1 year ago: Area national parks, forests brace for impact from government shutdown

Amid a government shutdown that started Oct. 1, 2025, federal land management agencies — like the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management — are halting a number of operations. It was not immediately clear how Colorado’s busy recreation areas would be impacted. But the Forest Service, National Parks Service, and Bureau of Land Management had previously published contingency plans for how the agencies would respond in the event of a lapse in government funding. The plans state that federal land management agencies will keep wildland firefighters and other emergency responders on board but will furlough thousands of other workers, impacting some visitor services.

— From the Oct. 3, 2025, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Kremmling hospital celebrates its history during ribbon cutting

Established in 1975 as Kremmling Memorial Hospital, Middle Park Health’s Kremmling campus has acquired an $11 million makeover to expand the building and meet the growing demands of the community. On Sept. 28, 2021, Middle Park Health hosted a ribbon cutting for the new 14,500 square foot hospital, which features an updated clinic, emergency department, inpatient unit, laboratory and radiology units. The expanded space will help Middle Park Health keep up with the growing demand too. According to the hospital, there has been a 60% increase in the number of patients admitted to Middle Park Health’s hospitals since 2015, while emergency room visits have increased 3-4% on average each year.

— From the Oct. 1, 2021, edition of Sky-Hi News

30 years ago: Improvements at Granby A&W will allow year-round operation

After a year of work, the A&W Restaurant in Granby is now open year-round with a fully remodeled interior and weekly specials. That work left the business closed starting in the summer of 1995. After extensive renovations, it reopened in June 1996. The restaurant has been winterized, the bathrooms were moved indoors, heating and air conditioning were added, and almost all of the restaurant’s equipment was replaced. The restaurant no longer offers carhop service, but will be able to take orders at the drive-up window.

— From the Oct. 3, 1996, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: New Kremmling movie theater owners plan to add concessions, shows

Kremmling residents Phil and Carole Talbott have taken over management of the Ramona Theatre in Kremmling from Jim Simmons. The Talbotts are hoping to eventually add a few showing to the theater’s current 7:30 and 9 p.m. shows on Friday and Saturday nights, starting with a Saturday matinee and with the possibility of later adding cartoons and serials to the schedule. Besides the showings, the couple is planning to add a soda fountain to the concession stand. Phil is still employed by AMAX, and Carole previously ran Mountain Florals in town.

— From the Sept. 30, 1976, edition of Middle Park Times

90 years ago: High schoolers party, tune into Major League Baseball playoffs

The high school students at Hot Sulphur Springs have been busy over the past week. Billy Mullin was elected as the class president, with Eugene Frey as vice president and Lillian Cox as secretary-treasurer. Mac Bloom brought a radio to the school, and the students were able to listen to the first game of the 1936 World Series on Sept. 30. On Sept. 25 the upper classmen hosted the Freshmen Friday party in the Legion hall — a kangaroo court was held to hold all the freshmen to account, followed by dancing and refreshments.

— From the Oct. 1, 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.