Does Ouray need a new pool house? Council, public split

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By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com, on April 8, 2026

A series of tweaks to the design of a proposed new pool house at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool has exposed a deep divide among Ouray City Council members and the public over whether the city should proceed with the multimillion-dollar project.

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Easter egg hunters hop to it

April 8, 2026

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Town mayor re-elected in landslide

Voters select incumbents Grambley, Scoville, newcomer Greenwood

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

April 8, 2026

John Clark will continue serving as Ridgway mayor, defeating his only challenger in 14 years since he was first elected, newcomer Tia Mihelarakis. Clark received 321 votes to Mihelarakis’ 51 votes. Cl...

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Ridgway municipal election results

By Plaindealer Staff

April 8, 2026

Ridgway will keep its long-time mayor and add a new face to its town council. According to initial election results from the town released late Tuesday, Mayor John Clark beat challenger Tia Mihelaraki...

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Ouray man killed in accident

By Plaindealer Staff

April 7, 2026

A 34-year-old Ouray man died in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ridgway last night, which is still under investigation. Alixzander Thomsen was driving the Dodge Caravan, headed tow...

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Fatal accident under investigation

By Plaindealer Staff

April 6, 2026

UPDATED STORY HERE: Ouray man dies in accident A fatal crash involving a Dodge Caravan and a Ford F-350 truck hauling a trailer on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ridgway tonight is under investigation. Acc...

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Ridgway sues MTN Lodge

Town seeks payment of sales, lodging taxes; hotel calls lawsuit 'misguided'

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge over their plans to use the hotel as workforce housing for the next several years, aiming to suspend operations and demanding they pay lodging and ...

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Board rebukes commissioner

Niece, Nauer censure Padgett for secretly recording closed-door meeting

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

April 1, 2026

Two Ouray County commissioners publicly reprimanded their fellow commissioner after discovering she secretly recorded an executive session last week. Portions of the audio from that executive session ...

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Proposed merger could make fire chief highest paid official

Latest draft bases members' voting power on financial contributions

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The current proposal to combine fire and emergency medical services entities in Ouray County could eventually make the new fire chief the highest-paid public official in the county and may base partic...

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Jury convicts mother in retaliation case

By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

A jury has convicted a former Ouray woman of retaliating against another woman who accused her son of sexual assault in 2023. Jurors deliberated for about an hour on March 26 before finding Kristyn Tr...

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EMS moves overnight quarters with help from chamber grant

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

April 1, 2026

Ouray County Emergency Medical Services is moving its sleeping quarters for on-call staff in Ouray into the former Public Health office location, with donations providing rent assistance. An EMT will ...

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DA ordered again to turn over report in sexual assault case

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

Prosecutors have again been ordered to turn over to defense attorneys a report detailing some of the contents of a cellphone belonging to a woman who accused three men of sexually assaulting her in Ou...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines