Author - News

Columns, Opinion

Drought reigns as county barrels toward summer

Ouray County, along with much of far western Colorado and other Southwestern states, is now in severe drought status, according to NOAA’s U.S. West Dr...

May 28, 2025

Columns, Opinion

Brief warm spells, plenty of snow — yes, it’s April

April, a notorious trickster of a month, has lived up to its reputation this year.Fine hot spells, not-so-good freezing temperatures, ample snow and, ...

April 23, 2025

Columns, Opinion

Spring is here, but rain may stay away in April, May

Spring has sprung: Baby birds chirp riotously in birdhouses, leftover snow vanishes under an ascending sun, crocus and forsythia flutter in the March ...

March 26, 2025

Columns, Opinion

After February warmup, what’s in store for March?

Two weeks ago, following the first of two meltingly wet 8-inch February snowstorms, the grape hyacinths, daffodils and tulips decided it was time to s...

February 26, 2025

Columns, Opinion

Frigid January follows one of hottest years on record

It’s been a bitter January for most of the Mountain West and eastern two-thirds of the country. The huge arctic airmass responsible for this outbreak ...

January 29, 2025

Columns

Will AI and Trump change weather forecasting?

Right on time for Christmas, the first in a series of snowstorms blew into western Colorado Monday with more snow predicted for Christmas Day and afte...

December 25, 2024

News

Ridgway man sentenced to prison in sex assault case

By Mike Wiggins

June 6, 2025

A judge sentenced a Ridgway man to three years in prison Thursday for sexually assaulting a 28-year-old woman in 2023 after he claimed he was drunk and thought she was his wife. Brian Scranton, 49, hu...

Main, News...

Fire victims in limbo

Three years after federal prescribed burn destroyed their home, family has no answers or compensation

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

June 4, 2025

She spent three months carefully itemizing everything they lost in the fire, trying to remember what was in kitchen drawers and closets. Every piece of silverware, furniture, clothing, appliances and ...

Main, News...

Wildfire mitigation nonprofit shrinks

Expecting funding cuts, West Region Wildfire Council trims staff, ends free services

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

June 4, 2025

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the West Region Wildfire Council received $7,184.63 donations from individuals in 2023. The Plaindealer received this information from the no...

News

Mobile home park deed restrictions delayed

Swiss Village residents say limitations too restrictive

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

June 4, 2025

The Ouray City Council postponed approving a series of deed restrictions for the Swiss Village Mobile Home Park on Monday after residents who are on the cusp of buying the property objected, saying th...

Feature

A HEART FOR ADVOCACY

After leading special education services in the San Juans for 12 years,Tammy Johnson is retiring, giving way to a new director

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

June 4, 2025

A good administrator never forgets what it’s like to be a teacher. Those are the words signing off Tammy Johnson’s email and ones she’s lived by while leading the Uncompahgre Board of Cooperative Educ...

Karen Risch

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines