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For new clerk, hesitation, then excitement

When Michelle Nauer told Deputy Clerk Cristy Sulewski she wanted to run for county commissioner, Sulewski started crying. They weren’t tears of sadnes...

January 11, 2023

News

Board approves housing project

The Ouray Planning Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the sketch plan for the Waterview Planned Unit Development, an affordable housing d...

January 11, 2023

News

A time of change, reflection

Michelle Nauer flips carefully through an old book, gently turning the pages and scanning the lists of handwritten names. She points out the delicate ...

January 5, 2023

Animal shelter’s first director steps down

When Kelly Goodin arrived at Second Chance Humane Society for the first time, she had no plans to stay for almost two decades. As a social worker, she...

December 28, 2022

Top stories of 2022: Ouray Silver Mines goes bust after high hopes

News

Ouray Silver Mines had high hopes for 2022: After commissioning its mill in 2021, its plans were to be in full production this year. Instead, the comp...

December 28, 2022

Top stories of 2022: After years of talk, movement on housing front

News

Stories about the shortage of affordable housing, particularly for the local workforce, have been appearing in the Plaindealer for more than two decad...

December 28, 2022

News

While most COVID-19 restrictions and precautions have now been removed in Ouray County, there were almost 500 cases of the virus locally in 2022, almo...

December 28, 2022

Top stories of 2022: Fed-sparked blaze triggers anger, questions

News

Three structures and more than 300 acres were burned in May when a prescribed burn ignited by the U.S. Forest Service rapidly grew out of control, ang...

December 28, 2022

News

For years, residents of Ouray County have pointed to Ridgway as the inevitable place for growth to happen. Unlike Ouray, boxed in by the canyon walls,...

December 28, 2022

Season of Sharing: Ouray County Food Pantry

Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is featuring nonprofit organizations which are based in Ouray County and serve Ouray County in a series of...

December 21, 2022

News

Hurd introduces House bill to transfer Crystal Reservoir to Ouray

By LIA SALVATIERRA

November 4, 2025

U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd has introduced legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray, identical to a Senate bill introduced in September, after w...

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Ridgway girls cross country team nabs state title

By Plaindealer Staff Report

November 1, 2025

The Ridgway High School girls’ cross country team is bringing a state title back to the San Juans. The six-person team won the Class 2A state title Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs, capping a te...

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Food assistance benefits dry up

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

October 29, 2025

An estimated $51,000 in federal food benefits will no longer be available to 170 Ouray County households starting Friday. The monthlong federal government shutdown without Congressional appropriations...

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Mine shaft wasn’t identified as hazard

State vows to secure opening quickly following Ridgway woman's death

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

October 29, 2025

A dangerous, water-filled mine shaft where a woman's body was found last week had not yet been identified for closure by state officials charged with securing hazardous mine openings. Though the state...

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Pushback against wolves grows

Ranchers oppose release in county; feds seek to block state

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

October 29, 2025

The Ouray County Cattlemen’s Association has objected to releasing wolves in the county, amid other efforts potentially complicating or stifling wolf reintroduction in the region this winter. A letter...

Liz Teitz

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines