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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, News

Sex assault trial moved to Montrose

A judge has ordered the trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 2023 to be moved from Ouray to Montrose. Seventh Judicial ...

July 2, 2025

Feature

Celebrating the Fourth in Ouray? Load up on sunscreen, patience, courtesy

The sights and sounds of the Fourth of July in Ouray are ubiquitous. The powerful spray of fire hoses. The shrieks of kids racing through Fellin Park....

July 2, 2025

News

City to drop business registration program fee

The city of Ouray is expected to drop the $10 annual fee charged as part of its business registration program in an effort to get more businesses to s...

June 25, 2025

Main, News

Saving Swiss Village

It took an attorney willing to work for free and hop on a midnight phone call in the middle of her vacation. It took two couples who had never met bef...

June 23, 2025

News

Sex assault trial delayed

The trial of one of three men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl inside the home of the former Ouray police chief has been delayed. Nat...

June 18, 2025

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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 ...

Main, News...

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...

News

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...

News

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 ...

Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines