At Schoonover's, fixing cars is a family affair

Schoonoverâs Auto Center recently moved to a new, permanent location between Colona and Montrose at 21975 U.S. Highway 550. The Schoonover family, including Harlan, Eva, Caleb, Waylon, Atlas and Fletcher, is happy to have a bigger shop â double the previous capacity for vehicle repair.

By Erin McIntyre, on May 24, 2023

At Schoonover’s, fixing cars is a family affair

Feature, Main...

After hiatus, a rally for high school baseball in Ridgway

Sporting nearly 30-year-old jerseys, pilot junior varsity team takes field, aims for long-term viability through fundraising

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 15, 2026

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect when Ridgway School District last had a baseball team, given updated information provided by Ouray County Baseball after the story was published. ...

Main

Zero-waste policy draws public fire

Council tables proposal for compostable, recyclable materials over concerns from business owners, community groups

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 15, 2026

Ridgway town councilors tabled a draft “zero-waste” policy for events on town property after public backlash about how the rules would impact business owners and community groups. The proposal discuss...

Main

Administrator sought info backing chief decision

Records: Officers concerned about training

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 15, 2026

Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer sought input from neighboring law enforcement agencies about how they conduct background checks — after she decided not to hire Daric Harvey as the permanent ...

Feature

Track and field returns to Grand Junction

April 15, 2026

News

County renews water lease for fourth year

By LIA SALVATIERRA

April 15, 2026

Ouray County commissioners signed off on an agreement Tuesday to lease and help pay for backup water to support the county’s irrigators for a fourth year. The lease secures a 2021 no-call agreement be...

News

Ditch users, county at impasse about culvert

By LIA SALVATIERRA

April 15, 2026

A group of ranchers from the West Arm Ditch Company is refusing Ouray County’s offer to reinstall a faulty culvert this year if the water users pay for the materials, saying they shouldn’t have to pay...

News

Sex assault trial delayed for third time

By Mike Wiggins

April 15, 2026

The trial for a man charged with sexually assaulting a then-17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 has been postponed for a third time. Nate Dieffenderfer is now scheduled for an eight-day trial sta...

News

Planned EV chargers move to Visitor Center

By LIA SALVATIERRA

April 15, 2026

During an April 8 meeting, the Ridgway Town Council agreed to move a charging station planned for the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds to town property next to the Ridgway Visitor Center....

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Padgett must put needs of county ahead of own

By Dear Editor:

April 15, 2026

Dear Editor: There is a need to acknowledge the recent revelations at the special Ouray County Board of Commissioners meeting March 30, where Commissioner Lynn Padgett first denied, then admitted to s...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Padgett’s health issues impact county functions

By Carolyn Dresler

April 15, 2026

Dear Editor: I read with concern and consternation the lead article in the April 2-9 edition of the Plaindealer relating to the March 30 public Board of County Commissioners meeting that resulted in t...

Letters, Opinion...

MTN Lodge shirking responsibilities to town

By SUE HUSCH

April 15, 2026

Dear Editor: The full page ad in the April 9-15 edition was interesting to me. In very large print we were given the town manager's email address, and told he and the Ridgway Town Council are out of l...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines