Oxycontin was a mystery to Kim and Dave Howe of Simi Valley before their son, 20-year-old Tim, collapsed and died at Challenger Park in Simi on July 9. The family believes it was the firt time he had used the drug that has been linked to hundreds of overdose deaths. The Howes have dedicated themselves to spreadin the word about this new killer. Staff writer Maria Gonzalez (mgonzalez@VenturaCountyStar.com) will have their story tomorrow for Page One.

Also, we'll be at today's opening of the Fair. Staff writer Zeke Barlow (zbarlow@VenturaCountyStar.com) will check in on all those folks who will show up today to see how they fared at the fair ... checking out the various entries to see if they won. Also, Maria Gonzalez (mgonzalez@VenturaCountyStar.com) will be visiting the breeding sheep judging and asking the question that we all ponder when we wander the livestock pens: why is that one a winner and the other one not?

We'll have the latest on the successful shuttle space fix from this morning and more on the deaths of 14 Marines in a single attack in Iraq.