1 year ago: Lawmakers aim to increase restoration efforts for Grand Lake’s clarity

The Colorado Legislature unanimously passed a resolution Feb. 27, 2024, that emphasizes the state’s ongoing commitment to restore the clarity of Grand Lake, which is the largest and deepest natural lake in Colorado. Grand Lake is also a critical component in the Colorado-Big Thompson Project that moves water from the Colorado River Basin to the Front Range for more than a million water users. Although the resolution does not have much teeth, it urges federal, state and private organizations to enhance collaboration efforts so clarity standards are finally met. Past efforts have included plant management, aeration methods and switching up water pumping patterns. Major structural alternatives would be very costly, and the resolution does not come with funding.

— From the March 6, 2024, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Winter Park purchases property ahead of transit facility construction

In anticipation of Winter Park’s construction of a new transit maintenance facility, the town purchased six acres of property on Grand County Road 5 in Fraser. The property, which currently houses Dog Sled Rides of Winter Park, is adjacent to where the transit maintenance facility will be built, so the town felt purchasing the property would address concerns about how the construction would affect the neighboring lot. The town agreed to lease the single-family home on the property back to the former owners until June 30, 2021. There is also an apartment on the lot that the town may utilize for employee housing if needed.

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

10 years ago: Real estate lags as tourism bounces back to pre-recession levels

Tax revenue seems to suggest Grand County’s tourism economy is in full swing, but the real estate market has been a bit slower to rebound. Sales and lodging tax revenue from 2014 are close to pre-recession numbers, but total real estate transactions and gross monetary sales volumes are down from their peaks in 2007. Still, while transaction numbers are improving sluggishly, the 2014 sales volume was at its highest since 2008, though still far short of pre-recession levels.

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

90 years ago: Grand County man places high at Olympic ski jump trials

Lloyd “Barney” McLean, the “wild Irish rose” of Middle Park, place sixth in the Olympic trails March 3, 1935, in Salt Lake City. The youthful Middle Park jumper was well to the top in distance in his jumps, but his form was not quite as good as some of the older riders. He tied for third place on total distance jumped but drew sixth in points. The top four finishers are considered virtually assured of places on the Olympic team, which will compete in Berlin in 1936. Two of the top finishers took McLean to Anaconda, Montana, and are expected to help him improve his form during the meet there March 10. It is possible he may yet make the team. (He broke his leg that meet, which spoiled his chances to make the Olympic team, but went on to compete in the 1948 Olympics).

— From the March 7, 1935, edition of Middle Park Times

110 years ago: Hunting party hopes to find big cats

A hunting party was organized in Hot Sulphur Springs on March 3, 1915, which aims “to go forth and do battle with the denizens of the forest who are inclined to be of a vicious character.” The party, which consists of one Grand County resident and two men from New York City, will be headquartered at the Horse Shoe Ranger Station and will be hunting across the upper Williams Fork and Little Muddy rivers. The main aim of the hunt is mountain lions and cougars, and while it is a little early in the season for bear hunting, it is known that the party would not avoid an introduction to such an animal. Eight trained hounds will join the party, which is expected to be out 10-15 days.

— From the March 5, 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.