Author - News

Columns, Feature

‘I want to see them get to the most terrifying part of the climb … and see them complete it’

Ridgway coach Jonny Zaugg dedicated to helping young c limbers of all skill levels When Jonny Zaugg returned to Ridgway several years ago, he saw an o...

December 31, 2025

Columns, Feature

Young Ridgway squad marked by stifling defense

Certain career milestones set apart high school basketball players, the most well-known being 1,000 points. But on the defensive end, there’s an equiv...

December 10, 2025

Columns, Feature

New era launches for Ouray basketball

Before the Thanksgiving holiday, Ouray High School hosted its “Meet the Trojans” night, akin to a college's Midnight Madness event to celebrate the st...

December 3, 2025

Feature

Ridgway girls run down state title

There isn’t a perfect translation for “hill” in Chinese. That's something Natasha Hessler discovered when she arrived at the famous creek crossing dur...

November 5, 2025

Columns, Feature

On the course, they’re competitors. On weekends, they’re training partners

Separately, the Ridgway, Ouray and Telluride High School cross country teams are among the smallest in the state. Each is successful in their own righ...

October 29, 2025

Columns, Feature

As fall championships approach, a look back at memorable moments for Ridgway, Ouray

In my career as a journalist, I’ve covered dozens of state championship games and events. At this point, it might even be in the triple digits — and t...

October 22, 2025

Columns, Feature

Young Ouray volleyball squad showing progress

The second win of the season is rarely cause for celebration. But when the Ouray High School volleyball team defeated Pinnacle 25-18, 25-18, 20-25, 26...

October 15, 2025

Columns, Feature

Run, don’t walk: How a Ridgway athlete is improving dramatically

Orion Catron first ran because he really, really didn’t want to walk. As a freshman at Ridgway High School, he wasn’t connecting with classmates or pu...

October 8, 2025

Columns, Feature

New Ouray athletics director seeks to build attendance, program support

Like many with remote positions, Leah Klempner and her husband explored the country through their travels. They made their way to Ouray in 2020 and im...

September 24, 2025

Columns, Feature

Soccer aims to build on successful season

A longtime goal for the Ridgway High School girls’ soccer program was to make it to the second round of the state playoffs, travel to the Front Range ...

May 28, 2025

Main, News...

Flood ravages homes

County deems trio of Ponderosa Village properties uninhabitable, as residents fear more debris flows imminent

By Erin McIntyre, Chart Riggall and Mike Wiggins

August 5, 2026

When the fire raged above them on the mountain, the evacuated residents of Ponderosa Village hoped for rain. They wished for anything to help the firefighters get control of the blaze so it wouldn't b...

Main, News...

County floats disaster relief sales tax

By Chart Riggall

August 5, 2026

Draft ballot language proposes half-cent tax, with revenue split between county, city, town Ouray County commissioners are in talks to put a half-penny sales tax increase question to voters this fall ...

News

Log Hill won’t join fire authority

Board: No benefit to cost, operational structure

By James Hanlon

August 5, 2026

The Log Hill Volunteer Fire Department will not join the proposed consolidated fire and emergency medical services authority in Ouray County. Board members of the Log Hill Mesa Fire Protection Distric...

News

Crews near full containment on fire

By James Hanlon

August 5, 2026

Firefighters who are closing in on fully containing the Gold Mountain Fire have shifted their work to undoing firelines that are no longer needed to prevent erosion. “We've moved out of the suppressio...

News

‘We were in a panic’

Flooding relocates part of Dexter Creek, forces couple to seek help with pigs

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

August 5, 2026

Hank and Betsy Nicholson were watching TV at home the night of July 26 when the skies opened up and filled Dexter Creek with rainwater, mud and debris. The creek, which serves as the Nicholsons’ only ...

By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines