Oh, what fun it is to dance - Ouray County Plaindealer

Weehawken Dance’s production of “Polar Express” on Dec. 14 at the Montrose Pavilion featured dancers from across Ouray County as well as the region, featuring a variety of ballet, hip hop, jazz and aerial performances. This year’s conductor was played by Eva Davignon, pictured at the center of this photo featuring the “hot chocolate” dance scene. Photo by Erin McIntyre | Ouray County Plaindealer

Main, News

December 24, 2025

Oh, what fun it is to dance

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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

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...

Commissioners fight over board leadership position

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

By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

December 17, 2025

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 positi...

News

Space to Create owner, management address complaints, pledge fixes

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 17, 2025

Space to Create’s owner and property management company are pledging to remedy issues with Ouray County’s first affordable housing project and re-establish strong communication with residents after re...

News

Council qualifies homebuyer for deed-restricted unit

December 17, 2025

The Ridgway Town Council approved qualifying a homebuyer for a deed-restricted unit in the Vista Park Commons neighborhood after discussing whether the unit was advertised fairly. The council, acting ...

News

Following concerns, town delays adopting anti-idling ordinance

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 17, 2025

Ridgway town councilors decided to delay final approval of a new anti-idling ordinance after hearing public concerns and discussing other issues related to the new rules during a Dec. 10 regular meeti...

News

County pauses most 4-H Center events

Budget cuts eliminated staff; work session planned with new manager

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 17, 2025

Ouray County leaders decided Tuesday to cancel most 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds events after San Juan Skijoring in January, until the county comes up with a plan to manage the space. It’s unclear...

Columns, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Column about election integrity not worth space in newspaper

December 17, 2025

Dear Editor: The Dec. 4-10 edition of the Plaindealer made me realize just how long it’s been since that moniker has had anything to do with the paper’s content. And now it appears, with the publicati...

Columns, Opinion...

How a cook and mining engineers saved the Liberty Bell Mine

December 17, 2025

The winter of 1905-06 was a dangerous time for the high-altitude mines above Telluride as snowstorm after snowstorm hit the region. Just four years earlier, the infamous 1902 "White Death" avalanche h...

Columns, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Two types of ‘creative’ people, 15 years apart

December 17, 2025

Dear Editor: I read the dichotomous reports in the Ouray County Plaindealer, Dec. 11, 2025, issue, which define two types of Ridgway's “creative” people. One was the person who recently asked the Ridg...

News

CORRECTION

December 17, 2025

An article on Page 2 of the Dec. 11–17 edition incorrectly reported the remaining fund balance of Ouray County’s disaster fund. There is $57,445 remaining in the fund going into 2026.

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Ouray Mountain Rescue Team

December 17, 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...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines