Author - News

Feature

Greenwood’s brings Southern kick to Ridgway

More than 20 years before opening Greenwood’s in Ridgway, childhood friends Bill Greenwood and Marty Frank dreamed of owning a restaurant together. Th...

December 27, 2023

News

Post-pandemic, rentals still booming

While short-term listings in county have declined since 2019, bookings, revenue are upIn recent months, the state legislature and local governments ac...

December 27, 2023

Top stories of 2023: Fight over winter vehicle access ends at high court

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: END OF ROAD FOR COUNTY ROAD 5 BATTLE The five-year-long battle over winter vehicle access on County Road 5 ended in the Color...

December 27, 2023

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: PROPERTY VALUES SOAR Eye-popping property value increases hit Ouray County in 2023, driven by pricey pandemic-era purchases a...

December 27, 2023

Top stories of 2023: County closes MS Support, ending neighbors’ long battle

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: GROW FACILITY SHUTTERED Ouray County shut down a controversial marijuana grow facility in 2023 after four years of conflicts ...

December 27, 2023

News

Legislators zero in on water, ag issues

Simpson, Catlin preview legislative session, which starts Jan. 10With less than a month until Colorado’s 2024 legislative session kicks off, both of O...

December 27, 2023

News

Ridgway adopts Athletic Park plan

Final concept features high school baseball field, pickleball courts, new playground and bike parkFollowing months of public input and revisions, the ...

December 20, 2023

News

Colona coffee shop to change hands

Ladybird Bakery could reopen after board OKs permit transfer The former La Zona Colona coffee house and bakery could reopen with new ownership, after ...

December 13, 2023

News

Documentary, discussion highlight mental health in mountain towns

A documentary focused on mental health challenges in mountain towns is screening in Ridgway next week, with a goal of highlighting the problem and sta...

December 13, 2023

Feature

Burning questions: The curious past of Ouray’s red cliff door

For observant drivers traversing U.S. Highway 550, Ouray’s red door has been an oddity without rhyme or reason for years. Framed by the cliffs just so...

December 13, 2023

Main

A weekend full of pride

August 20, 2025

News

City retains lawyer in light of sewer problems

Mayor says he doesn't think the city will take legal action, but firm will review potential defect claims

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

August 20, 2025

The city of Ouray will hire an attorney who could help potentially pursue legal claims against the contractors who built and equipped the city’s new $17 million wastewater treatment plant, which has b...

News

Ridgway opens door for tourism marketing

Town follows through on plan to seek bids for services; chamber to seek to keep contract

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

August 20, 2025

The town of Ridgway is opening up a competitive process for its tourism and marketing services after years of handing the task to the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce. The shift toward a competitive p...

Letters

Time to lower the speed limit on U.S. 550

August 20, 2025

Dear Editor: Hardly a week goes by without another fatal accident on U.S. Highway 550, it seems. Or am I just imagining things? Winter or summer, events conspire, someone dies and the road is closed f...

Letters

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Revisiting postal history

August 20, 2025

Dear Editor: I read with interest Ms. Snowbarger’s column, “The West’s Unsung Heroes? Post Offices” in the Aug. 7, 2025, issue of the Plaindealer. Postal history, particularly that of Ouray County and...

Daniel Schmidt daniel@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines