Jason

Eight-year-old Jason Vanisko admitted he was a little sad about selling his 1,708-pound steer, Michael, at the 4-H livestock sale at the Howard County Fair. He had raised the animal for more than a year, bottle-feeding it when it was a calf. "I'm sad to let it go," he said. But he was happy to auction his lamb, a 122-pounder named George. "I'm not sad to sell my lamb," said the Ellicott City resident. "It's mean. It head-butts me, and it tries to get away." Jason's emotions about the animals didn't change anything.

Jumping bikes over trash cans and curbs during the past decade, Jason A. Stephens has broken at least six $200 freestyle BMX bike frames -- costing his parents about $1,300 in replacement parts and repairs."

Critic's Pick -- Host Jason Chambers travels to Cambodia to study the fighting art of pradal serey in Human Weapon (10 p.m., History).

An overflow crowd spilled out of the sanctuary and into the vestibule of a West Baltimore church Wednesday morning for the funeral of Jason Mattison Jr., a 15-year-old killed last week in a brutal attack. The principal at Jason's school announced a scholarship fund set up in his name. Friends and family recalled stories involving the rambunctious teenager, who had dreams of becoming a pediatrician. And the reverend of the church told hundreds of mourners that the boy's death should serve as a warning to the downtrodden neighborhood where it happened to closely watch all kids.

Baseball Indians: Signed IF Anthony Medrano, IF Greg LaRocca, IF Simon Pond, IF Corey Erickson, P Jason Phillips, P Jason Baker and P Tim Byrdak to minor-league deals. Mets: Named former Oriole Bobby Floyd manager of Triple-A Norfolk. Orioles: Signed OF Darryl Brinkley, OF Howie Clark, IF Jose Leon, P Jason Lakman and P Rafael Pina to minor-league contracts. Rockies: Activated OF Todd Hollandsworth and OF Mark Little from 60-day DL. Sent IF Kevin Nicholson outright to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

It didn't happen often, but sometimes a student - usually a boy - would poke fun at Jason Mattison Jr. About his skin-tight jeans and funky sweaters. About his boisterous voice that seemed to run nonstop. About his exuberance in recounting the most mundane of events. About his flamboyant mannerisms. He was 15, a sophomore in high school, and he was gay. When someone harassed him in the halls of West Baltimore's Vivian T. Thomas Medical Arts Academy, he had a sharp, witty comeback at the ready, and he walked away smiling.

A BOY SCOUT working to earn his Eagle award, Scouting's highest honor, led a group of volunteers in a home repair project near Manchester on Saturday.Jason Seabrease, 15, a member of Troop 380, enlisted fellow Scouts and parents to volunteer for the Christmas in April project at a home near Manchester. Jason, a sophomore at North Carroll High School, began preparing for the single day of work in July."Everybody in the troop, Scouts and parents, signed up. became house captain and went from there," Jason said.

An Anne Arundel County teen-ager died and four other teen-agers were injured early yesterday when the car they were traveling in crashed into a business' concrete steps in Baltimore.Luke Andrew Donnelly, 18, of the 800 block of Timber Ridge Drive in Hanover was killed when the 1988 Honda Civic he was driving north in the 1500 block of Russell St. crashed at 4: 45 a.m., police said. He was pronounced dead at Maryland Shock Trauma Center.Taken to area hospitals, city police said, were Jessica Lynn Rossi, 16, of Ellicott City; and Jennifer Louise Phelps, 15, Bridgette Rhodes, 14, and Jason Vincent Garcia, 17, all of Elkridge.

WHO'S HOT The Red Sox lead the American League East at the All-Star break for the first time since 1995. WHO'S NOT Jason Bay of the Pirates enters the second half in a 1-for-18 slump.

Pfc. Walter Eugene Jason has been serving in the Persian Gulf regionsince August after re-enlisting in the Army last April.He is attached to Army headquarters, 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry in Saudi Arabia, said his mother, Christine Jason.The 26-year-old joined the Army in 1985, then entered the Reserves. After re-enlisting, he was activated to the Persian Gulf.Sincebeing sent to the Middle East, Jason has been recommended for appointment to the Flight Warrant Officers Program, U.S. Army Aviation.