly bear act will come to the annual Boone County Fair from July 27 through July 31. The Welde's Big Bear Show features not only bear tricks, but education about the animal's habitats.

The Walters-Boone County Museum marked two decades of historical preservation at its Columbia home on Sunday. Longtime members honored the past and looked forward to the future of the museum.

The scorching hot temperatures: You're feeling it, and everybody's talking about it.

The heat index could get to 107 on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Here is a list of places to stay cool if you do not have air conditioning.

The Postal Regulatory Commission is set to accept or reject possible stamp price increases from 44 to 46 cents. The Postal Service is also considering stopping Saturday delivery.

The city of Ashland held its annual Fourth of July parade on Saturday. A couple of hundred people participated in the parade, which has been happening for about 20 years.

This year attendees will see new elements, including performances from the Hickman High School choir, performing dogs from the Columbia Canine Sport Center and more activities for children.

Check out the schedule of Independence Day celebrations in Columbia, Ashland, Arrow Rock, Jefferson City, Centralia, Lake of the Ozarks, Rocheport and Fulton. Most events are free.

The Columbia School Board is waiting on Boone County to approve an agreement for a road along the new high school site in northeast Columbia.

Sturgeon welcomed back the summer festival and celebrated the high school's state basketball victory.

After a long road of debt trouble and legal disputes, the Missouri Theatre Center for the Arts requires big budget changes to keep its doors open. A ruling in the dispute between the theater and Huebert Builders Inc. is expected by Aug. 31. Huebert Builders is seeking $400,000 for unpaid bills.

Detective Jeff Westbrook, a lifelong resident of Columbia, has retired from the Columbia Police Department after 22 years of service. He is one of the founding fathers of the Domestic Violence Enforcement Unit.

The car wash will be hosted by Boone County firefighters on Saturday at Fire Station 12. Proceeds will benefit Keith Null, a volunteer firefighter who was seriously injured in a traffic accident in May.