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...

‘Pinched on every front’

Historic drought, wildfires, high feed prices strain local ranchers

By Chart Riggall

August 12, 2026

One breezy afternoon in mid-July, Mike Potter's phone started making all kinds of noise. “It goes, beep, beep, beep, beep!” shouted the Ridgway rancher, brandishing his flip phone from the pocket of h...

Main, News...

Flood work could begin within week

By Chart Riggall

August 12, 2026

Ouray County officials said Tuesday that flood mitigation work below the Gold Mountain Fire’s burn scar could begin as soon as next week, while warning that storms in the coming days could trigger fur...

News

Firefighter base moves to Gunnison

Fairgrounds empty as focus shifts to Elk Fire

By James Hanlon

August 12, 2026

The incident command post for the Gold Mountain Fire relocated to the Gunnison County Fairgrounds Saturday as Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 took over for Team 1 and combined effort...

Feature

County fair carries on

Fire doesn't stop 4-H kids from showing their animals this week

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 12, 2026

The night the Gold Mountain Fire started, the Cornell family anxiously watched the fire spreading toward their fenced livestock, the billowing smoke filling the canyon. They decided to load up their h...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

We need to stand firm to preserve alpine tundra

By Dianne Eschman

August 12, 2026

Dear Editor: The July 23 guest column by Sue Dreamweaver Spielman was excellent and brings up so many issues that we regular backcountry users experience. I have been recreating in this area since 197...

By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines