Ridgway senior leads by words, deeds on court

Ridgway's Sophia Scranton lines up a free throw at a game Feb. 24 during the Demons' 44-29 win on Hill Court over San Juan Basin League rival Telluride. Despite a long-injured left leg, Scranton scored a game-high 16 points and also added seven more steals to her still-growing career totals. Photo by Joel Priest | Special to the Plaindealer

Columns, Feature

By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer on March 4, 2026

PREP ROUNDUP

Ridgway senior leads by words, deeds on court

At intense moments of a close basketball game, there’s nothing that Ridgway senior Sophia Scranton savors more than to hunker down in her defensive stance, slide in front of a hapless dribbler and with a snake-like flick of the wrist, pilfer the ball, then cruise down court for a quick cross-over, fast-break layup.

Main, News...

Blood moon rising

March 4, 2026

Main, News...

City: No to more remote governance

Ouray council rejects member's request to attend more meetings from afar

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 4, 2026

The Ouray City Council on Monday unanimously rejected a councilor’s request for greater leeway to participate in council meetings remotely, agreeing it’s vital for elected officials to face constituen...

Main, News...

4-H EVENT CENTER

A dilemma 25 years in the making

Commissioners determined to improve fiscal health of facility plagued by management, use questions since its donation

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 4, 2026

The dilemma of how to manage, finance and use the Ouray County 4-H Event Center is coming full circle, reflecting conversations that happened more than 25 years ago when the facility was donated to th...

News

Pool house design draws varied reactions

Residents alternately praise, pan contemporary appearance, debate proposed community space

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 4, 2026

Ouray County residents peppered architects and Ouray parks and recreation officials with questions and feedback about a proposed new pool house at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, revealing a broad spectru...

News

Rural teens, caregivers sought to participate in suicide risk study

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

March 4, 2026

Editor's note: This story talks about topics related to suicide. If you or anyone else needs resources, please call or text 988 or visit 988colorado.com. For Dr. Maya Haasz, it didn’t feel right to us...

News

County launches inaugural wellness fair

March 15 Wellnesspalooza seeks to offer assistance, no matter the ailment

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 4, 2026

For those seeking resources for addiction or other mental health issues, or simply to improve overall wellness, Ouray County’s first Wellnesspalooza brings together local and regional providers, commu...

News

CLARIFICATION

March 4, 2026

An article in the Feb. 26-March 4 edition about the county attorney’s evaluation should have made clear that that Ouray County had four members of the administration team and one employee leave their ...

News

CORRECTION

March 4, 2026

A subheadline in the Feb. 26-March 4 edition for an article about the Ridgway Town Council election incorrectly indicated the number of open council seats and number of candidates for those seats. The...

Letters, Opinion...

Elected officials should fly ‘Betsy Ross’ flag

March 4, 2026

Dear Editor: I saved last year’s July 10-16 edition of the Plaindealer because its coverage of the city of Ouray’s Independence Day parade reminded me that it marked the beginning of what would be a y...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ouray fortunate to have city administrator

March 4, 2026

Dear Editor: We all know how lucky we are to live in Ouray, but most of us do not know how fortunate we are to have Michelle Metteer as our city administrator. She is a soft-spoken person so I would l...

Feature

Looking Back

March 4, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago March 3, 1966 Arthur R. Alschbach, Ouray's oldest continuous resident, died March 1 a...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines