Commissioners fight over board leadership position

Main, News

By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com, on December 17, 2025

Niece to serve as chairperson after he, Nauer reject requests from Padgett's backers to appoint her

For the second year in a row, Ouray County commissioners fought over who should serve as board chairperson, rejecting requests from supporters of Commissioner Lynn Padgett to appoint her to the position.

Main, News...

Interim police chief departs

City administrator won't hire Harvey for permanent job after he objects to depth of background check

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 17, 2025

Ouray Interim Police Chief Daric Harvey is leaving his job over his objections to City Administrator Michelle Metteer’s insistence that he undergo a second, more extensive background check to determin...

Main, News...

Dispute over extended background check leads to Ouray police chief’s last day

City administrator declines to make interim chief permanent

By Mike Wiggins

December 17, 2025

Main, News...

A visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus

December 10, 2025

Main, News...

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...

Main, News...

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...

News

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...

News

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

Columns, Feature...

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...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines