1 year ago: Grand County commissioners officially oppose Proposition 127 with resolution

On Nov. 5, 2024, voters will either pass or reject Proposition 127, the initiative to ban mountain lion, bobcat and lynx hunting. If passed, the initiative would prohibit the intentional killing of wild cats, except in certain cases, like defense of human life and livestock. It would also make landowners ineligible for state reimbursement for damage caused by mountain lions. At their Oct. 22 meeting, Grand County commissioners passed a resolution stating their opposition to Proposition 127, saying a ban would have “damaging ecological consequences” and restrict the authority of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. (The proposition did not pass, with 54.74% of Colorado voters opposing it.)

— From the Oct. 30, 2024, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: County shelter cares for alpacas, peahen, pigeons and more amid East Troublesome Fire

Between wrangling turkeys and herding alpacas, Grand County’s Animal Control officers have had a week of new experiences as they’ve responded to countless calls to help animals impacted by the East Troublesome Fire. At the height of the chaos, there were around 75 animals — everything from chickens to cats and snakes to gerbils — temporarily housed at the shelter before being reunited with their families or fosters. Prior to the East Troublesome Fire blowing up on Oct. 21, 2020, the shelter put the 11 adoptable animals in their care in foster homes to prepare the shelter to house animals displaced by the fire. Officers also provided continuous care for animals left in evacuated areas, including several outdoor cats — checking in and ensure there’s food and clean water for them. They had a similar protocol for the 70 pigeons and one peahen they took under their wing until the owner could get home. 

— From the Oct. 30, 2020, edition of Sky-Hi News

30 years ago: Fraser Valley library funding in doubt as county officials discuss budget

The Grand County Board of County Commissioners probably won’t allocate any county dollars toward building a proposed 8,300 square foot, $875,000 Fraser-Winter Park library. Board members spent their Oct. 31, 1995, meeting deliberating funding requests, with an eye to staying with TABOR Amendment restrictions, which were approved by voters in 1992, and prohibit counties and towns from taking in more money than they did the year before (adjusted for inflation).

— From the Nov. 2, 1995, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: Grand County extends BLM lease on dump site as it looks for new location

The county’s lease with the Bureau of Land Management for the dump site near Granby has been extended to May 1, 1976, according to a statement from a county official on Oct. 28, 1975. The commissioners had earlier received a letter from the BLM giving the county 30 days to vacate the site, near the junction of U.S. Highway 40 and Colorado Highway 125, after the lease ran out on Sept. 30. After talking with the BLM’s state office, county officials were that lease would be renewed. This gives the county time to find another site, a process that has been going on for six months. The county attempted to get another site from the BLM, but that has bogged down, and the commissioners are now looking at purchasing a site near Granby to handle solid waste.

— From the Oct. 30, 1975, edition of Middle Park Times

90 years ago: Winter makes an early appearance with Grand County snowstorm

Grand County residents awoke to an appearance from Old Man Winter last week, who lengthened his stay around the area. A heavy blanket of snow fell on Oct. 23, 1935, and flurries continued for the remainder of the week, bringing as much as 10 inches of snow in some areas. The Middle Park Times reported that an early winter would be welcome in 1935, with most of the ranges still below average for moisture and a good store of hay already put up — enough to keep the area’s cattle and sheep fed through the winter. Local ranchers and herdsmen have already moved their animals down from the high ranges and are ready for an ongoing cold snap.

— From the Oct. 31, 1935, edition of Middle Park Times

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