1 year ago: Middle Park High School celebrates new turf fields and classrooms with ribbon cutting

On Sept. 11, students, staff, parents and community members gathered inside Middle Park High School to celebrate the school’s new artificial turf fields and industrial classrooms. The ceremony was originally going to be held on the new fields themselves, however it was moved indoors because of lightning. East Grand School District Superintendent Brad Ray said the school’s many improvements were made possible thanks to the $85 million bond that was passed by voters in 2021. Among the classroom upgrades are a welding facility, a construction trades room and an updated woodworking shop.

— From the Sept. 13, 2024, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Rocky Mountain National Park closes Trail Ridge Road for Cameron Peak Fire

The Cameron Peak Fire moved south into a remote portion of Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 5, 2020, and the park closed Trail Ridge Road Sept. 6. On Sept. 5, a large smoke column could be seen for miles, as the fire made runs along Highway 14 on Green Ridge, east along the Crown Point Road corridor and south into the northern part of the park. By Sept. 10, it had burned approximately 7,050 acres in Rocky Mountain National Park. The fire initially started about 25 miles east of Walden on Aug. 13, and was not fully contained until Dec. 2. It is currently the largest wildfire in Colorado history, burning more than 208,000 acres, which is 15,000 more than the East Troublesome Fire which sparked a month later in in the same region.

— From the Sept. 9, 2020, edition of Sky-Hi News

10 years ago: Officials encourage campers to avoid Vasquez Creek after recent bear activity

Representatives from the U.S. Forest Service Sulphur Ranger District are asking campers to avoid the Vasquez Creek region of Arapaho National Forest outside of Winter Park amid recent bear activity in the area. A bear cub was shot by a camper Sept. 5, 2010, after it began to explore an occupied camp. Earlier that day, wildlife officials had received calls about a bear squashing tents in the area. Officials suggested the Idlewild and St. Louis Creek campground as good alternatives that also offer bear-proof food and trash amenities.

— From the Sept. 9 and 11, 2015, editions of Sky-Hi News

15 years ago: Officials say bones found in Fraser River likely are from cremated remains

Granby Police Chief Bill Housely said that human remains found in the Fraser River in Granby were most likely from cremated remains that were released from a foot bridge at Kaibab Park. Portions of a human jaw were found by an angler on Sept. 3, 2010. Granby Police and members of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation swept the area for additional remains, and they have been sent off for forensic analysis to ensure they are not from a missing person. Housely noted that depositing cremated remains in the river is not a crime and asked anyone with information about the case to give them a call so they confirm what happened.

— From the Sept. 8, 2010, edition of Sky-Hi News

100 years ago: Suspect escapes jail after illegal booze operation found north of Grand Lake

Sheriff Fletcher and a deputy made another catch Sept. 5, 1925, when they caught William Lehman operating a still 600 feet north of the town of Grand Lake. A 25-gallon still, 30 gallons of mash and 1 gallon of booze was captured. Lehman was brought to the county jail at Hot Sulphur Springs on Sept. 6, but was found to be missing the next day. Fletcher found the bars had been cut, likely by an accomplice on the outside.

— From the Sept. 11, 1925, 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.