âIt has the potential of being devastatingâ

The closure of lodging facilities and the elimination of sit-down dining has turned Ouray into a virtual ghost town. Main Street was nearly empty on Sunday afternoon as visitors have been encouraged to return to or stay home and local residents self-isolate. Mike Wiggins âOuray County Plaindealer

News

By Mike Wiggins And Carolina Brown, on March 26, 2020

Main, News...

Deportation fears add to resort workers’ mental health problems

By By Natalie Skowlund KFF Health News

April 16, 2025

SILVERTHORNE — When Adolfo Román García-Ramírez walks home in the evening from his shift at a grocery store in this central Colorado mountain town, sometimes he thinks back on his childhood in Nicarag...

Main, News...

Uncertainty over federal cuts remains

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 16, 2025

Federal funding slashes and freezes may mean emptier food pantry shelves, fewer library resources and cuts to public health, emergency management and environmental projects in Ouray County. The Trump ...

Main, News...

Ridgway, landowner battle over property

Town seeks condemnation for walking path; owner insists no public benefit

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

April 16, 2025

The landowner who fenced his property and put up “no trespassing” signs to keep children from cutting through his River Park lot to get to school is fighting the town of Ridgway's attempt to condemn t...

News

Public health sounds alarm on measles

Director flags falsehoods about virus, cites concern about low preschool vaccination rate

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 16, 2025

As measles cases continue to crop up in Colorado, Ouray County Public Health Director Kristin Kelley is encouraging residents to vaccinate against the highly contagious disease, especially at the Ridg...

News

City wades into mobile home deed restrictions

Rules meant to keep Swiss Village affordable after sale

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 16, 2025

Ouray city councilors are beginning to sort through a package of deed restrictions intended to maintain Swiss Village Mobile Home Park as affordable housing after its residents purchase the property l...

News

Ouray man suspected of vandalizing restaurant

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 16, 2025

A Ouray man was arrested last weekend after he allegedly broke out a window at the Outlaw Restaurant. William Kropuenske, 33, was booked into the Montrose County Jail on suspicion of felony criminal m...

News

County plots next manager hiring steps

Commissioners to tap consulting firm, hope to employ new executive within six months

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

April 16, 2025

Ouray County commissioners hope to hire a county manager in the next six months by using a similar process the city of Ouray used to hire its city administrator. The first step, they decided at a work...

News

Mixed reviews, votes for proposed guest ranch

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 16, 2025

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to correctly attribute comments about property taxation made by Gold Mountain Ranch Operations Manager Keller Herrin. ____________ A proposed guest ranch w...

Sharing between soccer, track breeds success

Columns, Feature...

PREP ROUNDUP

Sharing between soccer, track breeds success

By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer

April 16, 2025

It can be difficult for a coach not to oversee every aspect of an athlete’s training or competition during a given season. It’s also rough to juggle scheduling conflicts when an athlete competes in mu...

Calendar & Events

April 17 - 30, 2025

CALENDAR & EVENTS

April 16, 2025

THURSDAY APRIL 17 LIVE MUSIC: Golden Shoals, 7:30 p.m. at The Sherbino, 604 Clinton St. in Ridgway. $15 advance tickets at sherbino.org, $20 day of show. SEWING CLASS: Free basic sewing class from 1-3...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Padgett needs to pay for her own attorney

April 16, 2025

Dear Editor: At their April 22 meeting, the Ouray County commissioners will be deciding to approve or deny a request from Commissioner Lynn Padgett to pay her personal attorney fee of approximately $1...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines