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Options sought to manage possible gym project

Ouray School Board members don’t like an idea to hire another principal, instead asking for other options to help Superintendent Tod Lokey get the wor...

March 12, 2025

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Developer pitches Ridgway mixed-use project

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Ouray County Regional Service Authority no longer pays for the software used by the m...

March 5, 2025

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Commissioners shift focus to new manager

Ouray County commissioners either will hire an interim county manager or a consultant to help run the county when County Manager Connie Hunt leaves he...

February 19, 2025

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Commissioners pledge help for cash-poor cemetery

Cedar Hill Cemetery needs lots of TLC, and board members hope Ouray County will provide a pathway to help revitalize the nearly 150-year-old cemetery....

February 19, 2025

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County manager resigns

Ouray County Manager Connie Hunt resigned from her position after meeting with commissioners for more than three hours Tuesday to discuss her performa...

February 12, 2025

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Manager faces criticism

Ouray County commissioners spent more than an hour Wednesday criticizing County Manager Connie Hunt’s job performance in the last year, saying they fe...

February 5, 2025

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County OKs water plant near Colona

A water treatment plant proposed for U.S. Highway 550 near Colona is a step closer to being built after the Ouray County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesd...

December 18, 2024

Main, News

County OKs new rental rules

Ouray County commissioners unanimously adopted a new short-term rental ordinance Tuesday despite an outpouring of concern from some current permit hol...

October 2, 2024

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Planning commissioners debate Ridgway’s land-use needs

The Ridgway Planning Commission is envisioning what the town should look like in the future.The commission is looking at the economic implications of ...

September 4, 2024

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Ridgway may loosen regs for accessory units

Regulations for accessory dwelling units in Ridgway may become looser after the Planning Commission recommended changes to the town’s ordinance.If the...

September 4, 2024

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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 ...

Main, News...

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 ...

Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines