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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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A barrel of fun on Labor Day

September 9, 2026

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Water restrictions exception, not rule

Colorado is on track for its warmest year ever. Source flows are diminishing or at historic lows. So why has only one water provider in Ouray County ordered cutbacks this summer?

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

September 9, 2026

In the early days of summer, it remained a matter of some debate where the drought of 2026 ranked in the annals of long, hot Colorado summers. For Cary Denison, Ouray County’s representative on the Co...

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Trump declares disaster for fire

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

September 9, 2026

Move frees up federal relief money President Donald Trump approved a major disaster declaration for the Gold Mountain and Aspen Acres fires, unlocking millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Manageme...

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Crews working to plug old water well

Operation part of state program to reclaim abandoned sites

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

September 9, 2026

It’s not what you think. A towering steel drill that’s been perched along the side of U.S. Highway 550 in recent weeks isn’t probing for gas, or oil, or even a route to the Far East. The operation is ...

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Parking enforcement nixes popular highway camping spot

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

September 9, 2026

Officials cite concerns about safety, health at Tuffy's Corner A highway pullout popular for overnight camper parking north of Ouray has been empty in recent weeks since ‘no camping’ signs were instal...

Liz Teitz

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines