50 YEARS AGO

May 24, 1973 – The Plaindealer has obtained reports of the amount of snowfall this winter from the Camp Bird Mine. At the Camp Bird, snow this year measured 404 inches, which is 80 to 90 inches above their 20-year average. The Idarado reports 417 inches this year, compared to 370 inches last year. The average snowfall at Red Mountain for the past 28 years has been 350 inches. The heaviest snowfall since 1943 was measured at 494 inches in the winter of 1964-65, and there have been several “400 plus” years measured there during various winters.

40 YEARS AGO

May 26, 1983 – Saturday, June 4, is the date for this year’s Ouray Day celebration, the day Ouray County Chamber of Commerce member Dee Williams calls “Ouray’s Opening Day.” It is the day that local businesses use to promote themselves to Ouray residents as well as to visitors. Many businesses will have “specials,” and both Box Canyon Park and the Hot Springs Pool will have half-price admissions during the day. Locals and visitors alike are invited to have a barbecue beef lunch between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Box Canyon Park. Lunches are $5, and the hot dog plate for youngsters 12 and under is $1. At 2 p.m. dessert will be served in the form of a pie-eating contest on Main Street. Other highlights of the day include a Waitress Race and an Egg Toss, both on Main Street. At 4:40 p.m. the drawing for an item to be donated by Ouray County resident and designer Ralph Lauren will be held.

30 YEARS AGO

May 27, 1993 – Dear Editor: Each week I read the senior profiles of the Voice of Troy filled with nostalgia for my first year as a teacher. These seniors comprised my fifth grade class and what a great class they are!! Kara and Heidi with their sensitivity and gift for words, Graham, so interested in karate, Tamara, shy and thoughtful, the guys — Kevin, Mike, Nathan, Chris, Scott and Adam, obsessed then with basketball — it was easy to predict they would go to the State Tournament, and Bumper, who walked in on the first day of school and announced “I’m Bumper, who are you?” I gave him a choice of names to call me, he laughed and coined Ms. B, which I’ve been called since! It was a special year for me — a great group of kids to teach. Many of their fifth grade classmates have moved on to other schools, others have replaced them.

To all the graduating seniors, CONGRATULATIONS!! Best of luck to each of you!

– Sandy Bielenberg, “Ms. B”, Durango

20 YEARS AGO

May 23, 2003 – Citing a lack of housing options, the would-be new parks and decreation director changed his mind. The city now plans to quickly hire an interim director to cover its position during the summer season, and will once again consider its options for a long-term director this fall. “We don’t have the luxury of a three-month process,” said City Administrator Michael Penny. Obviously this is an unfortunate setback, but I don’t think anything was flawed in our interview process. Overall, our philosophical approach remains the same.” An interview panel selected John Curutchet from Avon to fill the parks position. Curutchet accepted the position earlier this month and was scheduled to begin June 2. The city selected him in a three-month process from 92 applicants. Penny said Curutchet explained in a letter last week that the was unable to find a long-term, six-month rental for his family.

10 YEARS AGO

May 30, 2013 – Ouray County business owners, all too familiar with new economic realities since the recession of 2008, are not surprised by the drop in assessed county property values. What remains to be seen is how fast the region can mount a recovery. Local real estate agents, familiar with the pulse of property sales, are optimistic. “The savvy buyer realizes that assessed value doesn’t mean market value,” explained Tim Currin of Ouray Brokers. Several real estate closings in recent weeks have left Currin feeling that things are looking up. Alan Stapleton of RE/MAX Cimarron Realty and Peggy Lindsey of Lindsey and Co. Real Estate echoed Currin’s feelings with positive outlooks and said the countywide reduction of assessed property value would have little effect on sales.