1 year ago: High winds lead to rare all-day closure at Arapahoe Basin Ski Area

Waking up to vicious high winds and notifications that the roads leading to Arapahoe Basin Ski Area were closed, Chief Operating Officer Alan Henceroth decided it wasn’t a time to take chances. On March 15, 2024, for the first time in five years, Arapahoe Basin closed for the day due to weather conditions. While the snow the storm brought was great, Henceroth chose employee and visitor safety over the opportunity to have a powder day and made the call just after 7 a.m. The winds were described as relentless, sustaining speeds around 40 mph that at times would gust up to nearly 80 mph. The crew got to the mountain at 5 a.m. the following day to make sure the terrain was safe and A-Basin resumed operations.

— From the March 16, 2024, edition of the Summit Daily News

5 years ago: Colorado governor orders closure of all ski resorts due to COVID-19 outbreak

On March 14, 2020, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order to close the state’s nearly 30 ski areas for one week amid the new coronavirus outbreak. Earlier in the day, Vail Resorts announced it would close all of its North American mountain resorts, including Breckenridge Ski Resort and Keystone Resort in Summit County, and retail stores through March 22. Arapahoe Basin and Loveland ski areas soon followed Vail’s lead, and Copper Mountain Resort finally announced its closure after 10 p.m. Saturday. All three ski areas initially committed to stay open but now will be closed through March 22.

— From the March 15, 2020, edition of the Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Anti-fluoride group in Breckenridge challenges Town Council decision

A small, yet passionate group of anti-fluoride activists gathered March 10, 2015, at the Breckenridge Town Council work session, where they urged council members to repeal the long-held policy of mandatory fluoridation. After nearly an hour of appeals and questions, the council decided to “stay the course” with fluoridation. After the council made its decision, Mayor John Warner told the activists they have the option to bring fluoride to public vote through petition and referendum.

— From the March 12, 2015, edition of the Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Summit County Commissioners OK expansion of Old Dillon Reservoir

The Summit Board of County Commissioners voted March 9, 2010, to approve an expansion of Old Dillon Reservoir, which will enlarge Old Dillon Reservoir’s capacity from 62 acre-feet to 286 acre-feet by raising its north and south dams. The $7 million project would create new water-storage and water-supply capacity for the town of Dillon, town of Silverthorne and unincorporated Summit County. All three entities project that demand for municipal water in their respective service areas will increase in coming years. Old Dillon Reservoir was originally constructed in 1936 as a water-supply source for Dillon. Dillon has been unable to use the water in Old Dillon Reservoir since the town’s relocation in the 1960s but has maintained the reservoir and the water rights to it.

— From the March 10, 2010, edition of the Summit Daily News

30 years ago: Summit Stage bus stopped for suspected gunman

An incident with a man seen clad in military fatigues and carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon boarding a bus ended peaceably on March 10, 1995, after the weapon was revealed to be a paintball gun. The paint gun-toting passenger was asked to get off the bus and was then frisked by Schmidt. At this time, it was discovered the guns were only for shooting paintballs. According to witnesses, when it was discovered the alleged weapon was a paintball gun, the seemingly tense situation turned light, with people smiling at the previous confusion.

— From the March 13, 1995, edition of the Summit Daily News

125 years ago: Como man killed in dynamite explosion at Jessie Mine

D. Alexander Martin, the 18-year-old son of John E. Martin, of Como, was blown up and instantly killed in the Jesse Mine, March 13, 1900. He was a new hand at the mine, employed principally in carrying drills to and from the underground workmen, also “thawing” and delivering giant powder through the property where needed. Some time before noon, the young man was engaged in thawing powder in a tunnel, 1,300 feet from daylight, using some sort of a patent “thawer.” He was alone, so no one knows how it happened, but the general supposition is that the device set the powder off. It is supposed that about 20 sticks were exploded, hurling the body of the unfortunate man into a mass of unrecognizable flesh. Coroner Arbogast was called to the scene — deeming an inquest unnecessary he sent for the undertaker, who placed the remains in a casket. His body was taken to his home at Como for burial.

— From the March 17, 1900, edition of the Summit Daily News