County officials praise new rec trail

The new Miller Mesa Recreational Trail is officially open for use on County Road 5. The trail offers long-distance views of the San Juans and Cimarron mountains and is open for year-round use. For information on trail conditions visit âFriends of the Miller Mesa Rec Trailâ group on Facebook. Photo courtesy Rozanne Evans

News

By Carolina Brown, on December 3, 2020

Ouray County will officially end years of fighting over recreational access to County Road 5 next week with a settlement agreement involving the newly built Miller Mesa Recreational Trail.

The trail is the result of compromise after years of contention between property owners who wished to snowplow the upper portion of CR 5 to access their land and recreationists who enjoyed using the unmaintained road for winter activities, such as cross-country skiing.

Settlement documents – more than 200 page...

Main, News...

‘There’s not a day where I don’t do something impactful’

Community paramedicine brings vital care to mountain, rural places

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

November 19, 2025

Editor’s note: There’s a proposal to start a community paramedicine program here in Ouray County, and we wanted to know more about how these kinds of services work in other places in Colorado where th...

Main, News...

Commissioner: ‘My patience is gone’

Claiming continued poor behavior, Nauer asks Padgett to take 'timeout,' attend meetings remotely

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

November 19, 2025

Ouray County Commissioner Michelle Nauer has asked Commissioner Lynn Padgett to take a "timeout" and attend meetings by Zoom while the county makes leadership transitions over the next few months, cit...

News

Police chief, sheriff urge Ouray council to rethink strict response time policy

Councilors table plan requiring officers to live within 10 miles of city after concern from leaders

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

November 19, 2025

The Ouray City Council on Monday pitched and then quickly ditched a proposal to require police officers to live within 10 miles and a 10-minute drive from the city after local law enforcement and city...

News

SMPA approves rate increases

Monthly base, peak energy charges to rise in 2026 as electric cooperative prepares for escalating wholesale power costs

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

November 19, 2025

The San Miguel Power Association board of directors on Tuesday approved dual rate increases in 2026 for the second year in a row, as the rural electric cooperative continues to grapple with higher who...

News

Ridgway hires North Carolina agency for tourism, marketing

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

November 19, 2025

The town of Ridgway has hired a North Carolina-based agency for its tourism and marketing services, choosing an outside perspective familiar with rural communities. During a Nov. 12 town council meeti...

News

Ouray to set aside funding for down payment help

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

November 19, 2025

The city of Ouray will earmark up to $100,000 in 2026 for a down payment assistance program aimed at helping middle-income homebuyers who make too much money to qualify for other assistance. City coun...

News

Ridgway adopts expedited process for affordable housing projects

Town to expedite housing projects

By LIA SALVATIERRA

November 19, 2025

Ridgway has formalized an expedited review process for affordable housing projects, a requirement for applying for Proposition 123 affordable housing funds. Proposition 123 was a 2022 statewide ballot...

News

Town moves toward anti-idling rules

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

November 19, 2025

Editor’s note: This has been corrected to accurately reflect the council's vote on the ordinance. Ridgway town councilors gave initial approval to a new rule aimed at discouraging vehicle idling, spec...

News

Outgoing mayor offers blunt assessment of election, state of affairs in Ouray

Funk bemoans lack of candidates, urges citizens to unify

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

November 19, 2025

With just a few days left in his tenure, outgoing Ouray Mayor Ethan Funk on Monday lamented the lack of city council candidates in this month’s election and encouraged residents to rise above what he ...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

George and Michael Gardner Fund

November 19, 2025

Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...

News

Ouray County EMS to assess medical needs

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

November 19, 2025

Ouray County Emergency Medical Services plans to perform an assessment to learn about the community’s medical needs, with hopes it will lead to a establishing a community paramedicine program. Communi...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines