Steamboat Pilot & Today

Haze hangs in the air around Steamboat Springs on Wednesday morning. Joe Ramey, a forecaster with the National Weather Service, said a northwest flow is bringing smoke from wildfires as far away as northern California, Nevada and southern Idaho. The haze Steamboat residents are seeing from the smoke could stick around through early next week, Ramey said. Maps of active fires across the U.S. are available at <a href="http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/">www.activefiremaps.fs.fed.us</a> and <a href="http://wildfiretoday.com/2012/08/14/wildfire-smoke-map-august-14-2012/">www.wildfiretoday.com</a>. Photo by John F. Russell

Jaydn Robson - Reserve Grand Champion Market Swine. Submitted by: Tami Thurston

Greta Thurston - Grand Champion Market Swine. Submitted by: Tami Thurston

Jaydn Robson showing her pig. Submitted by: Tami Thurston

Mallory & Mariah Hoots - Grand & Reserve Grand Champion Senior Showmanship. Submitted by: Tami Thurston

Bill Myers, left, helps Larry Guss carry his turtle into the Routt County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Guss said he made the turtle from old junk donated to him by local ranchers. Photo by Scott Franz

Cindy Ashley helps her boys Parker, right, and Spencer enter their artwork Wednesday in the home arts contest of the Routt County Fair. Photo by Scott Franz

Joyce Rowley puts the finishing touches on her wood sculpture Wednesday in the Routt County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall. Photo by Scott Franz

Carter Reistad enters his Lego cruise ship into the Routt County Fair's home arts contest Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Scott Franz

Parker Ashley, of Yampa, shows off his lion painting Wednesday during the check-in day at the Routt County Fair. Entries ranging from Lego masterpieces to large zucchini were streaming into the fairgrounds' Exhibit Hall all afternoon. Photo by Scott Franz

Moby enjoys a cool spot to relax in the water of Burgess Creek at the base of Steamboat Ski Area on Tuesday evening while hanging out with owner Eric Brooks. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction is forecasting a dry week with highs in the mid-80s in Steamboat Springs, but mostly clear skies could be marred by lingering smoke from Western wildfires. Photo by John F. Russell

Moby enjoys a cool spot to relax in the water of Burgess Creek at the base of Steamboat Ski Area on Tuesday evening while hanging out with owner Eric Brooks. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction is forecasting a dry week with highs in the mid-80s in Steamboat Springs, but mostly clear skies could be marred by lingering smoke from Western wildfires. Photo by John F. Russell

Community center flowers. Submitted by: Bill Dorr

Morning light hits the western flanks of Emerald Mountain. Submitted by: Bill Dorr

Carl Steidtmann, chief economist for Deloitte, speaks Wednesday during the 2012 Summer Water and Energy Conference at Sheraton Steamboat Resort. Photo by Matt Stensland

The Steamboat Springs 4.0 team, back row from left, Kathi Skytta, Jan Sullivan, Lola Schlapkohl, Jeannie Antonucci and Leigh Hindman; front row from left, Janne Siegal, Carol Bender, Donna Rudolph, Becky Lamb and Lisa Nutkin. The group played in the district tournament in Denver. Courtesy photo

Steamboat Springs native Nicci Curd is hoping for her shot at fame on "The Voice." Curd is one round away from making an appearance on the prime-time television show that airs on NBC. Photo by John F. Russell

Steamboat Springs native Nicci Curd is hoping for her shot at fame on "The Voice." Curd is one round away from making an appearance on the prime-time television show that airs on NBC. Photo by John F. Russell

Steamboat Springs native Nicci Curd is hoping for her shot at fame on "The Voice." Curd is one round away from making an appearance on the prime-time television show that airs on NBC. Photo by John F. Russell

Mark Sheel, in green, leads a pack of riders during last year’s Steamboat Triathlon. The 2012 triathlon kicks off at 8 a.m. Sunday. Photo by Joel Reichenberger