Author - News

Columns, Opinion

Ouray finally woke up to its first measurable snowfall Monday, Nov. 24. While waiting for the magic of winter’s arrival, late or not, I found myself w...

November 26, 2025

Columns, Opinion

As daylight dwindles, how can we curb energy use?

Ouray’s first frost occurred Oct. 17, three weeks after the average frost date, Sept. 26. It was a fitting end to a hot, droughty summer. Occasional d...

November 5, 2025

Columns, Opinion

After abnormally hot, dry summer, what will fall bring?

Halfway through Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at 12:22 p.m.Mountain Daylight Time, astronomical summer officially yielded to autumn.Seasonal change has been...

September 24, 2025

Columns, Opinion

Late monsoon welcome, but it won’t fix deficit

This year's missing monsoon finally showed up the night of Aug. 22. By the next morning, Saturday, a much wetter, greener, cooler world greeted Ouray ...

August 27, 2025

Columns, Opinion

A disappointingly dry start to monsoon season

Ouray gardeners, like their counterparts across the Four Corners states, count on the Southwest Monsoon from July to September.In the city of Ouray it...

July 30, 2025

Columns, Opinion

Will Ouray County benefit from Weather Service rehires?

For six lovely days, June 2-7, our San Juan earth was cool and wet. Local peaks regained their winter white.Ouray days averaged 65 degrees, 11 degrees...

June 25, 2025

Main, News...

Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires

Additional staff, engine can enhance skills, create more revenue

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 3, 2025

Ridgway’s wildland firefighters have mopped up hotspots in Nevada, fought wildfire on the front lines in California and protected structures at home in Colorado. Since the Ridgway Fire Protection Dist...

Main, News...

County chops event center operations to aid budget

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 3, 2025

Ouray County is performing triage on its 2026 budget as 2025 revenues are coming in lower than expected, placing even more pressure on the county’s general fund savings. County leaders have been worki...

News

New council’s first task: Fill vacancies

After soliciting applications, councilors to interview, pick appointments Jan. 5

December 3, 2025

Ouray city leaders swore in a new mayor and city councilor Monday night, then turned their attention to the council’s most pressing issue: Finding and appointing two more councilors to fill out the ra...

News

Slow start to snow season

Wave of storms helps, but snowpack in San Juans well below normal

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 3, 2025

A series of post-Thanksgiving storms delivered desperately needed snow to the moisture-starved San Juans, but snowpack at the start of December remains well below average in Ouray County and the surro...

News

SEASON OF SHARING

Ridgway Ouray Community Council

December 3, 2025

Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...

Karen Risch

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines