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Topping the news this morning, voting got under way at 7 a.m. this morning at voting centers around Steamboat Springs. Routt County Clerk and Recorder Kay Weinland warned that there could be long lines. Indeed, there are about 25 people in line here at the Pilot & Today building, which is one of the voting centers.

Check steamboatpilot.com/election2006 to get a list and map of the voting center locations. The polls will be open until 7 p.m. We will update our election site throughout the night with results, so check in to see who and what are winning.

Gary Wall, the Democratic candidate for Routt County sheriff, received significantly more financial contributions than Republican Garrett Wiggins in the weeks leading up to today's election. Wall and Wiggins had been dead even in fundraising, but Campaign finance reports filed during the weekend with the Colorado Secretary of State's Office show that from Oct. 12 to 29, Wall received $6,240 compared to $900 for Wiggins. The contributions bring Wall's fundraising total to $20,365 and Wiggins' to $15,200. The reports also show that Paul Strong, Republican candidate for Routt County commissioner, received $3,680 in contributions compared to $1,565 for Democrat Diane Mitsch Bush.

Construction crews used a backhoe Monday to tear into the Harbor Hotel at Seventh Street and Lincoln Avenue. By the end of the day, the hotel was mass of rubble. The 66-year-old hotel stopped operating in 2002 and is being torn down to make room for Howelsen Place, an 85,000-square-foot residential and commercial development named after legendary Steamboat Springs resident Carl Howelsen.

Base area redevelopment is the focus of several meetings at Centennial Hall today. Redevelopment planners are scheduled to conduct an open house from 3 to 6 p.m. at Centennial Hall, presenting designs for base area projects including the public promenade, "daylighting" Burgess Creek, a Ski Time Square roundabout, connecting walkways and signage. The Steamboat Springs City Council will meet at 5 p.m. In addition to base area discussions, the council will take up the first reading of the proposed 2007 city budget.

In Sports, the annual Rocky Mountain Rumble takes center stage at Howelsen Ice Arena this weekend. The youth hockey tournament runs from Friday through Sunday and includes several different age levels. Teams from around the state will compete, including multiple Steamboat Springs teams.

Don't forget about the high school football playoffs. Steamboat gets Ft Lupton at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gardner Field while Hayden hosts Limon in the second round of the Class 1A playoffs. Hayden also plays at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Here is your first look at weather. The temperature at 8 a.m. was 42 degrees under cloudy skies. We're expecting a high around 57 degrees. Lows tonight should be in the 20s. The forecast for Wednesday looks similar.