Eagle County Historical Society/Eagle Valley Library District
New tech could ‘locate the position of enemy planes and ships at great distances’
Cutline: This billboard was posted at Camp Hale in Eagle County during World War II
5 years ago
Week of April 6, 2017
In Gypusm, 10th Mountain Whiskey and Spirits opened a new tasting room and distillery.
The town of Gypsum hosted an open house to discuss recreational trail planning along U.S. Bureau of Land Management property located between the community and the neighboring town of Eagle.
Clearwater Ventures and Eagle Valley Clean Energy submitted a bill for $186,000 to the town of Gypsum for costs associated with a condemnation action that was struck down by Eagle County District Court.
10 years ago
Week of April 6, 2012
Yuri Kostick was elected mayor in Eagle and Anne McKibbin, Brandi Resa and Joe Knable were elected to seats on the Eagle Town Board.
In Gypsum, voters elected Gary Lebo, Tom Edwards and Beric Christianson to the town council.
The town of Gypsum announced that Thompson Square would be the feature performers at the 2012 Gypsum Daze concert.
The Colorado Department of Transportation was nearing completion of the new U.S.Highway 6 bridge located one mile east of Eagle.
20 years ago
Week of April 4, 2002
Only 35 people cast ballots in the Eagle municipal election. There were no contested races and John Stavney, Steven Richards and Paul Witt were elected.
Brad and Dominique Jones and Becky Puhl were the first residents to purchase townhomes through the Locals Housing Program at Eagle Ranch. The program planned to build 33 more deed-restricted units in the development.
The Eagle Valley High School baseball team shellacked the Summit County squad by a score of 22-2. Senior Michael Bernhardt hit two triples in the game.
30 years ago
Week of April 9, 1992
In a very tight race, Eagle voters elected a new mayor. Bill Cunningham netted 95 votes to Ken Long’s 89 votes and Mike Dolan’s 80 votes in the race. Larry McKinzie, Glen Ewing, Roxie Deane and Rick Dunford were elected to the town board.
With Cunningham’s election, Eagle Mayor Jim Seabry turned over the gavel after serving for 12 years. Seabry was a seasoned county politician. During the 1960s, Seabry won one of the area’s most famous races when he defeated two other candidates for Eagle County Sheriff even though he ran a write-in campaign.
In Gypsum, brothers Richard and Robert Mayne were both elected to the town council.
Justine Lanae Sheehy made her arrival in dramatic fashion. She was born about 100 yards from the side of the West Vail I-70 exit during a raging spring snowstorm.
40 years ago
Week of April 8, 1982
Bill Erickson, Paul Haynes and Kathy Heicher were elected to the Eagle Town Board. Gypsum voters overwhelmingly approved a home rule charter question and elected Purley Bertroch, Dick Morris, Tom Secrest and Steven Lanyon.
Ed Haug resigned as principal at Eagle Valley Middle School. He had worked at the school for two years.
The Eagle County Board of Commissioners announced plans for a senior citizen housing complex in Eagle.
Colorado Business Magazine reported that the First Bank of Eagle County was ranked sixth in the state for commercial banks’ return on equity capital. The magazine also noted that the bank was ranked 132nd in total deposits, totaling roughly $22 million.The bank reported a 36.6% return on investment.
50 years ago
Week of April 7, 1972
Eagle voters elected Charles Miller as mayor and Ralph Boynton, Pat Carlow, Terry Nunn and Ned Oyler to the town board
“Once again, the possibility of a swimming pool in Eagle will be explored. This time the Eagle Lions Club is taking on the job,” the Enterprise reported.
The H.W. Lewis Store advertised its “low everyday prices” including 59 cents for a half gallon of milk, 39 cents for a six pack of soda and 65 cents for a pound of ground beef.
60 years ago
Week of April 5, 1962
Eagle voters elected Cecil Cole, N.D. Morgan, Walt Swanson, Bob Shelton, John Beasley and Wayne Randall to the town board. John Hirz ran unopposed in the mayor race.
Loren Chambers from Eagle Valley High School and Mike Spitelli of McCoy High School were named to the Colorado River B League all-star basketball team.
Bob Shelton, a member of the sales staff at Koonce Chevrolet, was named to the Legion of Leaders Honor Club — Chevy’s highest sales honor.
Featured movies at the Eagle Theater were “The Comancheros” starring John Wayne and “A Town Without Pity” starring Kirk Douglas.
70 years ago
Week of April 3, 1952
Holy Cross Electric Association hoped to restore service to the air traffic light located atop Castle Peak. The beacon had been without electric power since heavy snow and high wind on Jan. 1.
American Legion Post 150 and its auxiliary unit hosted the annual Western Slope convention with units from Fruita, Grand Junction, Palisade, Mesa County, Colbran, Grand Valley, Rifle, New Castle, Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Basalt, Aspen and Bond participating
Members of the Brush Creek Home Demonstration Club staged the play “Henry’s Mail Order Wife.”
“Encouraged by the overwhelming success of last Friday’s performance of ‘Quiz Me Again’ the seniors from Eagle County High School plan to put on the play again in Glenwood,” the Enterprise reported.
80 years ago
Week of April 3, 1942
“All information obtainable indicates that the U.S. Army encampment costing $5 million will be established at Pando, six miles east of Red Cliff, in Eagle County. Construction will begin soon,” the Enterprise reported. “It is contemplated to make this camp not only for skiing but for training in mountain climbing and all other phases of mountain warfare and mountain maneuvers.”
In national news, the U.S. Navy announced it needed 5,000 sharp-eyed men between the ages of 17 and 50, possessing a knowledge of radio, to operate a new type of “secret weapon” that could locate the position of enemy planes and ships at great distances.
