Ridgway area carried Dems to victory

The map above depicts the five voting precincts within Ouray County. Voters in precincts 3 and 5 favored Democratic county commissioners-elect Lynn Padgett and Jake Niece more than any other precinct. Voters in those precincts also showed the most favor for a property tax increase to continue to equip and maintain Mountain Medical Center.

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By Mike Wiggins, on December 3, 2020

News

Hurd focuses on land, natural resources during visit with county leaders

By LIA SALVATIERRA

April 25, 2025

Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd listened to concerns about public lands and other topics during a work session with Ouray County commissioners Wednesday. The conversation ended with the legislator in...

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AN EASTER SHELL-EBRATION

April 23, 2025

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County rejects $11,000 legal bill

Commissioners cite lack of justification for reimbursement; Padgett alleges process flawed

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 23, 2025

Ouray County taxpayers won’t foot Commissioner Lynn Padgett’s nearly $11,000 legal bill after commissioners Jake Niece and Michelle Nauer voted against her reimbursement request on Tuesday. Padgett an...

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Ouray police exodus continues

Sergeant's retirement, sergeant's medical leave temporarily makes chief lone full-timer

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 23, 2025

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the Ridgway Marshal's Office has hired a half-time deputy. ___________________ The city of Ouray hired Daric Harvey to stabilize and reform the ...

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Man accused of drunken driving, spitting on deputy

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 23, 2025

A Ridgway man suspected of hitting a liquor store building with his vehicle, driving drunk and leaving the scene also faces possible felony charges for allegedly spitting on a Ridgway marshal when he ...

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Ouray council backs rental license nonrenewal

Owners of vacation home failed to rent for 30-day minimum

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 23, 2025

A Ridgway couple who failed to rent their home for at least 30 days in the last year won't be allowed to keep their short-term rental license. Ouray city councilors on Monday night unanimously rejecte...

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NEWS BRIEFS

Woman released from ICE facility, drugs involved in fatal vehicle crashes, town signs water lease, town seeks info about statue vandalism, Blue Lakes trail to close

April 23, 2025

Ouray woman released from ICE facility A Ouray woman who had been detained since February in an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Aurora has been released on bond. After two months, 31-y...

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Duplex answers a housing Hail Mary

Home Trust's first new-construction project ensures two families can stay in Ridgway

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 23, 2025

For too long, the Patton family had too many discussions about changing school districts or moving away from Ouray County entirely. Now, at their new home on North Laura Street, they can ditch those h...

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Microgrid creates ‘energy island’ in Ridgway

New system atop Space to Create building ensures lights stay on in power outage

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 23, 2025

When a nearly countywide power outage darkened homes and businesses for an evening last week, the downstairs window at Ridgway’s Space to Create remained glowing with light. That’s because a solar mic...

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PREP ROUNDUP

As weather warms, so does Ridgway soccer team

By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer

April 23, 2025

It’s probably no coincidence that the Ridgway High School girls’ soccer team has heated up on the field as temperatures have warmed up outside. In the sunshine, practices can focus much more on team p...

Feature

‘I want to bring this to other women’

Singletrack Addict encourages female mountain bikers to be playful, confident on the trails

By By Lia Salvatierra lia @ ou ray news, com

April 23, 2025

It’s supposed to feel like summer camp — rooted in playfulness and empowerment — at Singletrack Addict, a new local female-focused mountain biking community and coaching business. Co-owners Jen Sawyer...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines