1 year ago: Summit County chef named as a finalist for the 2024 James Beard Foundation

Summit County resident Matt Vawter, the executive chef and owner of Rootstalk in Breckenridge, was named as a finalist for the 2024 James Beard Foundation award for best chef in the mountain region, which includes Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. The award winners are set to be announced in Chicago on June 10, 2024. Opened in late 2020, Rootstalk offers contemporary New American fare inspired by traditional French cooking techniques. Housed within a remodeled residence from the 1800s, the restaurant’s name refers to Vawter’s roots in the area, where he attended Summit High School and later graduated from Colorado Mountain College’s culinary program. (Vawter went on to win the award.) 

— From the May 6, 2024, edition of the Summit Daily News

5 years ago: As COVID pandemic rages, residents are reminded of mud seasons of yesteryear

With the COVID-19 shutdown, locals who have been here for decades say the 2020 mud season bears similarities to those of the 1980s. Larry Crispell has lived in Summit County since 1972. Back then, he said the economic driver of the community was the ski areas and that summertime was a small segment of the economic engine. Crispell said things started to close down in April and by May, most everyone was gone. Crispell said mud season has “disappeared” over the past few years, but as the pandemic impacts tourism, things are feeling similar to mud seasons past — the area is quiet and traffic is down. 

— From the May 6, 2020, edition of the Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Colorado investigating Breckenridge marijuana dispensary after arrests

The former owner of a Breckenridge medical marijuana center is out on bond and awaiting a grand jury decision after attempting to sell 100 pounds of Colorado-grown marijuana to an undercover police officer in Tennessee. The man was arrested on Nov. 20. 2014, in Nashville. He and two accomplices were caught in a local sting operation that netted 425 pounds of marijuana worth roughly $1.7 million, according to Nashville police. At the time, officers also searched the trio’s 2012 Dodge Ram truck and seized $354,944 in cash, along with 17 “burner” cell phones and packaging material to wrap large amounts of money. The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division informed the town of Breckenridge that Soul Shine’s medical center and cultivation licenses were under suspension for numerous violations. It is the first Summit County dispensary to be investigated by the division.

— From the May 9, 2015, edition of the Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Keystone man takes first place in Bermuda sailing competition

Keystone’s Scott Snyder showed the world some Dillon Reservoir-style sailing April 25-30, 2010, winning the 11-boat J24 Class in the Bermuda International Race Week regatta. Snyder and his crew from Colorado and New York took first-place finishes over the first five races during the first three days of the competition and did well enough on the fourth day to allow them to watch the competition from the shore on the fifth day and still lock in first place. Dillon Reservoir was still frozen when he left for Bermuda, so this was his first time on the water in 2010.

— From the May 9, 2010, edition of the Summit Daily News

30 years ago: Ski areas report tremendous April snow, raising hopes of an extended season

Mother Nature dumped more than 90 inches of new snow in some areas of Summit County during April alone in 1995, according to ski resort officials. The big winner seems to have been Breckenridge, where 93.5 inches of new snow was reported at the top of Peak 8. At mid-mountain, 63.5 inches were reported. Arapahoe Basin received 78 inches in April, up from a typical average of 57 inches. Ski area officials say ski conditions are some of the best they’ve been all season, making for an excellent final weekend. On May 8, A-Basin reported a 100-inch base for the first time in 12 years. The 1992-93 season saw A-Basin open until July 4, and this season looks to bring another long season to the resort.

— From the May 5 and May 10, 1995, editions of the Summit Daily News

110 years ago: Railroad line closures slow down mail and passenger service

Track washouts have brought about a need to rebuild tracks on the east end of the South Park railroad, which means that mail and express business on the tracks over the Boreas Pass have been curtailed to a minimum. Residents are complaining that mail delivery is currently less prompt than it was during the stage line days of “primitive times.” A tri-weekly service from Denver and Leadville is the best the Colorado & Southern Railroad is giving Summit County, and it is rumored that regular service will not resume until June 10, 1900. Residents and businesspeople, who have enjoyed daily mail service for the past 30 years, have expressed outrage at the service provided by the railroad.

— From the May 12, 1900, edition of the Summit County Journal