IN BRIEF

RENO

Gay pride parade attracts hundreds

Drag queens and transsexuals waved from floats to the crowd as the annual Reno Gay Pride Parade was staged Sunday in downtown Reno.

Police said about 600 to 700 people watched the 11th edition of the parade on Arlington Street.

"It is a big statement for gay pride," participant Glenn Prather of Reno told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "The county is starting to get more tolerant of it."

Some participants said they paraded specifically for Hispanic gay pride.

"We want to let them know that they are not alone because so many gay people feel they are alone," said Nicole Ramirez of Sparks, the reigning Ms. Gay Reno. "This helps people understand that it is OK to be yourself."

BOISE, Idaho

Evacuation ordered as wildfire spreads

The governor on Sunday ordered the residents of about 100 homes in central Idaho to evacuate because of a fast-moving wildfire driven by high winds that grounded air tankers.

The order by Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter came when the Castle Rock Fire, near Ketchum, spread over a ridge and reached a south-facing slope where fire officials expected it to advance rapidly, fire spokesman David Olson said.

"The fire is up above the ridge where the homes are," Olson said. "The desire is to give folks more time to move belongings."

He said residents of more than 200 other homes were also advised to evacuate, along with their livestock. No injuries were reported in the fire, which covered about 7,000 acres, or 11 square miles.

"I think people are generally worried in this area," Olson said. "They can see fire nearby. There's lots of smoke."

An evacuation center was set up in the town of Hailey, about 12 miles south of Ketchum.

All the homes ordered evacuated were about six to eight miles west of the resort area. Ketchum city officials called for volunteers to report to City Hall.

The blaze was within a mile and a half of homes ranging from summer cottages to multimillion-dollar houses.

No buildings had been lost from the fire, which was sparked Thursday by lightning.

RIVERSIDE, Calif.

Skateboard deaths prompt safety calls

Two children were killed in separate skateboarding accidents this month in Riverside County, prompting safety experts to urge skaters to wear safety gear and ride in designated areas.

Twelve-year-old Sean Mikhail died Aug. 11 in Moreno Valley when he fell off his skateboard and hit his head on the pavement. He was not wearing a helmet.

In Menifee, Marlena Mattfeld, 11, of Long Beach, died Aug. 13, three days after she lost control and slid beneath a moving motor home, near her grandmother's home.

While skateboarding deaths are uncommon, they are a reminder of the importance of taking precautions like wearing a helmet, said Victoria Young, program coordinator for Riverside County Injury Prevention Services.