Top story of 2024: What will become of Red Mountain reservoir? - News

Top story of 2024: What will become of Red Mountain reservoir?

Ouray County Commissioner Lynn Padgett, right, and Ouray Mayor Ethan Funk, left, talk with U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet about a proposal to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray on Oct. 9. Erin McIntyre — Ouray County Plaindealer

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By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com on January 1, 2025

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: CRYSTAL'S FUTURE CLOUDY

Top story of 2024: What will become of Red Mountain reservoir?

The future of Crystal Reservoir, the shallow body of water atop Red Mountain Pass prized for its scenic values and water rights, is very much up in the air heading into the new year.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

Feature, Main...

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

In the shadows of the Uncompaghre Gorge, Sonya Wilson carefully swung her ice axe and kicked her crampons up a frosty pitch. Hooked into belayers watching from above, neighboring climbers treading up ...

Main, News...

Ridgway man killed in avalanche

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

A Ridgway man was killed Tuesday after being caught in an avalanche while backcountry skiing near Red Mountain Pass. Ouray County Coroner Glenn Boyd identified the victim as 57-year-old Donald Moden J...

Main, News...

Donors emerge in effort to save homes

Philanthropists commit $900K toward purchase of Ouray's Swiss Village

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

The people who climbed the stairs at the Ouray Community Center and filled the seats inside the City Council hearing room carried the heavy weight of worry and desperation with them. The mother of two...

News

Police chief finalists to visit Ouray

Public can meet Furstenfeld, Hoguet, Valerio Jan. 16

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

The search for Ouray's new police chief has yielded three finalists for the position — three career law enforcement officers with varying experiences, all living in the region. Community members will ...

News

Blasting project resumes above Ouray

New analysis finds no likely impact to ice park, but work will pause during festival

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

Blasting for a private homeowner’s garage project resumed Tuesday in the side of a mountain above Ouray, with operations paused for the upcoming Ouray Ice Festival due to safety concerns. The project ...

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Governments playing waiting game for housing dollars

Voters approved Proposition 123 in 2022 to provide dedicated funding, but county entities still sorting through state's application standards

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

Ouray County’s local governments and developers are still working to draw from the state’s first stream of dedicated affordable housing dollars mainly by updating and aligning housing needs assessment...

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Ice Park on precipice of fundraising goal

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

More than two years after securing conditional rights to access water from Canyon Creek, the Ouray Ice Park is about $200,000 away from finishing its $1.4 million campaign to tap into that water suppl...

San Juan Skijoring saddles up again this weekend

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San Juan Skijoring saddles up again this weekend

Annual competition pairing horses with winter sports returns Friday-Sunday at fairgrounds

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

The sport marrying Western horse culture with slope shredders returns to Ridgway this weekend, with the ninth annual San Juan Skijoriing competition at the Ouray County 4-H Event Center. Riders on hor...

Volunteer Voices: Sue Young

Columns, Feature...

Volunteer Voices: Sue Young

By SUE HUSCH

January 8, 2025

I had a delightful conversation with Sue Young after the Second Chance Humane Society shelter manager let me know that she has been a star volunteer for years, walking dogs, helping at adoption events...

The rise, fall and rise of Ophir

Columns, Opinion...

The rise, fall and rise of Ophir

By Carolyn Snowbarger

January 8, 2025

Put Ophir, Colorado, on your exploration bucket list for this summer. At 9,695 feet in elevation, this off-the-beaten-path community is seven miles southwest of Telluride and 10 “adventurous” miles fr...

Looking Back, News...

OURAY COUNTY

40 YEARS AGO

January 8, 2025

January 10, 1975 – Jan. 27 is the date in 1950 when Ouray City Hall was almost totally destroyed by fire of undetermined origin that broke out late that night and left only three walls standing of the...