November's ballot will feature a question on county courthouse renovation.

Courthouse funding measure to be on ballot

News

by Beecher Threatt beecher@ouraynews.com County commissioners voted unanimously to ask voters to approve a county sales tax increase from 2 percent to 2.55 percent for up to 20 years to fund renovation and restoration of the courthouse. The decision came during a special meeting of the... + continue reading

Christine Potter Witherspoon poses with her display at the Ouray County Fair last week. The exhibit depicts memories associated with the 80-year history of the Potter Ranch. Included was an antique washing machine used by the family for years, her father’s old hat and spurs, and her mother’s boots, among other memorabilia, some of which has been donated to the Ouray County Ranch History Museum in Ridgway.

Plaindealer photo by Mary Menz

Potter Ranch celebrates 80th anniversary

FEATURE COVERAGE

by Mary Menz news@ouraynews.com Nestled in the lush valley between Ridgway and Ouray is the Potter Ranch, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary. Christine Potter Witherspoon, granddaughter of John and Jennie Potter, who purchased the original property in 1937, commemorated the event... + continue reading

The Ouray School District board of education reviewed and edited a draft version of an informational brochure developed by The Ouray Vote Yes on the MLO Committee, at its Aug. 17 work session.

Plaindealer photo by Mary Menz

School board reviews MLO committee’s informational brochure

News

by Mary Menz news@ouraynews.com The Ouray School District’s board of education held its monthly work session Aug. 17. The primary topic on the agenda was a line-by-line review of the Vote Yes on the School Mill Levy Override brochure and a review of the official language that will be... + continue reading

Highgraders Holiday co-organizer Steve Martinez drills a test hole into a San Juan Tuff boulder using a 125-pound jack leg. The jack leg drilling contest requires competitors to drive a three-foot length of steel into two numbered squares on two different boulders. The event takes place this weekend in Ouray.

Courtesy photo

Highgraders Holiday at new Ouray Miner’s Park this weekend

News

by Mary Menz news@ouraynews.com Imagine holding a carbon steel stake straight while your partner swings an eight to 12-pound sledge hammer to drive it into the rock being drilled. The hole needs to be deep enough to hold a stick of dynamite, so it takes multiple swings to drive different... + continue reading

Ouray resident Michael Bazin reads portions of a four-page prepared statement to Ouray city councilors in front of a packed house Monday night, detailing issues and solutions to the shortage of long-term housing in Ouray and the outbreak of short-term rental housing without, as Bazin described, adequate oversight and regulations. The council decided to place the discussion on a future agenda.

Plaindealer photo by Alan Todd

New Ice Park proposal gets chilly reception from council

News

by Alan Todd atodd@ouraynews.com The question posed to the Ouray City Council Monday night was whether or not the council will negotiate with Ouray Ice Park, Inc., on a long-term agreement for the Ice Park. After months of negotiation and meetings with an Ice Park steering... + continue reading

Latest News

Ouray County Planning Commission unclear on its high alpine role

09/07/2017

by Dalton Carver
dalton@ouraynews.com

Frustration and confusion on what the Ouray County Planning Commission should do next, regarding recent developments in the high alpine development regulations in the... + continue reading

Positions available for OCPC

08/28/2017

by Dalton Carver
dalton@ouraynews.com

Another vacancy was created at the Ouray County Planning Commission with the recent resignation of April Orgren. This brings the vacancy count up to two for the... + continue reading

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FEATURE COVERAGE

Christine Potter Witherspoon poses with her display at the Ouray County Fair last week. The exhibit depicts memories associated with the 80-year history of the Potter Ranch. Included was an antique washing machine used by the family for years, her father’s old hat and spurs, and her mother’s boots, among other memorabilia, some of which has been donated to the Ouray County Ranch History Museum in Ridgway.

Plaindealer photo by Mary Menz

Potter Ranch celebrates 80th anniversary

According to Guy Zani, Jr., an antique safe collector in Florida, distributors of safes and vaults in the late 19th century offered to have the purchaser’s name hand-lettered on the safe as an incentive to buy from them. Occasionally a safe also features the name of the distributor or selling agent on the front of the safe. This one was owned by Cascade Grocery.

Plaindealer photo by Mary Menz