1 year ago: Water that used to irrigate Granby hay fields to return to Colorado River and Grand County lakes

Grand County and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, otherwise known as Northern Water, have agreed to work together on an operational framework that will give Grand County’s waterways as much as 7,000 acre-feet of additional controllable water from the Colorado-Big Thompson Project for stream enhancement. The volume available for streamflow improvement will be dependent on annual river conditions and C-BT Project storage levels. The agreement was approved by the Grand County Commissioners on April 23, 2024. Prior to 2005, this water was used for irrigation of hay fields near the town of Granby. However, the lands have since been converted for residential and commercial development.

— From the May 8, 2024, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Face mask decisions left to stores, customers in Grand County during pandemic

As the state opens back up, one vision of the new normal includes extensive mask wearing. While most government officials agree that people should wear masks in public places, neither the state nor Grand County has mandated it. When it comes to public health orders, local governments have the option to create more restrictive guidelines than the state. That means a town, city or county can extend a stay at home order or require face coverings, as some have. Grocery stores in Grand County are asking customers to wear masks, but some shoppers are doing business without the recommended face coverings. Customers at Country Ace Hardware are required to wear masks in the store. If customers don’t want to wear masks, owner Amy Kaplanis said they are being asked to wait in their cars while employees fetch their items. When Granby’s town manager asked trustees earlier this week about their feelings toward a town-wide policy requiring masks in public places, most were against the idea.

— From the May 6, 2020, edition of Sky-Hi News

10 years ago: Grand County commissioner is charged with official misconduct

Grand County Commissioner James Newberry has been charged with one count of first degree official misconduct, a class two misdemeanor, for double charging mileage. Bruce Brown, 5th Judicial District Attorney, filed the charge in Grand County Court on April 29, 2015. The charge stems from information brought to light in July 2014 that Newberry had filed expense reports for the same mileage to both Grand County and the Colorado River Water Conservation District, of which Newberry is president. The complaint states that Newberry’s mileage charges violated the law by “exceeding the actual amount incurred and/or exceeding allowable limits as permitted by law.” (Newberry eventually resigned from office Nov. 18, 2015, as part of a plea agreement, and accepted an agreement of a deferred judgment and sentence on Nov. 20, 2015.)

— From the May 6, 2015, edition of Sky-Hi News

90 years ago: Grand Lake voters approve $10,000 bond to build new school house

Voters overwhelmingly approved a $10,000 bond to build a new school house as a part of the regular school election held in Grand Lake May 6, 1935. The proposal was carried by a 57-to-1 vote, and work is expected to begin almost immediately. An additional proposal to build the new school on a site across the street from the current school house was passed on a 56-to-1 vote. The new grounds are 200 feet wide and 1,400 feet long, and will include a ski course for the pupils as well as plenty of room for recreation. The building will contain two rooms and a full basement. It is currently planned to be built of rock up to the windows and finished with logs to conform to national park architecture. Henry Rhone, a prominent businessman, was elected president of the school board by a unanimous vote.

— From the May 9, 1935, edition of The Middle Park Times

110 years ago: Large grain acreage being planted in Grand County for 1915 growing season

From all parts of Grand County come encouraging reports of the unusually large amount of land which has been broken up and cultivated to grain in 1915. Nearly all of this grain is now in the ground. The upper end of the county is especially making wonderful progress in this direction this year. Near Granby, R. W. McQueary has already sown 150 acres of oats and barley. Felix O’Neill has put in 60 acres of oats and barley on his tract. John T. Bottom has 40 acres of the same varieties. George W. McClelland planted 25 acres of oats and barley. George Meyer has sown 25 to 30 acres of oats and spelt, and many others in the same community have planted similar proportions. By Windy Gap, the Blayney ranch has also put in a large acreage of grain with their now traction engine. The early spring weather this year has been exceptionally favorable to early seeding.

— From the May 7, 1915, edition of The 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.