1 year ago: Granby breaks ground on water treatment plant

On May 27, 2025, town officials, project engineers and other stakeholders gathered for a groundbreaking of Granby’s new water treatment plant. The plant will serve Granby’s north service area  north of the Fraser River, where get their water from the Fraser River. The current plant was built 40 years ago and is no longer keeping up with demand and stricter environmental regulations. In order to help fund the costs of a new plant, the town raised water bill rates for residents in the north service area in 2024. The plant is expected to cost approximately $32 million and be completed in spring of 2027.

— From the May 30, 2025, edition of Sky-Hi News

5 years ago: Officials investigating origins of 4.7-acre fire near Henderson Mill

The U.S. Forest Service is investigating a wildfire that broke out inside the Williams Fork Fire closure area on May 22, 2021. Fire crews responded to a wildfire in the area along County Road 30, about one mile from the Sugarloaf Campgrounds and near the Henderson Mill. Forest Service spokesperson Tammy Williams said crews were able to contain the 4.7-acre Kinney Fire in less than an hour with help from Hot Sulphur Springs-Parshall Fire Protection District, Kremmling Fire, Grand Fire, Grand EMS and the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. The fire was determined to be human-caused, but details on the fire’s origins were still under investigation.

— From the May 26, 2021, edition of Sky-Hi News

30 years ago: Grand Lake board upholds firing of former public works superintendent

Town Manager Mark Collins’ termination of former public works superintendent Ray Barry was upheld by the Grand Lake Town Board on May 28, 1996. The board heard two full days of testimony on May 9-10 as a part of an appeal by Barry. Barry was removed from his position on March 4 for “acts contrary to the good of the public interest” and “unsatisfactory performance” after he was accused of taking a motor from an old street-sweeping vehicle, along with a quantity of paper towels and toilet paper. A probe by Lt. Roger Vance and Investigator Rob Terranova of the Grand County Sheriffs Department resulted in two misdemeanor theft charges being filed against Barry.

— From the May 30, 1996, edition of Sky-Hi News

50 years ago: Hot Sulphur Springs town hall damaged by toddler operating car

The Hot Sulphur Springs town hall was damaged after an accident involving an unattended toddler left in a car. A Granby woman had stopped at the Beacom office on May 24, 1976, leaving her 2-year-old and 11-month-old daughters in her Oldsmobile in the car. The older daughter managed to knock the shift level from park to reverse, allowing the car to roll backwards on U.S. Highway 40 before rolling downhill into the town hall, penetrating one wall of the building. No one was cited in the incident.

— From the May 27, 1976, edition of Middle Park Times

90 years ago: Legionaires ready to decorate veterans’ graves all around Grand County

The Legionaires of Alex Klein post at Hot Sulphur Springs planned to decorate the graves of soldiers at the Fraser, Grand Lake and Hot Sulphur Springs cemeteries. On May 30, 1936, the post made their rounds, decorating the graves of soldiers and holding memorial services at each location. The day started in Granby at 9 a.m., moved to Fraser at 10 a.m., proceeded to Grand Lake and concluded at Hot Sulphur Springs. At Hot Sulphur, the services began at the Legion Hut, with songs and speeches. Ferry Carpenter, the director of the U.S. Division of Grazing, spoke at the hut, emphasizing the desire of the American Legion to ensure peace for the nation, keep out of foreign wars in the future and continue to build up American defenses.

— From the May 28 and June 4, 1936, editions 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.