Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
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...

Oh, what fun it is to dance
Main, News...
Oh, what fun it is to dance
December 24, 2025
this is a test
Affordable housing nonprofit to expand across state
Main, News...
Affordable housing nonprofit to expand across state
Telluride-based Rural Homes plans to build 120 new units in 2026, but future of Ouray project unclear
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 24, 2025
Telluride-based Rural Homes is entering a new era of affordable housing work across the state after bringing on a new CEO and looking beyond pilot projects in Ouray and San Miguel counties. The afford...
this is a test
Second Chance Humane Society
Feature
SEASON OF SHARING
Second Chance Humane Society
December 24, 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...
this is a test
Feature
Home Trust of Ouray County
December 24, 2025
Year established as a nonprofit: 2018 What does your organization do for Ouray County? Affordable housing remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Ouray County, where the median price for a ...
this is a test
Sherbino Theater/ Ridgway Chautauqua
Feature
SEASON OF SHARING
Sherbino Theater/ Ridgway Chautauqua
December 24, 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...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Time to reconsider policing in Ouray
December 24, 2025
Dear Editor: With the departure of Interim Police Chief Daric Harvey, Ouray once again faces instability in its police department. Rather than automatically rebuilding the same structure, this feels l...
this is a test
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
Let’s recommit to being kind, understanding
December 24, 2025
Dear Editor: As we welcome the winter solstice, and the slow return of the light, I want to share some thoughts for the season, and the year to come. I believe the core values of the season, whatever ...
this is a test
From start to finish, a too-warm, too-dry 2025
Columns, Opinion...
From start to finish, a too-warm, too-dry 2025
December 24, 2025
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Wunderground’s “meteorologists qualify a white Christmas as one with at least an inch of snow on the ground [SOG] on Christmas morning,” (Hayden Marshall and Jonathan Er...
this is a test
Feature
SEASON OF SHARING
Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership
December 24, 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...
this is a test
Feature
SEASON OF SHARING
West Region Wildfire Council
December 24, 2025
Year established as a nonprofit: 2007 What does your organization do for Ouray County? With wildfires becoming a greater and greater risk to Western Colorado, WRWC strives to educate and aid in wildfi...
this is a test
News
Commissioners appoint replacement clerk
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 24, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have appointed a current employee to replace outgoing Clerk and Recorder Cristy Lynn when she leaves her position in January. Commissioners unanimously approved appointing c...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

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

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy