By Sheridan Block
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After years spent making Ouray his home, high school English teacher Ben DeGear and his family will be moving to the Front Range next month.
DeGear's wife Mariah took a job as director of operations with Good Day Pharmacy in Loveland, and the family will be relocating to Fort Collins at the end of the school year.
Originally from Minnesota, DeGear attended the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus where he received a bachelor's degree in English and master's degree in education. Before moving to Ouray in 2004, he taught sixth grade English in Minneapolis, Minn.
Ben's passion for music played a role in bringing him out to the Western Slope. After visiting Telluride for several years as his friends played in the town's Bluegrass Festival, he decided to apply for a teaching position. Though a full-time job wasn't available in Telluride at the time, a position opened in Ouray and he has been here ever since.

by Mary Pat Haddock
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Ouray native Clyde Sherman Williams, known as “Sherm” to his friends, passed away on Apr. 22 in his home in Montrose. He is survived by his wife, Susan Rahn, six children, two stepchildren and many grand- and great-grandchildren.
Williams entered the law enforcement field in California and later moved to Montrose, where he became a police officer. He finished his career as Ridgway’s town marshal. Williams’ daughter, Jamie Freyman, said, “He loved it (being a marshal), every day was an accomplishment to him. He felt like town was secure.” Freyman remembers times when visitors broke down while coming through Ridgway and her father would pay for a hotel room for the family for the night and help them get back on their way the next day.