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News

Ridgway Fire District budget features wage hikes, new equipment purchases

After multiple meetings, the Ridgway Fire Protection District has adopted its 2024 budget, including staff wage increases, new equipment purchases and...

December 13, 2023

News

More than books: Library mulls lending other items

The Ridgway Public Library could soon offer more than books, music and videos after the district’s Board of Trustees on Dec. 8 discussed creating a “l...

December 13, 2023

News

Bill angers vacation home owners

Legislation proposes to tax some short-term rentals as commercial propertiesOuray County short-term rental owners could be required to pay thousands m...

December 13, 2023

News

State prepares to reintroduce wolves

Ouray County could see apex predators in first year, depending on release location More than three years after Coloradans narrowly voted to reintroduc...

December 6, 2023

News

Business leaders discuss Ouray’s future

Roundtable: Prepare for changing tourism industryOuray business leaders gathered at an Ouray Economic Development Committee roundtable last week to de...

December 6, 2023

News

County OKs pact with mine owners to maintain roads

A split Ouray County Commission on Tuesday agreed to enter a winter road maintenance agreement with Thorin Resources, paving the way for the mining co...

December 6, 2023

Feature

Honoring the ‘heart and soul’ of Ridgway basketball

Court named after legendary hoops coach Steve Hill As Steve Hill sat surrounded by friends and family on Ridgway Secondary School’s bleachers Saturday...

December 6, 2023

News

Canine respiratory illness hits county

State recommends owners update vaccines, limit commingling Luke’s symptoms began innocuously in early October with a runny nose and cough, two weeks a...

November 29, 2023

Feature

Rent increase leads consignment shop to close

When Lynne Stovicek opened Lucky Find Consignments after working at The Market grocery store in Ridgway, she felt a sense of fear. It was December 201...

November 29, 2023

News

Public bus ready to roll soon

Long-awaited shuttle service from Montrose to Ouray to start in Feb. Nearly six months after it was originally supposed to launch, All Points Transit’...

November 22, 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