1 year ago: Summit County officials plan to add housing to new multimillion-dollar Summit Stage facility

Summit County officials are planning to add 10 housing units to a multimillion-dollar transit facility for the Summit Stage, which could break ground as soon as next fall. The roughly 60,000-square-foot center, set to be built near the town of Frisco, will house the Stage’s electric vehicle fleet and represents the single-largest infusion of federal dollars the county has ever seen. A $34.7 million federal grant is paying for the bulk of the project, which is estimated to cost about $48.1 million in total. Officials presented a design for 10 single-bedroom or studio units that could be connected in the case of families during a Dec. 19, 2023, Summit Board of County Commissioners meeting. 

— From the Dec. 28, 2023, edition of the Summit Daily News

5 years ago: Building Hope founder leaving for position at Katz Amsterdam Foundation

Betsy Casey, one of Summit County’s beloved locals and the heart and soul of the county’s premiere mental health nonprofit Building Hope, is moving on to bigger, brighter pastures. Casey will be leaving her role as the program manager of Building Hope next month and taking on a position at the Katz Amsterdam Foundation, a philanthropic foundation focused on mental health founded by Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz and his wife, Elana Amsterdam. Casey, a lifelong Summit local who helped found Building Hope in the wake of personal tragedy back in 2016, announced her departure in an email to community partners Dec. 17, 2019.

— From the Dec. 22, 2019, edition of the Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Ski resorts rejoice as winter storm also triggers highway backups

Traffic backed up on the Interstate 70 mountain corridor Dec. 22, 2014, as plows and avalanche control crews worked to clear the road, and Front Rangers and out-of-staters drove west to enjoy fresh snow and the Christmas holiday in the High Country. CDOT crews briefly closed I-70 between Silverthorne and the Eisenhower Johnson Memorial Tunnel and Vail Pass for avalanche control work after a winter storm dropped 1-2 feet from Dec. 21-22. Montezuma Road east of Keystone was also briefly closed after a power line fell into the road. While the snow meant shoveling and stuck cars to many in Summit, powderhounds able to ski and ride received faces full of fresh fluff. Some resorts recorded close to 2 feet of new snow in the 48-hour period.

— From the Dec. 23, 2014, edition of the Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Coroner reports 4 deaths in 3 days in Summit County

Four deaths have been reported in Summit County from Dec. 20-22, 2009 — an unusual occurrence acknowledged the county chief deputy coroner, though all four appear to be the result of natural causes. On Dec. 20, an 83-year-old woman from Florida died from heart-related issues at the Summit Medical Center. On Dec. 21, a 68-year-old man from Georgia died from heart-related issues. On Dec. 22, a 45-year-old Breckenridge man with a “complex medical history” was found dead in his residence by police. Later that day a 45-year-old Summit Cove man was found dead at his residence. The manner of death was reported to be consistent with natural causes for both of the Summit County residents.

— From the Dec. 24, 2009, edition of the Summit Daily News

30 years ago: County ski officials acknowledge snow shortage, not concerned

With Summit County’s snowfall minimal at best, ski area officials acknowledge the shortage but say they’re not too concerned. “Summit County’s ski areas could use some snow,” said Jim Felton, director of communications for Keystone. Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge. “But, we’ve been doing great with our snowmaking and our grooming, and I contend the snow to still be quite good.”

As of Dec. 22. 1994, Breckenridge was about 60% open, with about 1,210 ridable acres; Keystone had opened 35% of its terrain (616 acres); A-Basin had 30% open (150 acres); and Copper Mountain Resort had 58% (790 acres) open.

— From the Dec. 23, 1994, edition of the Summit Daily News

125 years ago: Christmas Day sees flurry of weddings across the county

Summit County celebrated at least four couples joining together in matrimony on Christmas 1899. Breckenridge alone saw three: Fred Reddert and and Blanche Etzler were married at the home of the father of the bride; Grant Kirts and Annie Williams were married at the home of the bride’s sister; and E. A. Beindorf and Lizzie Brown, both of Frisco, were married at the Denver Hotel. Additionally a Kokomo couple — W. R. White and Lizzie Brown — was married in Leadville. New Years Day is also expected to be a busy wedding day in the county.

— From the Dec. 31, 1899, edition of the Summit County Journal