A valley of broken promises and bitter water

Columns, Opinion

By Carolyn Snowbarger, on April 8, 2026

For anyone driving the lonely stretch of Colorado Highway 141 through the West End of Montrose County, the sign for “Disappointment Valley” usually prompts a chuckle or a sympathetic sigh. It sounds like a punchline or the title of a forgotten Western movie.

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

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

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 proce...

News

Council absorbs more criticism over police

Employee pleads 'give us answers' as city OKs higher reimbursement rate for law enforcement services

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 8, 2026

The Ouray City Council on Monday agreed to pay Ouray County more for providing law enforcement services in the city, but not before absorbing another round of blistering criticism from the public and ...

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County, Forest Service to discuss Yankee Boy closure next week

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 8, 2026

Ouray County commissioners will hold a work session next week with the U.S. Forest Service to discuss their plan to close the upper portion of the road into Yankee Boy Basin to reduce environmental an...

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Ouray man killed in highway accident

By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com

April 8, 2026

A 34-year-old Ouray man died in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ridgway Monday night Alixzander Thomsen was driving the Dodge Caravan, headed toward Ouray, when the crash occurred ...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Another dangerous part of U.S. 550 needs help

April 8, 2026

Dear Editor: About two months ago, I reported to the Colorado Department of Transportation my concerns about the three-lane area on U.S. Highway 550 that connects the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk entrance to Ridgway...

News

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...

News

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...

News

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 ...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines