Calendar & Events

Calendar of events

Calendar & Events, Feature

August 20, 2025

Calendar & Events

Aug. 21-Sept. 4, 2025

Thursday, August 21

42nd Annual San Juan Chamber Music Festival, evening salon concert at a private home, must purchase tickets in advance at ocpag.org.

Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech problems from 4-6 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Walk-ins welcome.

Music bingo, 7 p.m. at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. in Ouray. Free.

Archery for ages 10-18 at the Ridgway Public Library’s summer program. From 3:30-4:30 p.m. Sign up at the library.

Ouray Public Library boo...

Main

A weekend full of pride

August 20, 2025

News

City retains lawyer in light of sewer problems

Mayor says he doesn't think the city will take legal action, but firm will review potential defect claims

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

August 20, 2025

The city of Ouray will hire an attorney who could help potentially pursue legal claims against the contractors who built and equipped the city’s new $17 million wastewater treatment plant, which has b...

News

Ridgway opens door for tourism marketing

Town follows through on plan to seek bids for services; chamber to seek to keep contract

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

August 20, 2025

The town of Ridgway is opening up a competitive process for its tourism and marketing services after years of handing the task to the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce. The shift toward a competitive p...

Letters

Time to lower the speed limit on U.S. 550

August 20, 2025

Dear Editor: Hardly a week goes by without another fatal accident on U.S. Highway 550, it seems. Or am I just imagining things? Winter or summer, events conspire, someone dies and the road is closed f...

Letters

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Revisiting postal history

August 20, 2025

Dear Editor: I read with interest Ms. Snowbarger’s column, “The West’s Unsung Heroes? Post Offices” in the Aug. 7, 2025, issue of the Plaindealer. Postal history, particularly that of Ouray County and...

Letters

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A plea to think, slow down — or go away

August 20, 2025

Dear Editor: I wonder if you know … I wonder if you know that the car you are recklessly and illegally passing has a new driver with a permit or just got their driver's license … Or maybe it's an elde...

Letters

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Why is fairgrounds arena closed to public?

August 20, 2025

Dear Editor: What is going on with the arena at the Ouray County Fairgrounds? We went there back on the Fourth of July to do some ground work with our horses and introduce a novice rider to horsemansh...

News

Plaindealer takes home 14 awards in statewide contest

By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com

August 20, 2025

The Ouray County Plaindealer took home 14 awards at the Colorado Press Association convention last weekend. The annual Better Newspaper Contest, which covered work published during the 2024 calendar y...

News

Administrator secures positive review, raise

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

August 20, 2025

Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer received high marks on her first job performance review and will secure a 6% pay raise early next year. City councilors unanimously agreed Monday night to ame...

Feature

Meet your neighbor: Mike Potter

By By Natasha Hessler Special to the Plaindealer

August 20, 2025

Michael Potter has been cattle ranching on the same plot of land on County Road 23 since 1967. But, at the moment, you will find no cows on the property. From mid June until late October, his herd of ...

News

County drafts language for lodging tax ballot question

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

August 20, 2025

Ouray County commissioners finished drafting a buzzer beater ballot measure to ask voters to approve a new county lodging tax on Tuesday. Commissioners are expected to vote next week on whether to pla...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines