The Sky-Hi Daily News Unlocked: 7 Shocking Grand County Stories You Missed In 2025

As of December 16, 2025, the Sky-Hi Daily News remains the essential voice for the high-altitude communities of Grand County, Colorado. Far more than just a local paper, it is the chronicler of life, politics, and the massive changes reshaping the Fraser Valley, from groundbreaking resort developments to critical public safety alerts.

The paper’s coverage is vital, especially given the recent flurry of major local events and developments. If you’re looking for the most current updates on everything from mountain resort expansion to local government controversies, the Sky-Hi Daily News is the definitive source for this unique, high-country region.

Sky-Hi Daily News Profile and Key Entities

The Sky-Hi Daily News operates as the primary news source for the Middle Park area of Colorado, a region defined by its stunning mountain landscape and world-class ski resorts. Its mission is to deliver comprehensive daily news, sports, and local event coverage for its diverse readership across Grand County.

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• Location (Headquarters): Granby, Colorado
• Service Area (Grand County Towns): Winter Park, Fraser, Tabernash, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, and Kremmling.
• Ownership: Historically part of Swift Communications, the paper is now generally associated with the regional publishing groups that acquired the company’s assets, maintaining its local focus.
• Recent Staff Update: The paper recently underwent a significant editorial change, welcoming a new editor to lead the newsroom, a key move for a small-town paper that signals a fresh direction for its local coverage.
• Affiliations: The Sky-Hi News is a frequent participant and winner in the annual Colorado Press Association (CPA) Better News Media Contest, showcasing its commitment to high-quality local journalism.

The 7 Biggest Grand County Stories Covered by Sky-Hi News in 2025

The past year has been one of intense activity and significant change in Grand County. The Sky-Hi Daily News has been at the forefront, providing in-depth reporting on complex issues that directly impact residents, tourists, and the local economy. These stories represent the most critical and talked-about topics of the year, demonstrating the paper's topical authority.

1. The "Winter Park Unlocked" Development Controversy

This is arguably the biggest story in the Fraser Valley. The massive “Winter Park Unlocked” Preliminary Development Plan (PDP) at Winter Park Resort is set to redefine the area. The Sky-Hi News has provided continuous updates on this multi-phase project, which includes major snowmaking upgrades, new on-mountain dining locations, and a comprehensive redevelopment of the base area.

The coverage highlights the debate between economic growth and the preservation of the small-town character of Winter Park and Fraser. The resort's earlier-than-usual opening in November 2024 was also a major headline, focusing on the start of the 2024/2025 ski season.

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2. The Critical CodeRED Emergency System Outage

A major cybersecurity incident caused a widespread outage of the CodeRED emergency notification system, which Grand County relies on to send out critical alerts. The paper's reporting on the CodeRED outage was crucial, informing the public about the temporary loss of this vital communication tool and the county's response to the cybersecurity threat. This local "leak" of system integrity sparked serious discussions about digital infrastructure safety.

3. Implementing Stage One Fire Restrictions

As a high-risk area, fire prevention is a perennial, life-or-death issue. The Sky-Hi Daily News closely tracks the Grand County Board of County Commissioners' decisions, including the enactment of Stage One Fire Restrictions. This coverage keeps residents and visitors informed about burn bans, ensuring compliance and helping to prevent catastrophic wildfires in the forests surrounding Granby and Grand Lake.

4. Tragic Water Rescue Call at Lake Granby

The paper provided sensitive and necessary reporting on a tragic water rescue call at Lake Granby in mid-2024. This type of local disaster coverage is a core function of the paper, providing official details from the Grand County Sheriff’s Office and offering community support information following serious incidents.

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5. The Grand County Traffic Safety Symposium

In response to rising concerns over mountain road safety, particularly on major thoroughfares like US Highway 40, the county hosted a Traffic Safety Symposium. The Sky-Hi News covered the event, detailing new initiatives and community involvement aimed at reducing accidents and improving traffic flow through the busy ski resort corridor and the Fraser Valley.

6. Local Government and Personnel Changes

The paper diligently covers the personnel shifts within local law enforcement and government. A notable story was Sheriff Schroetlin swearing in new staff members, which is essential news for maintaining transparency and public trust in the Grand County Sheriff’s Office. These reports often include biographies of new deputies and officials, building a deeper connection between the public and their civil servants.

7. Ongoing Real Estate Market Dynamics

The high-country real estate market remains a volatile and critical subject. The Sky-Hi Daily News consistently reports on market trends, housing affordability, and the impact of short-term rental regulations in towns like Winter Park and Granby. The coverage explores how the influx of resort development is affecting local housing supply and prices, a major concern for year-round residents.

Why Sky-Hi Daily News Remains Essential

The Sky-Hi Daily News is more than just a newspaper; it is the institutional memory and community bulletin board for Grand County. In an era where large national news outlets overlook small-town issues, the Sky-Hi News provides the necessary depth on topics that matter most to local life: water rights, forest health, school board decisions, and the delicate balance between tourism and local living.

By focusing on entities like the Grand County Board of County Commissioners, Winter Park Resort, and local law enforcement, the paper maintains a high level of topical authority. Whether it's a major development like "Winter Park Unlocked" or a critical public safety alert about Stage One Fire Restrictions, the Sky-Hi Daily News remains the most authoritative, up-to-date source for life in the Colorado high country.