1 year ago: Local media organization expands FM signal, adds news radio station

Fraser Valley Community Media is expanding its reach to continue the mission of inspiring and informing Grand County residents, second homeowners and visitors throughout the region with a new antenna location, expanded coverage and a radio station focused on news. The new antenna based at the top of Granby Ranch extends KFFR 88.3 to the towns of Grand Lake, Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs, in addition to serving Fraser and Winter Park. The new station, KWTR 89.1 FM, launched earlier this year in February. It serves as a companion station focused on public affairs and local happenings. The station celebrated 10 years on the air this week.

— From the June 13, 2025, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: NSCD founder, considered pioneer of adaptive recreation, dies

When Hal O’Leary, a ski instructor at Winter Park Resort, volunteered to give 23 children with amputations a one-time lesson, no one expected him to spend the next 50 years rethinking recreation and transforming the lives of disabled people. The 94-year-old adaptive skiing pioneer died June 3, 2021, under the care of Denver Hospice. The former ski instructor went on to become one of the founders of the National Sports Center for the Disabled, a program that now serves more than 4,000 children and adults with disabilities each year.

— From the June 11, 2021, edition of Sky-Hi News

30 years ago: Elbert County man charged after dumping RV’s sewage tank on ground

An Elbert County man was cited after dumping the contents of his trailer’s sewage tank out on the road on June 9, 1996. Sgt. Walt Eldridge saw a pickup pulling a trailer pull off the road at the entrance to Klein’s RV Park in Granby, he then opened the trailer’s holding tank and dumped raw sewage onto the ground. The waste material was dumped 45 feet from the overflowing Fraser River and 285 feet from the intake area of the Granby municipal water supply. The driver said he intended to dump his tank at Klein’s, but emptied his tanks on the ground after he found the RV park was closed. He was charged with littering, criminal trespass and no registration slip for the trailer. 

— From the June 13, 1996, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: Kremmling Board of Trustees sets water restrictions to ease reservoir burden

After Kremmling was without water for one day the week prior, the town board of trustees moved to adopt new water restrictions during their June 7, 1976, meeting. Trustee Hank Eastin explained that heavy lawn watering, particularly at night, has prevented the town’s 500,000-gallon water tank from filling up. The restrictions adopted forbade lawn watering between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m and allowed lawns on the north or east sides of alleys to be watered on odd days, while those on south and west sides to be watered on even days. There was no water shortage, according to Water Superintendent Hugh Reynolds it was, “just a pressure problem.” The water department could get additional pressure by drawing from Sheep Creek instead of the reservoir, but it was too muddy at the time and would clog their filters.

— From the June 10, 1976, edition of Middle Park Times

90 years ago: Outgoing Hot Sulphur Springs council meets for the final time

Members of the old Hot Sulphur Springs Town Council met for their final session on June 9, 1936, with Mayor Pro Tem O. L. Qualls presiding and concluding the old business. E. L. Chatfield, Mrs. C. Rees and Mrs. M. E. Fletcher are all going out, with H. O. Gray Sr., Charles W. Bloom and Brice Sheriff coming in, along with newly elected Mayor Hugh Gilmore.

— From the June 11, 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.