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Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

Main, News
Vehicle problems toss wrench at sheriff
Gio Mendoza’s coworkers thought he was missing for more than an hour. Emergency dispatchers were scrambling to get in touch with him. They had no idea...
December 10, 2025
Main, News
Resident: Tax money should fund ‘creatives’
A Ridgway woman is proposing the town give "creative" residents a monthly, unconditional cash payment to encourage them to stay living and working in ...
December 10, 2025
News
Commissioner opposes change to cost-savings policy
Ouray County Commissioner Lynn Padgett voted against a minor change to the county's new cost-savings policy, citing unclear language as the reason she...
December 10, 2025
News
County OKs budget, will diminish savings
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the county's disaster fund balance heading into 2026. Ouray County commissioners ap...
December 10, 2025
Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires
Main, News
Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires
Ridgway’s wildland firefighters have mopped up hotspots in Nevada, fought wildfire on the front lines in California and protected structures at home i...
December 3, 2025
Main, News
County chops event center operations to aid budget
Ouray County is performing triage on its 2026 budget as 2025 revenues are coming in lower than expected, placing even more pressure on the county’s ge...
December 3, 2025
State to reduce highway speeds near Ridgway
Main, News
State to reduce highway speeds near Ridgway
The Colorado Department of Transportation plans to lower the speed limit for traffic along a half-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 550 north of Ridgway, n...
November 26, 2025
News
Schools adopt frameworks for AI tools
Both Ridgway Secondary School and the Ouray School District have adopted guidelines for students to use artificial intelligence, joining the first wav...
November 26, 2025
News
Housing report: Few first-time buyers can afford average-priced homes in Ouray County
An estimated 100% of potential firsttime homebuyers in Ridgway and 93% of those in Ouray County cannot afford to buy an average-priced home. Those are...
November 26, 2025
A passion that’s choc-full of potential
Feature
A passion that’s choc-full of potential
Past a gate, at the end of a dirt road on Log Hill Mesa, is an Ouray County-style Willy Wonka factory. From his off-grid home, Nathan Montgomery churn...
November 26, 2025
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Editor Picks
City to keep police department
Main, News...
City to keep police department
Ouray to retain on-call model, offer raises to officers, while sheriff leads hiring, training efforts
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
May 20, 2026
The city of Ouray will retain and rebuild its own independent police department but rely on Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry to lead the hiring and training of its officers until a new police chief c...
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Runners go the distance to claim state titles
Main, News...
Runners go the distance to claim state titles
Ridgway's Hessler, Ouray's Skoloda win 3200-meter races; Demon girls finish second
By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer 
May 20, 2026
LAKEWOOD — Both runners had established new personal bests and school records during the regular season. Both entered the state track and field championship ranked No. 1 in their respective classifica...
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News
Ouray County EMS to raise fees
Charges for treatment, transport to increase for first time since 2018
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
May 20, 2026
Ouray County commissioners plan to raise fees for treatment and ambulance transports from Ouray County Emergency Medical Services starting in June. Commissioners reviewed proposed fee increases prepar...
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Mass evacuation exercise tests county’s preparedness
News
Mass evacuation exercise tests county’s preparedness
Half-day event features volunteers feigning injuries, refusing to leave and generally creating chaos — in the name of training for a real emergency
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
May 20, 2026
At 9:28 a.m., Amy Clewell and her two pretend siblings gathered in her driveway in Elk Meadows, debating whether it was time to call for help. They watched a stream of law enforcement vehicles and fir...
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Citizens organized against councilor
News
Citizens organized against councilor
At least 14 people sent letters to council urging vote against Gulde appointment
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
May 20, 2026
Former Ouray City Councilor Tamara Gulde ran into an organized effort to keep her from returning to public office earlier this year after she lost the November race for mayor, then sought to fill a va...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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Ridgway CO 81432

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