Teammates can rely on Ouray senior

Ouray senior Charlotte Vander Ploeg (44) places a two-handed tip shot away from Ignacio senior Catori Aasland during 2A/1A San Juan Basin League road action on Oct. 21. The Lady Trojans fell 12-25, 13-25, 4-25. It's been a tough season for the Ouray volleyball team, but Vander Ploeg has played a key role in the resurgence of both the volleyball team and the girls' basketball team. Photo by Joel Priest | Special to the Plaindealer

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By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer on October 28, 2026

PREP ROUNDUP

Teammates can rely on Ouray senior

In her first year in high school, Ouray senior Charlotte Vander Ploeg was one of the strong threads that helped Ouray cling to its bare-bones volleyball program guided by then-second-year coach Brian McDowell.

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A well-deserved honor

October 28, 2026

Main

Cow Creek project fight heads to key hearing

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

October 28, 2026

A Colorado judge will consider next week whether regional water managers have enough ground to stand on to pursue a plan to divert water from Cow Creek into Ridgway Reservoir, as a long-running battle...

Main

SMPA proposes fifth consecutive rate hike

Trio of increases would raise access charge 27%

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

October 28, 2026

San Miguel Power Association has proposed to hike its base monthly access charge for the vast majority of its customers from $33 to $42, marking the fifth straight year the power provider has sought a...

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Agency warns of ongoing flood threats in burn scar

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

October 28, 2026

A U.S. Forest Service survey of the Gold Mountain Fire says flooding and debris flows will likely continue to be dangers within the most severely scorched areas of the burn scar. A report released thi...

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Ridgway college student missing after hike

Searchers looking for Kaden Matsuda, s econd man near Buena Vista

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

October 28, 2026

Dozens of searchers spent a third day Wednesday looking for a college student from Ridgway and another man who went hiking in the central Colorado mountains last weekend and didn’t return. Kaden Matsu...

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Plan to donate land for housing rescinded

Home Trust withdraws Pleasant Valley project application

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

October 28, 2026

The Home Trust of Ouray County withdrew a request for a land use variance before county commissioners could vote to deny it at a hearing Tuesday. The variance would have allowed Martha Campbell to sub...

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Romero will be strong voice in Congress

October 28, 2026

Dear Editor: I am writing regarding a subject with which I am well familiar and about which I care deeply: health care. I am writing as a registered independent voter, and a former longtime and genera...

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Vote for Romero is vote for clean air, water

By Dear Editor:

October 28, 2026

Dear Editor: Let’s face it, we baby boomers are unlikely to see any significant reversal of global warming in our lifetimes. Which means more punishing droughts and heat waves, and more brutal wildfir...

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

City leaders bear blame for demise of Ouray PD

By Dear Editor:

October 28, 2026

Dear Editor: The demise of the Ouray Police Department started with city leadership's decision to let former Interim Chief Daric Harvey patrol our streets for months without a full background check. D...

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CORRECTION

October 28, 2026

An article in the Oct. 22-28 edition, “County wants water users to take on reservoir lease,” misstated the amount of funds that Tri-County Water Conservancy District receives to operate and manage Our...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

City leaders bear blame for demise of Ouray PD

By Dear Editor:

October 28, 2026

The demise of the Ouray Police Department started with city leadership's decision to let former Interim Chief Daric Harvey patrol our streets for months without a full background check. During this ti...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines