News
July 16, 2025
Ridgway remains in Stage 3 watering restrictions, upheld during a July...
Main, News...
Brief monsoon could bring relief — or lightning — before dry spell returns
July 16, 2025
Four lightning-sparked wildfires that had scorched more than 20,000 ac...
News
Town seeks slice of property for walking trail; resident c laims use unnecessary
July 16, 2025
A district judge is expected to rule this week on whether the town of ...
Main, News...
Veterans services officer finds and assists those who served with benefits, problems
July 16, 2025
During his time as a bus driver in Telluride, Mikael Madsen encountered many of his fellow veterans struggling to survive a Western Slope winter. At the time, Madsen was what he calls a military ghost. He hadn't contacted the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for any of the benefits he was entitled to since he was discharged. It was only when he became friends with an unhoused veteran, living in...
News
Alex Kelloff, first-time candidate for public office, stumps in western Colorado
July 16, 2025
An Aspen Democrat tried and failed twice in the last two elections to represent the 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. Now, a different Democrat from Aspen hopes he’ll have better luck in 2...
News
July 16, 2025
The Ouray Mountain Rescue Team kept busy last weekend, rescuing or assisting two hikers and a paraglider who were injured over three consecutive days. The first incident happened around 12:30 p.m. Jul...
News
Irregularities create trouble for emergency responders
July 16, 2025
Sometimes it takes Ouray County emergency responders knocking on doors and waking people at three different homes at 2 a.m. to find the person who needs their help because no addresses are listed on t...
News
July 16, 2025
A 93-acre wildfire mitigation project in the hillsides above Ouray is on hold until at least next fall, while project leaders keep their fingers crossed for more than $500,000 in federal money. The Ou...
News
July 16, 2025
Ouray County's next administrator will be required to live within the county. That's just one of the requirements listed in the application to become Ouray County’s next manager, which is open after c...
News
July 16, 2025
The Ridgway Town Council has agreed to proceed with developing a contract with the Home Trust of Ouray County for the nonprofit to provide shared services as an affordable housing administrator for th...
News
July 11, 2025
Heavy smoke and haze choked Ouray County for a second straight day Friday as a series of wildfires churned through tinder-dry trees and brush in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. The Colora...
Main, News...
City halts production after public backlash over size, appearance of wayfinding signs
July 9, 2025
Ouray business owners and residents threw up a symbolic stop sign in front of the city council on Monday, urging city leaders to pause or altogether abandon plans to install dozens of new wayfinding s...
Calendar & Events, Feature...
July 17-30, 2025
July 16, 2025
THURSDAY JULY 17 "Natural Tie–Dye" activity with the youth garden club for ages 8–18, from 3:30–4:30 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech proble...
Columns, Feature...
July 9, 2025
Why did thousands of people, most of whom had never even heard of Ouray, Ridgway or Colona, come to this remote part of Colorado? The history of Ouray County follows the familiar story of the American...
Feature
Annual carefree performance set for July 18-21. Yes, cheering, booing, popcorn-throwing are encouraged
July 9, 2025
If you find it difficult to keep quiet at the theater, the Ouray County Players invite you to come on out and see "Spaghetti Western or … Mission Im-pastable" at the Wright Opera House. No one's going...
Feature
July 9, 2025
Send us your celebrations! The “Good For You!” page is a new feature we have launched in the Plaindealer, where we publish reader-submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Maybe ...
Calendar & Events, Feature...
July 10-22, 2025
July 9, 2025
THURSDAY JULY 10 Painting on canvas for tweens and teens from 3:30-4:30 at the Ridgway Public Library, 200 Charles St. Supplies provided. Please sign up at the library or call 970-626-5252. Sketch com...
Feature
Private security to help with traffic, parking, so law enforcement can be more proactive
July 2, 2025
The sights and sounds of the Fourth of July in Ouray are ubiquitous. The powerful spray of fire hoses. The shrieks of kids racing through Fellin Park. Cheers and honking horns on Main Street. This yea...
Columns, Opinion...
July 16, 2025
Dear Readers, If you’re reading this message in the e-edition of the newspaper, great. That means you probably got your paper when you wanted to read it. If you’re reading this message in the printed ...
Obituaries
July 16, 2025
October 15, 1935 – January 22, 2025 Marilyn Ida Thompson Mueller, age 89, passed away of natural causes in Boerne, Texas, on January 22, 2025. She was born in Edinburg, Texas, on October 15, 1935, to ...
Obituaries
July 16, 2025
December 23, 1933 – July 7, 2025 Jack James Fellin, 91, passed away peacefully at his home on July 7, 2025, in Ouray. He was born on December 23, 1933, at the Perotti family home in Portland, Colorado...
Main, News...
July 9, 2025
The crowd cheers as a fire department tanker truck sprays the wet side of the street during the July 4 parade in Ouray. Ouray Tourism and Destination Marketing Director Kailey Rhoten said cellular dat...
Main, News...
Leaders pull from multiple sources to cover $300,000 tab, look to replenish emergency fund
July 9, 2025
Ouray County is scraping together money to pay for emergency repairs on County Road 361 while looking for ways to replenish its emergency fund in anticipation of other disasters. During a work session...
