1 year ago: Residents express concern over fate of trail in Cucumber Gulch

Breckenridge’s Open Space and Trails staff recently proposed a realignment for a popular trail that bisects the Cucumber Gulch Preserve for the sake of preserving the environment in the area, but some community members have expressed opposition. An April 22, 2024, community meeting covering biodiversity and recreation in the Cucumber Gulch Wildlife Preserve helped give Breckenridge town staffers more clarity on what the community wants for the fate of Toad Alley Trail, which has run through the middle of the preserve for 20 years. Town staff said they have seen the trail pose numerous threats to the biodiversity, such as cutting off hydrologic flow to wetlands. One major issue is that it causes habitat fragmentation. Some community members opposed moving the trail away from the wetlands.

— From the Friday, April 26, 2024, edition of the Summit Daily News

5 years ago: Gov. Jared Polis extends statewide ski area closure through May 23

The day after extending the state-mandated closure of downhill ski areas through May 23, 2020, Gov. Jared Polis elaborated on the state’s approach to allow ski areas to reopen. Polis said Friday afternoon that he had a call with “many” of the state’s ski areas a few days ago when the state “laid out the criteria” that would permit ski areas with enough snow to open in June or even as soon as Memorial Day weekend. Ski areas across Colorado have been closed since mid-March in the state’s attempt to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

— From the May 2, 2020, edition of the Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Main Street Station property in Breckenridge sells for $5.6 million

Main Street Station at the base of Peak 9 has a new owner with a new vision for retail on the south edge of Breckenridge. The property, home to 20 commercial units totaling 34,400 square feet, sold on April 24, 2015, for $5.6 million to an investor group led by Brent Martin, an Austin-based real estate manager who lives part time in Breckenridge. Main Street Station’s previous owner was First Allied Corporation, a New York-based management firm that purchased the complex from original developer Jack Wolfe in 2004. The firm owns shopping complexes in 22 states across the country, primarily in large, bustling metro areas like Denver and Chicago. By 2014, First Allied lost the property to foreclosure, due in large part to haphazard management and tensions between the landlord and tenants, Wolfe said.

— From the April 30, 2015, edition of the Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Summit school board approves $867,000 in budget cuts for 2010-11 school year

The Summit School Board unanimously, if reluctantly, approved $867,000 in budget cuts during a April 27, 2010, meeting as the economy continues a sluggish pace. The district planned to eliminate contributions toward health insurance premiums for employees’ spouses and children; cut high school and middle school athletics expenses by 5%, thereby eliminating girls tennis and boys swimming and diving; raising the cost of school lunches by 25 cents; and reducing after-school planning stipends for elementary teachers. The district is also expecting to implement a salary freeze — holding off on any expected pay raises — but that still needs to be finalized through contract negotiations with the teachers union.

— From the April 29, 2010, edition of the Summit Daily News

30 years ago: Former Dillon mayor and 10th Mountain Division veteran dies

A former Dillon mayor who helped construct Arapahoe Basin Ski Area died at his Thornton home April 13, 1995. John R. Bailey served as mayor of Dillon for several terms. Bailey was born in Rhode Island, graduating from Cushing Academy and Brown University. He volunteered for service in the first battalion 87th Regiment, the nucleus for the 10th Mountain Ski Troops. As an officer, he was later decorated for service in the South Pacific. While he was at Camp Hale, Bailey became enamored with the Blue River Valley, moving to Dillon in 1946. He was a teacher and principal of the Dillon school and later, superintendent of schools.

— From the May 3, 1995, edition of the Summit Daily News

125 years ago: Placer mining on the Blue River basin expected to expand in 1900

The placer mines of the Blue River Basin will be operated on the larger scale than ever in 1900. With the financial backing of larger companies, there is a high expectation for a great deal of larger development. This season will probably demonstrate the practical value of gold dredges, steam excavators, and hydraulic excavators. Placer mining operations in Summit County are expected to employ 500-600 men during the 1900 mining season. The general wage scale will start at $2.50 per day for laborers and increase for expert pit and pipe men.

— From the May 5, 1900, edition of the Summit County Journal