SMPA aiming to finish project by Memorial Day

A pine tree falls onto U.S. Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass during vegetation-clearing work last September. The San Miguel Power Association says it hopes to finish clearing trees around its power line on the pass by Memorial Day. Photo courtesy VM West, LP

News

By Mike Wiggins, on November 24, 2021

San Miguel Power Association officials say they hope to finish clearing trees around the utility company’s power line over Red Mountain Pass before Memorial Day weekend, though they acknowledged weather and other factors could push highway closures into June.

SMPA Manager of Engineering Jeremy Fox told local government leaders and business owners during a Nov. 17 virtual meeting the rural electric cooperative will need to close U.S. Highway 550 over Red Mountain Pass for another three to four w...

Main, News...

SCENES FROM A SNOW GLOBE

December 4, 2024

The historic Victorian homes in Ouray were decorated with snow on Nov. 27, when local photographer Gary Ratcliff noticed they look like a Hallmark movie setting and took these photos. Ratcliff will ha...

Main, News...

‘I’m here to say, please help us’

Swiss Village residents seek $1.2M from city to boost efforts to buy mobile home park

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 4, 2024

Faced with the prospect of unaffordable spikes in rent or being forced to move out of Ouray altogether, Swiss Village Mobile Home Park residents pleaded with the Ouray City Council for a financial lif...

Main, News...

Raising the roof: Where do affordable housing projects stand?

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 4, 2024

Roof by roof, developers, nonprofit organizations and local governments are banding together to bring more affordable housing opportunities online in Ouray County. Twenty-three new affordable homes be...

Feature

GETTING INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT

Find your Christmas cheer with free festivities,live radio show, dance production

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

December 4, 2024

Ouray County turns into a holiday wonderland this weekend, with free celebrations in both Ridgway and Ouray to kick off the season. Both events promise to make it feel even more like you're tuning int...

News

Ridgway fire chief slated for pay raise next year

Compensation study lumped Ridgway Fire Protection District in with much larger departments

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 4, 2024

The Ridgway Fire Protection District is looking to award Fire Chief Chris Miller a $15,000 salary increase in 2025, an 18% hike over this year’s salary but far less than the salary boost recommended b...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Season of Sharing: Home Trust of Ouray County

December 4, 2024

Editor’s note: The Ouray County Plaindealer started publishing profiles of nonprofits between Thanksgiving and New Year’s in 2020 as a community service. The purpose of these profiles is to highlight ...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Season of Sharing: The Trust for Land Restoration

December 4, 2024

Year established as a nonprofit: 2000 What does your organization do for Ouray County? Ridgway-based Trust for Land Restoration is a specialty land trust that helps communities and local governments c...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Ignore climate warnings at your own risk

December 4, 2024

Dear Editor: Kamala Harris called climate change an existential threat in the campaign, but Donald Trump ignores climate science and declares it a hoax. He is in keeping with the Republican Party that...

News

CORRECTION

December 4, 2024

Due to outdated information on Ouray County Cares' website, a Season of Sharing article about the nonprofit on Page 6 in the Nov. 28 edition contained some inaccurate information about volunteer oppor...

Obituaries

Mary Ann Jordan

December 4, 2024

July 31, 1940-September 18, 2024 Mary Ann Jordan passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California, following a 5 year battle with dementia. Born in Minneapolis, Min...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

CALENDAR & EVENTS

Dec. 5-18, 2024

December 4, 2024

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 MEETING: Ouray County Republican Central Committee monthly meeting, 6 p.m., County Land Use building, 111 Mall Road, Ridgway. More information at ourayrepublicans.com. FILM: Climb...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines