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Is there relief for brutally warm, dry March?
Columns, Opinion...
Is there relief for brutally warm, dry March?
By Karen Risch 
March 25, 2026
Early this month, spring 2026 seemed to be yet another hot, droughty season across the West. Since then, March has been abysmally dry and scarily warm, thanks to a highly unusual heat dome parked over...
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Wyatt Earp’s brief, quiet chapter in the San Juans
Columns, Opinion...
Wyatt Earp’s brief, quiet chapter in the San Juans
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
March 11, 2026
Wyatt Earp wasn’t born a legend. He was an opportunist, a man with a keen eye for the next horizon and a knack for finding — or perhaps stirring up — chaos wherever he set his boots. While history boo...
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Ridgway senior leads by words, deeds on court
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
Ridgway senior leads by words, deeds on court
By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer 
March 4, 2026
At intense moments of a close basketball game, there’s nothing that Ridgway senior Sophia Scranton savors more than to hunker down in her defensive stance, slide in front of a hapless dribbler and wit...
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OPINION COLUMN: More remote governance undermines accountability
Columns, Opinion...
OPINION COLUMN: More remote governance undermines accountability
By Plaindealer editorial 
March 2, 2026
A newly appointed Ouray city councilor who has attended just half of the board's meetings in person this year has asked fellow councilors to relax rules requiring councilors to attend meetings in pers...
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Wet snow, later sunsets mark spring’s approach
Columns, Opinion...
Wet snow, later sunsets mark spring’s approach
By Karen Risch 
February 25, 2026
Thanks to warming sun, wet snow showers, spells of shirtsleeve weather, earlier sunrises and later sunsets, meteorological spring (March 1) is upon us. It’s been an a-ha moment these last two weeks as...
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Columns
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Avoid idling cars, make street pedestrian mall
February 11, 2026
Dear Editor: On a beautiful, warm winter day I propped open the front door of the Decker Room at the Art Space on Clinton Street. My intention was to invite in the sun and any passersby who might be e...
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Seeing isn’t always believing: Improve your news literacy on Feb. 22
Columns
Seeing isn’t always believing: Improve your news literacy on Feb. 22
By Erin McIntyre 
February 11, 2026
"I'll believe it when I see it" and "seeing is believing" are two phrases that haven't aged well. Nowadays, I'm skeptical of videos friends send me, photos that look like someone manipulated them and ...
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How science fiction, silver built Mount Sneffels
Columns, Feature...
How science fiction, silver built Mount Sneffels
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
February 11, 2026
For those of us lucky enough to step onto our decks or open our front doors to a view of the northern San Juans, one silhouette dominates the horizon: Mount Sneffels. Known as the "Queen of the San Ju...
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Senior’s work ethic pays off with superb season
Columns, Feature...
Senior’s work ethic pays off with superb season
By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer 
February 11, 2026
The majority of high school student-athletes in Ouray County are headed on a post-graduation pathway in a career in something other than sports. But for some, their drive to excel extends to a desire ...
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New collaboration will provide more coverage of environmental issues
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
New collaboration will provide more coverage of environmental issues
February 4, 2026
In the seven years we've owned the Plaindealer, it has become pretty obvious that we need more resources to help cover stories related to public lands, environmental issues and climate challenges. We ...
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Despite weekend storm, 2026 starts warm and dry
Columns, Opinion...
Despite weekend storm, 2026 starts warm and dry
By Karen Risch 
January 28, 2026
The year 2025, Ouray’s hottest year ever recorded, began with a very cold, dry month. January 2025’s mean temperatures were 4.8 degrees below normal both day and night, making it the only below normal...
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1884 ‘Big Snow’ a reminder: Careful what you wish for
Columns, Feature...
1884 ‘Big Snow’ a reminder: Careful what you wish for
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
January 14, 2026
So far this winter we have had a reprieve from icy sidewalks and snow shoveling — a far cry from what Silverton experienced with the legendary "Big Snow” in March 1884. We are complaining about the pe...
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Birdwatching: An equal opportunity hobby for the family
Columns, Feature...
Birdwatching: An equal opportunity hobby for the family
By Mary Menz Special to the Plaindealer 
January 14, 2026
Birdwatching is one of the most accessible hobbies for people of all ages. Little special equipment is required, though beginners often find binoculars and a guidebook to help them identify bird speci...
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‘I want to see them get to the most terrifying part of the climb … and see them complete it’
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
‘I want to see them get to the most terrifying part of the climb … and see them complete it’
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
December 31, 2025
Ridgway coach Jonny Zaugg dedicated to helping young c limbers of all skill levels When Jonny Zaugg returned to Ridgway several years ago, he saw an opportunity to give back to the community and be th...
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From start to finish, a too-warm, too-dry 2025
Columns, Opinion...
From start to finish, a too-warm, too-dry 2025
December 24, 2025
Dreaming of a white Christmas? Wunderground’s “meteorologists qualify a white Christmas as one with at least an inch of snow on the ground [SOG] on Christmas morning,” (Hayden Marshall and Jonathan Er...
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Ridgway coach aims to honor grandfather’s legacy while forging own identity
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
Ridgway coach aims to honor grandfather’s legacy while forging own identity
By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer 
December 24, 2025
The Hills are alive with the sound of coaching, as Scott “Scotty” Hill received his indoctrination to the Ridgway High School coaching ranks at the San Juan Mountain Madness basketball tournament earl...
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Columns, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Column about election integrity not worth space in newspaper
December 17, 2025
Dear Editor: The Dec. 4-10 edition of the Plaindealer made me realize just how long it’s been since that moniker has had anything to do with the paper’s content. And now it appears, with the publicati...
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How a cook and mining engineers saved the Liberty Bell Mine
Columns, Opinion...
How a cook and mining engineers saved the Liberty Bell Mine
December 17, 2025
The winter of 1905-06 was a dangerous time for the high-altitude mines above Telluride as snowstorm after snowstorm hit the region. Just four years earlier, the infamous 1902 "White Death" avalanche h...
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Columns, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Two types of ‘creative’ people, 15 years apart
December 17, 2025
Dear Editor: I read the dichotomous reports in the Ouray County Plaindealer, Dec. 11, 2025, issue, which define two types of Ridgway's “creative” people. One was the person who recently asked the Ridg...
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Young Ridgway squad marked by stifling defense
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
Young Ridgway squad marked by stifling defense
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
December 10, 2025
Certain career milestones set apart high school basketball players, the most well-known being 1,000 points. But on the defensive end, there’s an equivalent figure, with 300 career steals signifying a ...
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Ridgway council candidates discuss issues at forum
Main, News...
Ridgway council candidates discuss issues at forum
Mihelarakis, Clark focus on sustainability, economy
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
Seasoned insights squared off with fresh perspective during an election forum last week as both of Ridgway’s mayoral candidates answered questions centered on their approaches to sustainability and fo...
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Sergeant slams city leaders
Main, News...
Sergeant slams city leaders
Troxell claims council, administrator mishandled police department; sheriff offers to hire, train officers
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
The lone remaining sworn officer in the Ouray Police Department criticized city leaders Tuesday for their management of the latest round of turmoil within the department, claiming City Administrator M...
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Views vary on electric building code, other issues
Main, News...
Views vary on electric building code, other issues
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
Ridgway Town Council candidates split last week over whether they support the potential adoption of an all-electric building code for new development in town, one of several hot topics at a candidate ...
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News
City’s cost for police services climbing
County OKs amendment boosting reimbursement rate
By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
The city of Ouray's tab for having Ouray County provide law enforcement services is growing. Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement that will rai...
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News
County orders property owners to remove gates
Land Use Department says s tructures north of pass built without permits
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
Ouray County is warning owners of properties north of Red Mountain Pass they must immediately remove two unauthorized gates blocking public access roads and remedy other unpermitted structures on thei...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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