Three candidates vie for Ouray School Board

News

September 10, 2025

Ouray to hold school board elections

Editor’s note: This has been corrected to reflect the correct spelling of Andrea Calhoon Meruelo’s last name.

Three candidates are vying to fill two open seats on the Ouray School District Board of Education this November.

Election officials verified petitions from candidates Phylis Fagrelius, Andrea Calhoon Meruelo and Tony Schmidt last week.

The two elected candidates will replace outgoing board of education Treasurer Sandra Kern and Secretary Vale Hirt.

They will join Board Pres...

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A visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

December 10, 2025

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Vehicle problems toss wrench at sheriff

Maintenance costs pile up as agency wrestles with delays in replacing patrol cars

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 10, 2025

Gio Mendoza’s coworkers thought he was missing for more than an hour. Emergency dispatchers were scrambling to get in touch with him. They had no idea the Ouray County sheriff’s investigator was stran...

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Resident: Tax money should fund ‘creatives’

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 10, 2025

A Ridgway woman is proposing the town give "creative" residents a monthly, unconditional cash payment to encourage them to stay living and working in town. Ridgway resident Tia Mihelarakis proposed a ...

News

Commissioner opposes change to cost-savings policy

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 10, 2025

Ouray County Commissioner Lynn Padgett voted against a minor change to the county's new cost-savings policy, citing unclear language as the reason she canceled her attendance at a statewide conference...

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County OKs budget, will diminish savings

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 10, 2025

Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the county's disaster fund balance heading into 2026. Ouray County commissioners approved the county's 2026 budget during their regul...

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Ouray School Board considers calendar options

Opinions vary on start, end, graduation dates, four-day school week

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

December 10, 2025

The Ouray School District is looking at calendar options for the next two years, and officials are considering feedback from a survey of parents, staff, students and the community to help its decision...

Young Ridgway squad marked by stifling defense

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PREP ROUNDUP

Young Ridgway squad marked by stifling defense

By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer

December 10, 2025

Certain career milestones set apart high school basketball players, the most well-known being 1,000 points. But on the defensive end, there’s an equivalent figure, with 300 career steals signifying a ...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Trust for Land Restoration

December 10, 2025

Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...

News

Ridgway finalizes budget for 2026

December 10, 2025

Ridgway is ready to adopt its largest budget ever for 2026, after its council decided how much funding it will grant to 20 community organizations. During a Dec. 3 budget workshop, town councilors agr...

News

Ranch allowed temporary access to plow County Road 7

December 10, 2025

Ouray County commissioners agreed to grant Wolf Cattle and Land Co. temporary access to plow snow on County Road 7 to complete a wildfire mitigation project. The ranch will receive a right-of-way encr...

News

Clerk recommends employee replace her

December 10, 2025

Outgoing Ouray County Clerk and Recorder Cristy Lynn has issued a recommendation for her replacement when she leaves her role in January. Lynn sent a letter to county commissioners formally recommendi...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines