On the Slope
Main, News...
Residents seek retention of independent agency after departure of interim chief
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
Ouray residents sent a clear message this week: They want to maintain an independent police department instead of permanently relying on the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement. Faced wi...
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Main, News...
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
MTN Lodge in Ridgway is moving forward with plans to convert the hotel to workforce housing for four years starting in February, though the town has yet to cement an agreement with the owners about pa...
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News
Stipulations require Gold Mountain to account for bighorn sheep
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
January 14, 2026
Gold Mountain Ranch will be allowed to operate a guest ranch in Ouray County, and county commissioners hope the special-use permit they approved in December will allay community concerns about wildlif...
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News
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
A high-speed electric vehicle charging station is coming to the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds parking lot as early as July. During a regular meeting Tuesday, county commissioners unani...
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News
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
New signs ordered for County Road 361 and the Senator Gulch parking area have renewed debates over how to improve safety at the high-use access point for winter recreation. The parking area below a ga...
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Feature
January 14, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago January 20, 1966 Two men, injured Thursday night when their ore truck plunged over a ...
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Columns, Feature...
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
January 14, 2026
So far this winter we have had a reprieve from icy sidewalks and snow shoveling — a far cry from what Silverton experienced with the legendary "Big Snow” in March 1884. We are complaining about the pe...
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News
Bid awarded for Corbett Creek work
January 14, 2026
Ouray County commissioners have awarded a more than $1 million construction contract to replace the bridge over Corbett Creek into Whispering Pines, more than five years after initiating the project. ...
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Columns, Feature...
By Mary Menz Special to the Plaindealer 
January 14, 2026
Birdwatching is one of the most accessible hobbies for people of all ages. Little special equipment is required, though beginners often find binoculars and a guidebook to help them identify bird speci...
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Obituaries
January 14, 2026
September 26, 1931 – December 21, 2025 Penelope “Penny” Hanshaw of Ridgway, Colorado, passed away in her sleep on December 21, 2025. Born September 26, 1931, to Donald and Ruth Miller in Salem, MA, sh...
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