1 year ago: Rally in Winter Park aims to support public land employees after federal staffing cuts

Community members from across Grand County traveled to Winter Park on a snowy Presidents Day, Feb. 17, 2025, to rally in support of public lands. Attendees held up signs touting the importance of protecting public lands, such as national forests, parks and ski areas. The signs also decried recent layoffs of federal land management employees ordered by the Trump administration. The rally’s organizer said people from Grand Lake, Granby, Kremmling and the Fraser Valley took time out of their day to attend the rally, which lasted from 10 a.m. to noon. The nearby Viking Lodge offered coffee and a place to warm up.

— From the Feb. 19, 2025, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Granby Ranch Metro District to pursue litigation against owner

After the new owner of Granby Ranch decided to undo long-standing agreements with homeowners in the subdivision, one of its metropolitan districts has decided to fight back. The board of directors for Granby Ranch Metropolitan District voted unanimously in favor of filing a complaint and initiating litigation against GP Granby Holdings and Headwaters Metropolitan District on Feb. 18, 2021. The legal action focuses on a one-time $10,000 amenity fee that homeowners paid when they purchased their property as part of a community lease purchase agreement, which was supposed to eventually help pay for the purchase of the ski and golf resorts at Granby Ranch. Granby Ranch’s new owner, GP Granby Holdings, took over the resort following foreclosure proceedings in 2020. In a September letter to homeowners, GP Granby Holdings said the agreement was terminated at the time of the foreclosure. (A judge later ruled against the district.)

— From the Feb. 19, 2021, edition of Sky-Hi News

30 years ago: Fraser Valley voters to decide on funds for possible recreation center

Fraser Valley voters will be asked to approve two bond issues concerning a proposed $3.4 million recreation center on May 7, 1996. The Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District board of directors made the decision to put the bond issues on the ballot before an overflow crowd Feb. 20. The approved ballot question state the building would be 27,000 square feet. It would consist of a full gymnasium, exercise and aerobics rooms, free and fixed weight areas, indoor running track, physical therapy faculties, locker rooms and offices, a daycare area for users of the center and various meeting rooms. (Both bond issues were defeated — the one approving funds for the center’s operation by a 838-396 margin, and the other to approve funds to build the center by a 833-406 margin.)

— From the Feb. 22, 1996, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: County commissioners give final approval to sales tax ballot proposal

The Grand County commissioners approved the final draft of a proposed county-wide sales-use tax proposal at their Feb. 17, 1976, meeting, which will be put on the ballot for the April 6 county elections. Rough estimates have projected revenue resulting from the sales tax issue at $170,000. If it was applied to the county budget for relief of property taxes and not used for new programs, could result in the decrease of the county mill levy by three mills. (The initiative was later voted down by a 955-769 margin.)

— From the Feb. 19, 1976, edition of Middle Park Times

90 years ago: Colorado Ski Runners Club sponsors downhill races at Berthoud Pass

The Colorado Ski Runners Club, a newly organized group, has been sponsoring weekly races at the top of Berthoud Pass every Sunday, and member Sterling “Sam” Huntington has become quite the expert in the down mountain and slalom races. On Feb. 16, 1936, he won the race on the difficult three-quarter mile course with a time of 1 minute, 55 seconds — beating second-place finisher Eric Sollid, who finished in 2 minutes, 2 seconds.

— From the Feb. 20, 1936, edition of Middle Park Times

Sky-Hi News is working to digitize Grand County newspaper archives and make them available to the public for free. Support the project at SkyHiNews.com/donate.