1 year ago: Federal government says land exchange with Blue Valley Ranch is complete

Officials in Colorado are applauding after the federal government announced Jan. 13, 2025, that it has completed a land exchange trading parcels of private land for public land in Summit and Grand counties. The Bureau of Land Management stated in a news release that it has closed on the land exchange with Blue Valley Ranch, which is owned by billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II. The Blue Valley Ranch land exchange, which has been decades in the making, trades nine parcels of federal land totaling 1,489 acres in Grand County for nine parcels of private land totaling 1,830 acres in Grand and Summit counties. 

— From the Jan. 14, 2025, edition of Summit Daily News

5 years ago: Summit County students return to classroom after nearly 7 weeks at home

Ten months into the novel coronavirus pandemic, public and private school students across Summit County returned to the classroom Jan. 11, 2021, for the first time since before Thanksgiving. The district made the decision to go to remote learning on Nov. 30, 2020, after Thanksgiving break because new COVID-19 cases had reached an all-time peak in Summit County and the district was experiencing a large number of quarantines. Summit School District students at the preschool and elementary school levels returned to the classroom four days a week. Middle and high school students returned to the classroom for two days a week. Students continued to participate in remote classes during the rest of the week.

— From the Jan. 12, 2021, edition of Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Summit School District superintendent Heidi Pace to retire

After 31 years in public education and five years as superintendent of the Summit School District, Heidi Pace announced her retirement at the Jan. 12, 2016, school board meeting. She will step down from the post at the end of the school year. Pace arrived in Summit County in July 2011 following 26 years in Colorado Springs at Academy District 20. Since 2011, the district has won numerous awards and recognition, including getting accreditation with distinction for the very first time in 2015.

— From the Jan. 13, 2016, edition of Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Monitoring shows benzene contamination from gas station has not reached Blue River

Officials confirmed that ground water contamination at the Sav-O-Mat gas station has not reached the Blue River during a Jan. 12, 2011, town council meeting, but are still at odds with the station’s owner on how to move forward. Underground benzene contamination was found at gas station in November 2010, and the station’s owner has been in discussions with the town since then. At the meeting the station’s owner discussed other code issues with town officials, but did not submit a site plan to remediate the contamination to the town. Benzene, a known carcinogen, is a colorless, highly flammable gasoline additive.

— From the Jan. 16, 2011, edition of Summit Daily News

30 years ago: Dillon officials reach agreement with Keystone on managing town’s marina

Dillon will immediately resume management of the Dillon Marina after negotiations between the town of and Keystone Resort concluded on Jan. 16, 1996. Keystone had previously managed the marina for about five years. Under the agreement. Keystone retains slip and winter storage at the marina for a pair of sailboats for two years and gets a two-year non-compete agreement to provide skippered sailboat outings from the marina. Additionally, all Keystone employees and guests will receive a 25% discount on boat rentals at Dillon’s marina for a two-year period.

— From the Jan. 17, 1996, edition of Summit Daily News

125 years ago: Miner prepares to install bucket tramway to move ore closer to railway

The Summit County Journal has reported that C. C. Warren has planned to build a bucket tramway to connect his Tenmile mining property with the railroad about 2,000 feet away. The work will be done by John Allward of Denver.

— From the Jan. 19, 1901, edition of Summit County Journal