County endures year of resignations, infighting

Ouray County Manager Connie Hunt listens to county commissioners discuss her job performance during a work session at the Ouray County Courthouse in February. After commissioners criticized her performance during an annual evaluation, Hunt defender her work, then resigned at the end of the meeting. Photo by Erin McIntyre | Ouray County Plaindealer

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By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com, on December 31, 2025

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: TUMULT WITHIN TOP RANKS OF COUNTY

County endures year of resignations, infighting

Ouray County government weathered a year of turmoil and transition in 2025, and ended the year hopeful that its new top leader would bring a fresh perspective and stability.

Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: BRIAN SCRANTON CONVICTED OF SEX ASSAULT

Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Editor’s note: This story contains details about an alleged sexual assault. Ten years after he was first arrested for alleged sex assault in Ouray County, a Ridgway man was convicted in another sex as...

After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: POLICE TURMOIL CONTINUES

After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

After more than a year of turmoil that consumed 2024 and bled over into the first quarter of 2025, the Ouray Police Department underwent a complete tear down and transition under an interim police chi...

Looking Back, Opinion...

Looking Back

By Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer

December 31, 2025

60 Years Ago December 30, 1965 What can we expect to happen to our pocketbook in 1966? Here are some clues gleaned from the 43rd Annual National Agricultural Outlook Conference held in Washington D.C....

Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: SWISS VILLAGE SAVED

Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

As the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025, things looked bleak for the residents of Swiss Village Mobile Home Park in Ouray. They had rallied to form a cooperative in the wake of learning the park was...

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: ATHLETIC COMPLEX FINISHED

Field of dreams realized in Ridgway

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Ridgway Secondary School athletes were tired. Tired of running on hard surfaces that were tough on their bodies and practicing in school hallways and backyards. Tired of carpooling to Olathe in order ...

Legislators seek to transfer reservoir to city

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: CRYSTAL RESERVOIR BILLS INTRODUCED

Legislators seek to transfer reservoir to city

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Bipartisan members of Congress representing Ouray County co-sponsored bills introduced in 2025 to transfer Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray, nearly a year after the ...

‘I want to see them get to the most terrifying part of the climb … and see them complete it’

Columns, Feature...

PREP ROUNDUP

‘I want to see them get to the most terrifying part of the climb … and see them complete it’

By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer

December 31, 2025

Ridgway coach Jonny Zaugg dedicated to helping young c limbers of all skill levels When Jonny Zaugg returned to Ridgway several years ago, he saw an opportunity to give back to the community and be th...

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: RIDGWAY WINS CONDEMNATION CASE

Town builds public trail after judge allows land buy

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

The town of Ridgway won its case to condemn private property to build a public trail from the River Park subdivision to Ridgway Secondary School, after attempts to purchase a slice of property from th...

Spike in wrecks prompts concern, improvements

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: HIGHWAY 550 SAFETY CONCERNS

Spike in wrecks prompts concern, improvements

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

A spike in fatal and serious-injury accidents on U.S. Highway 550 in Ouray County in 2025 caught the attention of the public and the Colorado Department of Transportation, which moved to expedite some...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

December 31, 2025

Thursday, January 1 Polar Bear plunge at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 3 Trivia Night. Free to attend. 7 p.m. at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. in Ouray. Wednesday, Jan...

Main, News...

Oh, what fun it is to dance

December 24, 2025

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines