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Looking Back
This sketchbook illustration, drawn by Don Carlton, offers a historic perspective on notable landscapes and landmarks in Ouray County. Carlton, a professional cartoonist who inked "Doonesbury," was a longtime visitor to the area who died in 2023.
Feature
January 14, 2026
Looking Back

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

60 Years Ago

January 20, 1966 Two men, injured Thursday night when their ore truck plunged over a sheer cliff on U.S. 550, were still in Montrose Memorial Hospital Tuesday of this week.

Robert F. Dahl, 25, of Silverton, was treated for chest injuries and abrasions, scalp laceration and neck injury. Dahl was fined $25 and $25 costs on traffic charges.

50 Years Ago

January 15, 1976 Eighteen committees ...

Bright start, cloudy future for bus service
Main, News...
Bright start, cloudy future for bus service
Two years after launch, OurWay ridership has doubled. It’s unclear if grant money and matching local funds will help it keep running
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Georgia Evans greeted the bus driver with jugs of milk and water in her hands and boarded the 11-seater OurWay shuttle, headed home from work in Ridgway to Montrose. She noticed it was a different bus...
Main, News...
Backcountry road closure eyed
County to shut off portion of Yankee Boy Basin to vehicles this summer due to environmental damage
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday directed staff to pursue closing an upper section of Yankee Boy Basin this summer to motorized traffic, in response to a resident’s request to reduce environmenta...
Councilor seeks relaxed in-person attendance policy
News
Councilor seeks relaxed in-person attendance policy
Doherty claims job keeps him out of town; council to decide whether to change cap on remote participation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
A newly appointed Ouray city councilor who has attended just half of the city council’s meetings in person so far this year has asked the council to relax an attendance policy and allow him to govern ...
Go-away-finding: Ouray to nix project, remove signs
News
Go-away-finding: Ouray to nix project, remove signs
After spending more than $100K on branding, design and fabrication, council halts wayfinding initiative that could have cost up to $800K
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Large maroon wayfinding signs installed on Main Street in Ouray last summer, triggering protests from residents and business owners detesting their appearance and size, will soon be gone like they wer...
Wet snow, later sunsets mark spring’s approach
Columns, Opinion...
Wet snow, later sunsets mark spring’s approach
By Karen Risch 
February 25, 2026
Thanks to warming sun, wet snow showers, spells of shirtsleeve weather, earlier sunrises and later sunsets, meteorological spring (March 1) is upon us. It’s been an a-ha moment these last two weeks as...
Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
February 25, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago February 24, 1966 In a decision handed down Feb. 10, District Judge Fred Calhoon rule...
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Editor Picks
News
For first time in four years, Ridgway to hold election
Two vying for mayor, five competing for three council seats
By lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Editor's note: The subheading on this article has been corrected to reflect that there are five candidates for three council seats. By Lia Salvatierra The town of Ridgway will hold an election for may...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

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