Gerik Parmele photo Dozens of people wait to vote at 6:20 a.m. today at Open Heart Baptist Church, 2519 N. Lake of the Woods Road. Long lines were common across the area for today’s election, and local election authorities predicted record turnout. •  Slide Show: Election Day in Columbia •  TRIB BOARD: Did you vote? Tell us your story •  THE TRIBUNE'S VIEW: Voting guide •  What voters should know •  VOTE 2008: Complete coverage

Local News Stories
Voters line up at polls
By the Tribune’s staff
A bright Indian summer day dawned today as voters waited outside many polling places in Columbia and elsewhere in Boone County, the vanguard of what is expected to be a record turnout for a presidential race and a slate of statewide offices, legislative seats and statewide ballot issues.

Protesters plan picket against cop
By JANESE HEAVIN of the Tribune’s staff
Members of the black community say they plan to picket outside of Hickman High School until school resource officer Mark Brotemarkle is removed from the building.

Council OKs north-side firehouse
By SARA SEMELKA of the Tribune’s staff
The Columbia City Council last night unanimously voted to authorize bids for construction of a new fire station on the north side of town that will include a police substation and will focus on energy efficiency.

Obama wins big in mock elections
By JANESE HEAVIN of the Tribune’s staff
They might not get a chance to vote in the official election, but Columbia schoolchildren can certainly tell you whom they’re rooting for.

Teens spur poll dispute
By JODIE JACKSON JR. of the Tribune’s staff
A group of Columbia high school students giving out bottled water, potato chips and Barack Obama stickers next to the Armory Sports & Community Center got a civics lesson today they hadn’t counted on.

Man sentenced in molestation case
A Boone County man was sentenced yesterday to five years in prison after pleading guilty to molesting his 6-year-old daughter earlier this year.

Authorities respond to Providence Road wreck
A man driving from a doctor’s visit lost control of the car he was driving this morning and crashed into a tree along Providence Road near the University of Missouri campus, Columbia fire Battalion Chief Gary Warren said.

Shots reported at Douglass Park in Columbia
Columbia police responded to a report of a shooting at Douglass Park shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Motorcycle rider hurt in Columbia accident
A motorcycle rider was injured yesterday evening in a collision on Paris Road.