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No. 2 top story of 2020: Voters oust sheriff in county’s first recall
Former Ouray County Sheriff Lance FitzGerald used this photo as part of his campaign to retain his job, after a tumultuous year in which he was arrested for alleged DUI and involved in various alcohol-fueled domestic incidents. Facebook photo
News
By Mike Wiggins, on December 29, 2020
No. 2 top story of 2020: Voters oust sheriff in county’s first recall

In Ouray County’s first recall election in its 143-year history, voters overwhelmingly chose to oust Sheriff Lance FitzGerald, concluding he was unfit to serve in office after a series of legal and personal troubles in late 2019 that carried over into early 2020.

They replaced him with Ouray’s former police chief and city administrator, Justin Perry.

FitzGerald won office in 2018 by just 11 votes. A little more than 18 months later, just 196 out of 2,527 people voted to keep him in his positio...

‘I did it for the animals’
Main, News...
‘I did it for the animals’
Continuing a tradition she started more than 20 years ago, Ridgway's Dana Ivers partners with land trust to shield 170 acres from development
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
Dodging prairie dog holes, Dana Ivers walked through her roughly 170-acre property on the southern side of Ridgway, admiring the sound and clear color of snowmelt rushing through ditches and into her ...
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Judge delays sex assault trial again
Main, News...
Judge delays sex assault trial again
Over objections to another holdup, defense says DNA expert not available in January
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
The trial for one of three men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 has been postponed for a second time. Seventh Judicial Chief District Judge Cory Jackson agreed...
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News
Ouray to pursue 24-hour police coverage
Interim chief suggests change after council OKs response time policy that could impact his job status
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
Ouray’s interim police chief will explore implementing around-the-clock police coverage, a significant change aimed at nullifying a new policy the city council adopted last week that could otherwise m...
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News
County hires deputy attorney, makes other transition plans
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have hired a new deputy county attorney and made transition plans for three other vacant county leadership roles. For varying reasons, four top-level county roles were vacat...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
SMPA’s rate structure is regressive
By Dear Editor: 
November 12, 2025
Concerning the proposed San Miguel Power Association rate increase: Has the recent peak/off-peak rate structure worked to reduce the demand charge from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Associatio...
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Letters, Opinion...
A solution to prairie dog, wolf release issues
By Dear Editor: 
November 12, 2025
Dear Editor: I’m surprised that no one has considered the fairly obvious solution to the wolf release issue and the Top of the Pines prairie dog problem. Release the wolves at Top of the Pines. Charle...
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Join us Friday for film, talk about local news inspiration, challenges
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Join us Friday for film, talk about local news inspiration, challenges
By Erin McIntyre 
November 12, 2025
I still can’t believe we own a newspaper. It feels silly to type that sentence. We’re almost seven years into being the caretakers of this community institution, publishing for 148 years. And yet, it ...
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News
Amid dead wolves, fed intrusion, wolf reintroduction program struggles
By Tracy Ross The Colorado Sun 
November 12, 2025
Colorado’s wolf restoration program is struggling amid federal roadblocks over where the state can source new wolves for reintroduction and the death of a 10th translocated wolf. The latest wolf fatal...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
November 12, 2025
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago November 18, 1965 The possibility of developing a ski slope in the Portland Creek are...
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A civilized Thanksgiving at an uncivilized time
Columns, Opinion...
A civilized Thanksgiving at an uncivilized time
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
November 12, 2025
Was the famed "Outlaw Thanksgiving" in Brown’s Park history or simply a tall tale? According to Ann Bassett, the "Queen of the Cattle Rustlers," it was a Thanksgiving feast for the ages, hosted by non...
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News
News Briefs
Judge suspended by state Supreme Court
November 12, 2025
A Seventh Judicial District county court judge has been suspended from his job by the Colorado Supreme Court after the state judicial commission investigated reports of judicial misconduct. San Miguel...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
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195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

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