Commissioner: 'My patience is gone' - Ouray County Plaindealer

Main, News

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com, on November 19, 2025

Commissioner: ‘My patience is gone’

Claiming continued poor behavior, Nauer asks Padgett to take 'timeout,' attend meetings remotely

Ouray County Commissioner Michelle Nauer has asked Commissioner Lynn Padgett to take a "timeout" and attend meetings by Zoom while the county makes leadership transitions over the next few months, citing a pattern of poor behavior toward county staff and elected officials.

Main, News...

‘I did it for the animals’

Continuing a tradition she started more than 20 years ago, Ridgway's Dana Ivers partners with land trust to shield 170 acres from development

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

November 12, 2025

Dodging prairie dog holes, Dana Ivers walked through her roughly 170-acre property on the southern side of Ridgway, admiring the sound and clear color of snowmelt rushing through ditches and into her ...

Main, News...

Judge delays sex assault trial again

Over objections to another holdup, defense says DNA expert not available in January

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

November 12, 2025

The trial for one of three men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 has been postponed for a second time. Seventh Judicial Chief District Judge Cory Jackson agreed...

News

Ouray to pursue 24-hour police coverage

Interim chief suggests change after council OKs response time policy that could impact his job status

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

November 12, 2025

Ouray’s interim police chief will explore implementing around-the-clock police coverage, a significant change aimed at nullifying a new policy the city council adopted last week that could otherwise m...

News

County hires deputy attorney, makes other transition plans

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

November 12, 2025

Ouray County commissioners have hired a new deputy county attorney and made transition plans for three other vacant county leadership roles. For varying reasons, four top-level county roles were vacat...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

SMPA’s rate structure is regressive

By Dear Editor:

November 12, 2025

Concerning the proposed San Miguel Power Association rate increase: Has the recent peak/off-peak rate structure worked to reduce the demand charge from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Associatio...

Letters, Opinion...

A solution to prairie dog, wolf release issues

By Dear Editor:

November 12, 2025

Dear Editor: I’m surprised that no one has considered the fairly obvious solution to the wolf release issue and the Top of the Pines prairie dog problem. Release the wolves at Top of the Pines. Charle...

Join us Friday for film, talk about local news inspiration, challenges

Columns, Opinion...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Join us Friday for film, talk about local news inspiration, challenges

By Erin McIntyre

November 12, 2025

I still can’t believe we own a newspaper. It feels silly to type that sentence. We’re almost seven years into being the caretakers of this community institution, publishing for 148 years. And yet, it ...

Columns, Opinion...

A civilized Thanksgiving at an uncivilized time

By Carolyn Snowbarger

November 12, 2025

Was the famed "Outlaw Thanksgiving" in Brown’s Park history or simply a tall tale? According to Ann Bassett, the "Queen of the Cattle Rustlers," it was a Thanksgiving feast for the ages, hosted by non...

News

County court judge suspended after reports of misconduct

Judge suspended by state Supreme Court

By Erin McIntyre

November 12, 2025

A Seventh Judicial District county court judge has been suspended from his job by the Colorado Supreme Court after the state judicial commission investigated reports of judicial misconduct. San Miguel...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

UpstART Theater

November 12, 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

County adopts cost-saving policy

By LIA SALVATIERRA

November 12, 2025

Ouray County commissioners have adopted a new austerity policy meant to help save costs during a tight budget year. Commissioners started talking about reviving a similar 2010 recession-era policy las...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines