1 year ago: Granby Ranch closes out winter season with first pond skim in 8 years

Granby Ranch closed out the 2024-25 season as skiers and snowboarders attempted to skim across a pond filled with balloons. Granby Ranch’s Skim or Swim event March 29, 2025, challenged participants ages 10 and older to make it across the chilly water. Many were decked out in costumes. Of the 54 competitors who tested the waters, 16 succeeded at crossing the 52-foot-long pond, according to a news release from Granby Ranch. It had been eight years since the resort hosted a pond skim.

— From the April 2, 2025, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Jury trials will resume at 14th Judicial District after a year of online court proceedings

Chief Judge Michael O’Hara approved new protocols on March 26, 2021, allowing jury trials to resume in the 14th Judicial District after a year of limited online court proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Five trials were scheduled for April 2021 in Grand County, though district court trials that require 12 jurors were still not permitted. The new regulations require everyone in the courthouse to wear masks that cover the nose and mouth, as well as maintain 6 feet of distance from one another at all times while inside.

— From the April 2, 2021, edition of Sky-Hi News

30 years ago: Granby woman, 85, honored as the oldest US Forest Service employee

Phyllis Carmichael of Granby helped put Grand County on the map two weeks ago when she was given a national honor by the U.S. Forest Service. Carmichael, 85, was honored for being the oldest employee of the Forest Service in the United States. She was given a certificate and a gift at a special gathering at the Granby U.S. Forest Service office to commemorate the event. She started working at the Granby office in 1987 shortly after the death of her husband. In 1996 she worked 12 hours a week as an office automation clerk. She said she still enjoys the work and also regularly goes cross-country skiing in the area.

— From the April 4, 1996, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: Safe stolen from Fraser store after burglar cuts through wall, breaks concrete

The Grand County Sheriff’s Office has collected 13 nieces of evidence in a case involving a nighttime burglary at the Fraser Barn Store on March 29, 1976. Investigator Phil Wargo said a 20-pound safe was removed after someone cut a hole through the wall of the women’s restroom. The heavy concrete that encased the safe was chipped away and about $4,000 was suspected to have been taken. The burglary occurred between 1:45 a.m. when the sheriff’s office checked the building and 7 a.m. when the store was opened.

— From the April 1, 1976, edition of Middle Park Times

90 years ago: Local grocer makes improvements to store with displays and chopper

Bloom’s Red & White store in Hot Sulphur Springs has been the scene of a great deal of activity in March 1936. The store now has a new meat display case, a new window display rack, a new electric meat chopper and new display rack for bread and pastries. The improvements add considerably to the appearance of the store and will enable them to give even better service than in the past.

— From the April 2, 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.