5 years ago — Week of Jan. 8, 2004

Eagle Postmaster Sam McKibbon announced that residents would no longer be allowed to tape funeral notices on the post office doors. “Actually it is a post office policy that nothing be taped to the doors or windows. It’s not like the people that are posting these things are doing it neatly,” said McKibbon.

Alpine Lumber, a Denver-based firm, purchased the Summit Lumber operation from Eagle owner Max Quenon. The sale involved both the Eagle store and a store in Buena Vista.

Tony Mitzelfelt, a 1996 graduate of Eagle Valley High School, was at work on the “Shrek” sequel. He was employed by PDI, a computer animation firm owned by DreamWorks.

Eagle teen Hilary Henry was a contestant in the Colorado “Make it Yourself with Wool” contest.

A two-day snowstorm dumped 20 inches of white stuff in Eagle and Gypsum.

10 years ago — Week of Jan. 7, 1999

Among those taking oaths of office at the county were Commissioner Tom Stone, Clerk and Recorder Sara Fisher, Treasurer Karen Sheaffer, Assessor Jody Caruthers, Sheriff A.J. Johnson, Coroner Donna Barnes and Surveyor Jim Kunkel.

Eagle County adopted a “Right to Ranch” regulation intended to help protect ranchers’ lifestyles.

Family members were concerned about the whereabouts of the Terry Smith family, former Eagle residents who were believed to have followed a leader of a religious cult to Israel.

Local ambulance and fire districts were working together to persuade local governments to pass emergency services impact fees.

Lake Creek rancher Buddy Calhoun purchased a turn-of-the-century house at the intersection of Capitol Street and U.S. Highway 6 in Eagle for $1. Calhoun intended to move the house to his ranch on Lake Creek.

The Eagle Planning and Zoning Commission chastised the developers of the proposed Adam’s Rib project for failing to provide a requested comprehensive trails plan.

20 years ago — Week of Jan. 12, 1989

Eagle County attorney James Fritze was named county manager. Fritze took over following the resignation of former manager Lee Metcalfe. Fritze began work for Eagle County in 1982 when he was hired as assistant county attorney.

The Eagle Pharmacy was burglarized, but the would-be thief was quickly nabbed. Police followed the tracks left by the thief in freshly fallen snow from the pharmacy to his residence.

Four skiers survived an avalanche near Vail. The four were skiing outside Vail’s boundaries when the snow slide hit. The skiers were equipped with emergency beacons. One member of the party, a Colorado Springs woman, was buried for 10 to 15 minutes and suffered hypothermia in the incident.

St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Eagle was formally dedicated during a Jan. 4 ceremony. The Most Rev. J. Francis Stafford, archbishop of Denver presided with clergy from all over the Western Slope in attendance. St. Mary’s had recently completed a church expansion, and the new facility could accommodate up to 200 people.

Marcie Smith of Eagle announced her engagement to Michael L. Gass of Durango. The couple planned a February wedding.

Eagle Valley High School skiers Paul Hoza and Doug Mayhew qualified for the state meet during the Summit Invitational. Mayhew was the top finisher in the boys slalom.

30 years ago — Week of Jan 11, 1979

Newly-elected Eagle County Sheriff Jack Haynes began his term by refusing to renew the contracts for three deputies.

Artists scheduled to appear at Vail’s Studio in the Rockies included country singer Tammy Wynette and blues legend B.B. King.

The Eagle County Board of Commissioners approved a request from Rocky Mountain Airways to land 50-passenger Dash-7 aircraft at the Eagle County Airport.

The Eagle Valley Chamber of Commerce selected its officers for the coming year. Fred Collett was re-elected president, and the board of directors included Bill Erickson, Duane Kent, Kay Guffy and Larry Benway.

The EVHS boys basketball team defeated Battle Mountain 77-48 behind stellar plays by Terry Hamilton, Ken Albertson and Randy Gay.

A 2,400 square foot, three bedroom home on a 2.7 acre lot in the Upper Kaibab subdivision was listed for sale at $95,000 while a 2,000 square foot log home on Bellyache Ridge was selling for $225,000.

40 years ago — Week of Jan. 9, 1969

In compliance with a new state law, Eagle County established an official dump site north of Wolcott. Ralph Sherbondy of Minturn developed the site; and the county was searching for a supervisor-operator for the new sanitary landfill. The law made it illegal for people to simply dump trash on their own property — it had to be buried.

Thirty-two children were signed up for the Buddy Werner ski league at Meadow Mountain. Coaches were John Long, Ken Holt, Drew Record, and John DeLeon.

The Bagley ranch on Brush Creek was sold to the Eagle Ranch Company. The property was the former Ray Chatfield ranch. The Eagle Ranch corporation was now a major landowner in the valley, having previously acquired the Mayer ranch, immediately adjoining Eagle.

A hearty group of Boy Scouts camped out at Sylvan Lake. The troop included Tom Helms, Eldon Bindley, Mike Alkire, Tony Hoza, Jerry Olesen, Rocky Lunk, and Scott Covault. They participated in snowshoe races, fire building contests, and other competitions. The leaders of the troop were Donald Seibert and Charles Ridgway.

50 years ago — Week of Jan. 8, 1959

Enterprise Editor Marilla McCain was pushing for a local event commemorating Colorado’s “Rush to the Rockies” centennial observance. She noted that the only observance planned to date was a monument on the top of Tennessee Pass honoring the 10th Mountain Division soldiers.

Miss Luanna Gartsied of Minturn took office as Worthy Advisor to the Leadville Assembly of Rainbow Girls.

The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was proposing over $1 million in improvements in Eagle County. The improvements included new railroad cars, a fueling station at Minturn, and installation of centralized traffic control between Dotsero and Avon.

Dick Mize of Gilman earned a spot on the U.S. Biathlon team, a sport which combines cross-country skiing and target shooting.

60 years ago — Week of Jan. 7, 1949

A 24-year-old Red Cliff woman, Mildred V. Courtley, was charged with murder in the New Year’s Day shooting death of her husband, Wesley.

Eagle attorney Hume A. White was attending a three-day water conference in Grand Junction to help represent Western Slope interests in water diversion project discussions.

The Enterprise was offering a written response to KOA radio announcer Starr Yelland’s mention of some really cold temperatures in Eagle. The newspaper listed the town’s many assets, including accessible hunting and fishing, and noted that the population was up to about 600, a jump from the 1940 census number of 518.

A newly constructed ski tow was put into operation at the Whittaker Ranch south of Eagle.

W.W. Walsh of Red Cliff was the chairman of the Eagle County March of Dimes campaign.

70 years ago — Week of Jan. 6, 1939

The Enterprise was advocating construction of a hospital in Eagle for the sake of the health and happiness of the entire community.

The former McCoy postmaster, Walter Moran, was arrested in Denver and charged with embezzling $2,000 in postal funds five years previously. He reportedly used the money in a fruitless search for gold ore in the area. He attempted to recoup the lost money building several cabins at Orestod, which were rented by men working on the Dotsero cutoff rail line. That plan also failed.

The skating pond built at the baseball park was proving very popular. The Eagle River Electric Company strung floodlights across the rink so skaters could use it at night.

Semester tests were being given at Eagle County High School in Gypsum. The teachers announced that they had changed the grading system, adding “N” for “needs improvement.”