1 year ago: Silverthorne community remains split on a planned land purchase

A land purchase by Summit County government and Silverthorne that is intended to boost the town’s trail system and create more open space is continuing to evoke strong reactions from the surrounding community. Silverthorne residents have voiced both opposition and support since the planned purchase was made public. Silverthorne and Summit County plan to split the $2 million purchase down the middle, designate it as open space and use it to link together a trail system, known as the Silverthorne Loop, which would surround the town’s perimeter. The purchase was unanimously approved on first reading at an Oct. 9, 2024, Silverthorne Town Council meeting.

— From the Oct. 14, 2024, Summit Daily News

5 years ago: Breckenridge officials aim to step up public health order enforcement

Breckenridge Town Council members discussed stepping up enforcement of public health orders in town at an Oct. 13, 2020, work session. Mayor Eric Mamula said that there have been several complaints of businesses that are out of public health compliance. He speculated that some businesses have either given up or have realized that the town isn’t enforcing the public health orders, and said the town needs to do something about these businesses. Breckenridge Police Chief Jim Baird said the department began an organized push on Oct. 14, with officers reeducating people by contacting businesses to remind them of public health orders. 

— From the Oct. 15, 2020, Summit Daily News

10 years ago: Skull found on Frisco mountain identified as missing Breckenridge man

A skull found near the top of Peak 1 was recently identified as Jack McAtee, a Breckenridge man who went missing on Sept. 19, 2014. The discovery marked a difficult form of closure for McAtee’s family, who organized several search efforts throughout the mountains in the last year in hopes of finding their son. Nearly a year later on Aug. 11, 2015, two hikers found a skull as they descended from the 12,900-foot summit of Peak 1. Members of the Summit County Search and Rescue Group searched for clues to the identity but found none, the skull was eventually sent for a DNA test, which confirmed McAtee’s identity.

— From the Oct. 13, 2015, Summit Daily News

15 years ago: Summit County officials eliminate 19 paid positions amid declining revenues

The Summit Board of County Commissioners announced the elimination of 19 county positions resulting in 10 layoffs on Oct. 13, 2010. An additional nine positions, which staff left vacant this year, were frozen and will not be filled this year or next. The county also reduced weekly hours for four other employees. The layoffs followed a recommendation for $635,000 in operational cuts and $1.35 million in personnel scale-backs the county staff presented to the commissioners Oct. 12. The cuts came in response to steep declines in tax revenue for the county in recent years. Sales tax collections fell an additional 10% in 2010 after a historic 18% drop in 2009, and property tax revenue is expected to decrease about 20% in 2012.

— From the Oct. 14, 2010, Summit Daily News

30 years ago: Silverthorne earmarks $250,000 for construction of hockey rink in Frisco

A public ice rink in Frisco moved closer to reality in early October 1995, when Silverthorne officials announced they intend to set aside $250,000 toward its construction. In September 1995, the Frisco Town Council voted unanimously to donate 2 acres of land on the Frisco Peninsula for construction of the rink. In exchange for the land, rink proponents agreed to raise the money to build the facility Those proponents have since approached the Breckenridge, Dillon and Silverthorne town councils, asking for financial support toward the rink’s construction.  While representatives of all three towns have expressed support for the idea, Silverthorne is the first to announce a firm contribution.

— From the Oct. 17, 1995, Summit Daily News

125 years ago: Placer mining company east of Breckenridge brings in 50 pounds of gold

The final clean up of gold-bearing sediments was completed Oct. 16, 1900, by the Mecca company’s placer operation east of Breckenridge, yielding 50 pounds of gold. The Sept. 13 clean up yielded 40 pounds of gold, bringing the company’s season total to about 100 pounds. The operation is managed by Colonel Kingsbury, and employed 15 men for four months to bring in such a haul. There is still gold to be had, but a shortage of water has caused the work to cease for the season.

— From the Oct. 20, 1900, Summit County Journal