5 years ago

Week of Jan. 11, 2007

A front-page story detailed how, after a 30-year battle, construction had begun on Adam's Rib Ranch. The project represented a vastly scaled down development from Fred Kummer of HBE Corp. of Saint Louis. Originally, Adam's Rib was planned as a four-season ski and golf resort in the Brush Creek Valley.

Yeti's Grind opened in downtown Eagle. Owner Tara Picklo noted the coffeehouse's atmosphere was reminiscent of “Central Perk” from the television show “Friends.” “That's the ambiance we were going for,” she said.

Colorado State Patrolman Dennis Gibbons and his wife Patty Gibbons led the Eagle Public Library's Youth Book Club discussion of the novel “Whirligig.” Because the novel deals with the issue of drunk driving, Patrolman Gibbons set up a special hands-on demonstration using a pair of Fatal Vision© goggles. The goggles give the wearer the visual perception of someone who is intoxicated.

Nicholas Tafoya won the Eagle Valley Middle School Geography Bee.

10 years ago

Week of Jan. 10, 2002

A fund drive was launched to raise money from the private sector for some finishing touches on the proposed new indoor ice rink in Eagle. The town of Eagle was contributing $1.5 million, Western Eagle County Metropolitan Recreation District was contributing $475,000 and the developers of Eagle Ranch were chipping in $185,00 for the ice rink. The extra money from the fund drive was earmarked for bleachers, locker rooms and other details.

Four bald eagles were spotted in the western end of the county. The birds were seeking open water to continue their migration path.

Don Gress was the winner of the holiday lighting contest in Eagle.

Developer Fred Kummer put his Adam's Rib Ranch property on the market for $26.5 million.

20 years ago

Week of Jan. 16, 1992

An inoperative fire hydrant and freezing temperatures complicated firefighters' efforts to save the Eby Creek home of Lyn and Margaret Merrick. Most of the structure was lost in the blaze.

The Gypsum Town Council approved a liquor license for Leonard Sinclair to operate the Lazy S Bar and Grill in town at the former Gypsum's Finest location. Gypsum's Finest had been closed since early November after a state liquor board and local law enforcement investigation charged the bar with violating state liquor code in connection with a fatal automobile accident involving a patron.

Local residents Julie Hunter, Joan Harned and Diane Huffman teamed up to compete in the Mountain Man Triathlon. Hunter anchored the skating part of the race, Harned competed in the snowshoe portion and Huffman handled the cross country skiing leg.

In an editorial headlined “Leave it to Seaver,” Eagle Valley Enterprise publisher Nick Nikolich urged the Eagle County School Board to hire interim superintendent Nick Seaver as the permanent school district boss.

30 years ago

Week of Jan. 14, 1982

After a Nov. 18 plane crash that resulted in the death of Allen Riverbark, owner of Black Mountain Guest Ranch near McCoy, federal and state law enforcement agencies amped up their investigation of Riverbark and the ranch property. Officers suspected the ranch was the center of activity for drug smuggling, money laundering, tax evasion and fugitive harboring. The Denver Post ran a front-page story about the investigation.

Eagle Valley High School's Dannelle Starr was named to the Colorado all-state volleyball team with teammates Kindra Hudspeth and Marcie Smith receiving honorable mention. EVHS player Robby Mayne was named to the all-state football second team and teammate Blake Faulkner received honorable mention

The 1982 snowpack measured more than three times higher than the 1981 measurements in locations around the state.

Home Cinema video rentals in Eagle advertised a January sale price of $599 for video cassette recorders.

40 years ago

Week of Jan. 13, 1972

The Denver Olympic Committee Site Selection Committee reviewed the qualifications of Beaver Creek as a potential alpine ski venue for the 1976 Winter Olympics.

Strong winds closed the ski lifts at Vail and temperatures dipped to -30 in parts of Eagle County.

The Pete and Rachel Dodo ranch near Avon was sold to James Krentler of Colorado Springs.

Tom Foral, Perfecto Rivera and Robert Toomer all won their matches over 1971 district champion wrestlers at a meet against Middle Park.

50 years ago

Week of Jan. 11, 1962

“The planned huge ski area development on Vail Pass near Minturn will include a multi-million dollar year-round resort,” the Enterprise reported. “The concern owns 1,000 acres of former ranch land on the west side of Vail Pass and has mapped plans for immediate development of hotels, shops and private dwellings to cost a minimum of $5 million.”

The Federal Aviation Administration announced plans to discontinue staffing at the Flight Service Station at the Eagle County Airport.

Sections of Eagle County escaped an arctic storm that swept through most of Colorado. Snow and winds closed Battle Mountain to traffic and the schools in the eastern part of the county. The storm brought two days of rain to the Eagle/Gypsum area. Temperatures were chilly downvalley, dipping down to -14 on Jan. 10.

Ross Chambers, Eagle rancher and businessman, was elected president of the Colorado Association of Soil Conservation Districts.

60 years ago

Week of Jan. 10, 1952

Dan Rule of Brush Creek was chosen as the boys chaperone for the Colorado 4-H Roundup, planned during the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Rule was selected for the honor from among all 4-H club leaders in the state.

“What promises to be THE basketball tournament of the century will take place sometime in February when the Eagle County Lions Club throws open an invitation to all, with or without experience on the basketball hardwood, to get into the fray,” reported the Enterprise.

Temperatures downvalley were bitterly cold, dropping down to -30 on Jan. 4 and 5.

Eagle High School dropped its basketball game to Red Cliff High School by a score of 39-29.

70 years ago

Week of Jan. 9, 1942

Burns rancher Elbae Morgan died after he was accidentally pinned under a hay rack while working in the Poison Creek area.

“Conserve your car — You may never have another” read a front-page headline. As part of the national effort to promote demands of the war effort and to conserve metals and other materials, the AAA issued a series of recommendations for automobile preventative maintenance.

Eileen Hill was elected president of the Upper Eagle Valley 4-H Club. Myrna Norgaard was elected vice president and Irene Romero was chosen as secretary. The club sponsored a Red Cross dance benefit and turned over $43 to the local chapter.

Girl Scout Troop No. 2 elected its leaders, including Evelene Jean Rule as scribe, Beverly Larsen as treasurer and Paula Randall as song and pledge leader. As an effort to aid national defense, the troop announced it was conducting a razor-blade drive.