November 15, 1973 – Restitution of $76 stolen from a locker at the Ouray School two weeks ago has been paid by a 13-yearold Ouray student. The money belonged to the eighth grade class and was in a student’s locker. It was returned to Ouray Police Chief Steve Frazier after investigation by the police department determined the individual responsible for the theft.

The student has been placed on probation by the police department until the end of this year’s school term. All of his activities will have to be reported personally by the boy to Chief Frazier. As a result of this incident, no more monies will be handled by students at the school. All funds will be given directly to teachers and then to the office.

40 YEARS AGO

November 17, 1983 – Art Ellis, regional field coordinator for the Colorado Department of Education, addressed the question of school consolidation for the members of the American Association of University Women and guests at their meeting on Nov. 5. In her introduction of Ellis, Nancy Nixon said the possibility of consolidating the Ridgway and Ouray school districts could be approached in an orderly and rational manner. One problem with with consolidation, especially for Ouray and Ridgway, Ellis said, is that small school attendance money could be lost. The two grade schools are less than 20 miles apart and approximately $9,000 could be lost. Small school attendance for the high school would not be affected because the number of students is still low for the services needed. Ellis told the group that if the possibility of consolidation was going to be pursued, the first step is for both school boards to agree that it is feasible. They would jointly appoint a school planning committee, as specified in state law, and this 9-15 member committee must develop a “plan of organization.” The plan must comply with state statutes and when completed the committee shall obtain the necessary signatures on a petition for consolidation before an election.

30 YEARS AGO

November 18, 1993 – Dear Editor, there has been a lot of fuss lately about the tiny (25,000 sq. ft.) City Market proposed for Ridgway. Instead of resisting, we should embrace these perpetual promoters of progress and make Ouray County a Mecca of modern merchandising. In the city of Ouray alone, the sources and potential for development are staggering. Picture if you will that huge wasted tract of rocks, trees and bushes we call The Amphitheater transformed into the Amphitheater MegaMall. Hundreds of retail chain stores, movie theaters and restaurants. Complete with sufficient parking to support the Mount Abram Convention Center and the Sneffels Skyport. Evenings on Main Street would be all aglow with “Golden Arches,” Burger Kings and those altars of convenience, the 24-hour minimart. The city streets would be alive with the comings and goings of VISA-carrying tourists as well as the thousands of new minimum wage earners trying to find their way to and from more affordable housing. — Stephen Lance, Ouray.

20 YEARS AGO

November 14, 2003 – Jack Palmer of Ridgway appears to be a lucky man. Palmer fell more than 100 feet in a climbing accident on Oct. 20, near the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. According to the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team report, Palmer was scaling the cliffs east of Highway 550.

His belayer for the climb, Dustin Hoover of Ridgway, reported that he told Palmer that he was off belay but Palmer evidently thought he was on, leaned back and “ran through the chains.” Hoover said Palmer bounced eight times as he fell several feet and then cartwheeled 60 to 80 feet down the scree slope. Emergency officials at the scene at 2:20 p.m. reported that Palmer did not lose consciousness, suffered a laceration to his left leg, multiple other lacerations and a possible rib injury. He was not wearing a helmet. Bob Frier, a friend of Palmer’s, said Thursday that Palmer has “a messed-up” shoulder and lost “chunks of skin.”

10 YEARS AGO

November 14, 2013 – The surprising twist to the visual impact regulations saga last week caught many by surprise, but advocates on both sides of the issue have a positive outlook for the future of section 9. After more than two years of review and revision by the Ouray County Planning Commission, a visual impact regulations proposal came before the Board of County Commissioners. “I was very pleased with the outcome,” planning commission Chairman Ken Lipton said this week, adding that some of the planning commissioners he spoke to after the hearing were also pleased. “Comments by commissioners (Lynn) Padgett and (Don) Batchelder were incisive and to the point. They didn’t dwell on a lot of the emotional issues raised but on the facts,” Lipton added. Donna Whiskeman, a real estate broker and outspoken opponent of the planning commission proposal, told the Plaindealer she too was thrilled with the outcome. “It’s what we wanted to have happen four years ago,” Whiskeman said. Heading off a major conflict between opposing sides, the BOCC decided to take on the revision of section 9 itself by sitting down with land use staff and professionals and working on problems in the current code.