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News

City retains lawyer in light of sewer problems

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 $...

August 20, 2025

News

Administrator secures positive review, raise

Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer received high marks on her first job performance review and will secure a 6% pay raise early next year.City ...

August 20, 2025

News

Interim chief has first shot at permanent job

Interim Ouray Police Chief Daric Harvey will be given the first crack at the permanent police chief position through an internal interview process arr...

August 6, 2025

News

City approves rooftop deck for library

The Ouray Public Library will get its rooftop deck — and at its preferred location.The Ouray City Council voted Monday night to amend the library’s le...

August 6, 2025

News

City taps local businesses for additional park signs

Ouray city leaders insisted in May they wanted to hire local businesses to design, fabricate and install signs at the entrance to two city parks. They...

July 30, 2025

Feature

A new chapter for historic St. Elmo

It was a cold call that led Clay Bales to warm up to the San Juans. Five years ago, he picked up the phone and dialed the number for Jason Raible, the...

July 30, 2025

Main, News

Ceremony ushers in new Ouray police era

Five months ago, tension and resentment filled the meeting room inside the Ouray Community Center. Frustrated Ouray police officers lashed out at city...

July 23, 2025

News

Councilors, library clash over rooftop deck

Two Ouray City Council members and the Ouray Library District continue to clash over the location of a rooftop deck planned for the library’s expansio...

July 23, 2025

Main, News

Wildfires surge across region

Four lightning-sparked wildfires that had scorched more than 20,000 acres in southwestern Colorado as of Wednesday continue to churn through tinder-dr...

July 16, 2025

Main, News

Signs of trouble in Ouray

Ouray business owners and residents threw up a symbolic stop sign in front of the city council on Monday, urging city leaders to pause or altogether a...

July 9, 2025

Main

A weekend full of pride

August 20, 2025

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...

Letters

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A plea to think, slow down — or go away

August 20, 2025

Dear Editor: I wonder if you know … I wonder if you know that the car you are recklessly and illegally passing has a new driver with a permit or just got their driver's license … Or maybe it's an elde...

Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines