Author - News

Obituaries

Ralph Lowery, 58, of Ridgway, CO passed away unexpectedly May 28th, 2021. He was born in 1962 in Montrose, CO to Lester and Delphane Lowery. As a boy,...

June 10, 2021

Opinion

LOOKING BACK

50 YEARS AGO June 10, 1971 - “Since I have been in this office, I have bitten by dogs four times — and there is four dead dogs.” Police Chief Harold B...

June 10, 2021

With gratitude for a fabulous school year

Dear Editor: The 2020-21 school year came to a celebratory completion last week. The Ridgway School District (RSD) proudly taught our entire PreK-12 s...

June 10, 2021

News

Police searching for missing Ouray man

Ouray police are asking for the public's help in finding a 56-year-old Ouray man who hasn't been seen since leaving his home this morning. George Savi...

June 9, 2021

News

Town hall closed for odor

UPDATE: Wednesday at 3 p.m. Hazardous materials experts have determined the odor causing the evacuation of Ridgway Town Hall on Tuesday is not dangero...

June 8, 2021

LOOKING BACK

50 YEARS AGO June 3, 1971 - Editorial: The wilderness issue is getting hot around here. Though hearing dates have yet to be set on the Uncompahgre wil...

June 2, 2021

Condo project could come at high cost

Dear Editor: We all agree Ouray needs more housing and rapidly. Silvershield Terrace will provide 30 more condo units, but at a potentially disastrous...

June 2, 2021

Public health option would help economy

Dear Editor: Nearly all the industrialized nations of the world offer universal health care. Many of these nations are often led by conservative admin...

June 2, 2021

News

Semi driver killed in accident near Ridgway Reservoir

The driver of a semi truck was killed Friday afternoon in a rollover accident on U.S. Highway 550 near Ridgway Reservoir, according to the Colorado St...

May 28, 2021

Obituaries

Larry Fredrick Falk

Larry Fredrick Falk of Ridgway died peacefully on April 27, after a brief illness. Larry was born on Feb. 8, 1949 in Dearborn, MI, the only child of E...

May 26, 2021

Main, News...

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 ...

News Staff

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines