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This week in history: Mayors resign, red flag law takes effect, ice harvest looks good

A customer picks up her mail from the Parshall Post Office in 2016. The office had reduced its hours late in 2014 and was being staffed by Kremmling postal workers while the U.S. Postal Service worked to hire an employee to work at the office.
Byron Hetzler/Sky-Hi News archive

1 year ago: Mayors of Kremmling, Fraser announce resignations

Two Grand County mayors announced they were resigning within a month of each other for the same reason: upcoming moves out of their respective towns. Fraser Mayor Philip Vandernail submitted a letter of resignation Dec. 21, 2023, explaining he was resigning his office effective Jan. 3, 2024, due to an upcoming move out of the state. He had served as mayor since April 2016. A few weeks later, Kremmling Mayor Grover Pryor announced his resignation at a town council meeting, also effective Jan. 3, 2024. Pryor had served as the town’s mayor since April 2018. Pryor told Sky-Hi News he had moved into a new home outside of Kremmling and was no longer eligible to serve as mayor.

— From the Jan. 5 and Jan. 10, 2024, editions of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Agencies prepare for red flag law in Grand County

Despite opponents’ concerns, Colorado’s red flag law is in effect, and Grand County’s law enforcement agencies are preparing for its ramifications. The red flag law, or Extreme Risk Protection Order Act, allows law enforcement officers, family members or people living in the same house to petition a judge to confiscate a person’s firearms and prevent them from purchasing other guns if they are believed to be a danger to themselves or others. Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin added that Grand County is not a Second Amendment sanctuary county, though other counties in Colorado have passed resolutions stating they would not enforce the new law. For Schroetlin and other local police agencies, the Extreme Risk Protection Order should be considered a last resort and officers should try to address situations with other tools first.



— From the Jan. 10, 2020, edition of Sky-Hi News

10 years ago: Hours reduced at Grand County post offices

Both the Hot Sulphur Springs and Parshall post offices are undergoing some changes, with reduced hours. Starting Jan. 12, 2015, the Hot Sulphur Springs office was set to be open from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays to Fridays and 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays. The Parshall office, which had already transitioned to reduced hours in December, was open from 8 a.m. to noon Mondays to Fridays and 8-10 a.m. Saturdays. Both offices are staffed by a single employee, though the Parshall office is being operated by employees of the Kremmling office while the U.S. Postal Service works through the process of hiring a new employee.



— From the Jan. 7, 2015, edition of Sky-Hi News

90 years ago: Middle Park Times mentioned in The Washington Post

While paying tribute to The Times of London, which recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, the editorial staff of The Washington Post chose to highlight the work of the Middle Park Times and other papers across the country “that will never become of international, national or even state importance.”

“There is something inherently and unshakably American in the words ‘Tabernash Local Lore,’ which is the head for a society column in another ‘Times,’ that of Middle Park, Colorado. In the era of foreign correspondents, comics, wire photos and wise-cracking columnists, it is undeniably restful to read in the Middle Park Times that ‘when it was all over, the ladies departed with Christmas joy in their hearts, even though a terrific blizzard was raging outside.'”

— From the Jan. 10, 1935, edition of Middle Park Times

110 years ago: Ice harvest looking good after cold snap

The dry cold weather of the few weeks from the end of 1914 into the beginning of 1915, with scarcely any snow on the ground, has developed a wonderful crop of ice this season for Hot Sulphur Springs businesses. Schuyler Button and Grover Henry have already put up their supply, while Charles F. Free and the Morgan Mercantile Co. are putting up their supply this week. Henry Eastin will also fill his large ice house this month. The ice is perfectly clear, of good quality and about 22 inches thick.

— From the Jan. 8, 1915, 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.

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