1 year ago: County finalizes ballot question asking for lodging tax increase

Grand County voters will see a question about a potential lodging tax increase on their ballots in 2024. Grand County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution to approve the question to appear on the ballot at their Aug. 27, 2024, meeting. The question was finalized on Sept. 17. If Ballot Issue 1A is approved by voters, the lodging tax would increase from 1.8% to 2% beginning January 2025. The increase will only affect visitors who stay in hotels or short-term rentals and would provide funds for tourism promotion, housing, “enhancing the visitor experience” in Grand County, and child care for people living and working in the community. (The measure was approved by voters in November.)

— From the Sept. 27, 2024, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Winter Park officials highlight partnership during Rendezvous Center opening

About 50 people gathered on Sept. 23, 2020, to celebrate a ribbon cutting and the opening of the Rendezvous Center in Winter Park, which comes from a partnership between the town and Rendezvous and houses the Winter Park Fraser Chamber of Commerce and the Rendezvous sales office. During the ceremony, Mayor Nick Kutrumbos shared how the building is a result of the town partnering with private businesses to enhance the community. The Rendezvous Center is part of a $3.5 million agreement, which included naming rights for the Rendezvous Event Center at Hideaway Park and Rendezvous taking the town’s old visitor center building in 2018. Construction on the mixed-use project began that year.

— From the Sept. 25, 2020, edition of Sky-Hi News

15 years ago: Grand County firefighters battle two different wildfires over one weekend

Grand County firefighters were kept busy after two small wildfires hit the area over the weekend. The first, the Ohanhu Fire, broke out near the Onahu Trailhead on the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park on Sept. 18, 2010, and was quickly contained, burning about 40 acres. The second, the Willow Fire, was spotted Sept. 19, burning on Bureau of Land Management land near milepost 7.1 on Colorado Highway 125, and was contained to about 3 acres. Crews were monitoring both fires as of Sept. 20 ensure the fire lines maintained their integrity. Both fires are suspected to be human caused.

— From the Sept. 22, 2010, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: Hitchhiker wanted on felony warrant escapes Kremmling police

On his way back from a prisoner booking, Kremmling police chief Walt Teel conducted a fairly routine identification check of two hitchhikers in front of the Lone Moose on Sept. 16, 1975. Teel had the men stand in front of the car while he ran their names through the computer, revealing that on of the men was wanted in El Paso County on a felony warrant for possession of stolen property. After Teel told the 18-year-old that he wanted to talk to him, the young man took off down an alley and escaped. Teel fired a warning shot, but was unable to catch up to the man. Five squad cars eventually arrived to assist in searching for the hitchhiker, but failed to locate him.

— From the Sept. 25, 1975, edition of Middle Park Times

100 years ago: Two men arrested for possession of liquor after raid near Fraser

Sheriff Flettcher and two deputies raided the King place near Fraser Sept. 17, 1925, and arrested two men for possession of liquor. Two bottles of liquor were being passed around when officers entered the house, which were used as evidence at the trial. William Killer and Arthur Wichtman were caught and brought down to the county jail. Both pled guilty at their trial on Sept. 18. Justice P. S. Eiting sentenced each to 30 days in jail, which would be revoked with the payment of a $100 fine. The men were employed at West Portal, and were taken there to pay their fines. Wichtman was able to pay the fine, but Killer was unable to do so and was returned to jail.

— From the Sept. 25, 1925, edition of Middle Park Times

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