Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
After abnormally hot, dry summer, what will fall bring?
Columns, Opinion...
After abnormally hot, dry summer, what will fall bring?
By Karen Risch 
September 24, 2025
Halfway through Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at 12:22 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time, astronomical summer officially yielded to autumn. Seasonal change has been a nagging presence. It’s nearly dark by 7 p.m O...
this is a test
New Ouray athletics director seeks to build attendance, program support
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
New Ouray athletics director seeks to build attendance, program support
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
September 24, 2025
Like many with remote positions, Leah Klempner and her husband explored the country through their travels. They made their way to Ouray in 2020 and immediately fell in love, returning each summer afte...
this is a test
More than competition, Cimarron Athletic Field is about connections, community
Columns, Opinion...
GUEST COLUMN
More than competition, Cimarron Athletic Field is about connections, community
By Peter Hessler 
September 17, 2025
When it came to planning and building Ridgway’s brand-new Cimarron Athletic Field, my wife, Leslie T. Chang, and I had very little to contribute. We aren’t engineers or contractors, and neither of us ...
this is a test
Dam it: the story of Ridgway State Park
Columns, Opinion...
Dam it: the story of Ridgway State Park
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
September 10, 2025
Our neighborhood reservoir, Ridgway State Park, has become a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The park is a modern chapter in the long and rich history of the Uncompahgre Valley. It is a s...
this is a test
With another year’s experience, Ridgway runners off to strong start
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
With another year’s experience, Ridgway runners off to strong start
By Matt Meyer 
September 10, 2025
A lot of things can change during a high school cross country season. The course layouts and elevation can vary widely across the unique terrains of Colorado. Competition evolves week to week, with sc...
this is a test
Late monsoon welcome, but it won’t fix deficit
Columns, Opinion...
Late monsoon welcome, but it won’t fix deficit
By Karen Risch 
August 27, 2025
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 County residents and summer visitors. Interestingl...
this is a test
The West’s unsung heroes? Post offices
Columns, Feature...
The West’s unsung heroes? Post offices
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
August 6, 2025
The American West, including the Western Slope of Colorado, experienced significant population growth in the latter decades of the 19th century. “Boosterism” was one of the government strategies used ...
this is a test
A disappointingly dry start to monsoon season
Columns, Opinion...
A disappointingly dry start to monsoon season
By Karen Risch 
July 30, 2025
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 brings over 30% (7.31 inches) of our average ann...
this is a test
No fake AI here — just humans doing their best
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
No fake AI here — just humans doing their best
By Erin McIntyre 
July 23, 2025
I read with interest a summer reading list published earlier this year in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and made a note to check out Andy Weir's new book since I loved "The Martian." Here's the descripti...
this is a test
Columns, Opinion...
An unforeseeable delay with your Plaindealer
By Erin McIntyre 
July 16, 2025
Dear Readers, If you’re reading this message in the e-edition of the newspaper, great. That means you probably got your paper when you wanted to read it. If you’re reading this message in the printed ...
this is a test
A patriotic way to celebrate the Fourth
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
A patriotic way to celebrate the Fourth
By Erin McIntyre 
July 9, 2025
"Are you the newspaper? Are we gonna be in the paper?" These are questions I hear when people see me taking photos at parades. I usually shrug my shoulders and smile, because the truth is I don't know...
this is a test
The rise, fall and rise of Ouray County
Columns, Feature...
The rise, fall and rise of Ouray County
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
July 9, 2025
Why did thousands of people, most of whom had never even heard of Ouray, Ridgway or Colona, come to this remote part of Colorado? The history of Ouray County follows the familiar story of the American...
this is a test
County’s historic churches home to ample stories
Columns, Feature...
County’s historic churches home to ample stories
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
July 2, 2025
When does a mining camp truly become a town? It happens legally with official documents of incorporation. It occurs economically when businesses arrive to support the mining interests. Its culture beg...
this is a test
Please join us Saturday for film, journalism talk
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Please join us Saturday for film, journalism talk
By Erin McIntyre 
June 25, 2025
When filmmaker Heather Courtney set out to make a film about rural America, she decided to do it through the lens of a local newspaper. She visited a small-town weekly in the Texas panhandle, the Cana...
this is a test
Will Ouray County benefit from Weather Service rehires?
Columns, Opinion...
Will Ouray County benefit from Weather Service rehires?
By Karen Risch 
June 25, 2025
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 below the new normal June average, 76. Nights av...
this is a test
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Coming soon: A spruced-up Plaindealer
By Erin McIntyre 
June 11, 2025
The Plaindealer just celebrated its 148th birthday. Personally, I don't think it looks a day over 99. Still, from time to time, we need to show the paper some love and spruce it up. That's why we've b...
this is a test
Weary of mail problems? Try the e-edition
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Weary of mail problems? Try the e-edition
By Mike Wiggins 
June 4, 2025
The newspaper you’re reading is mailed to nearly 900 post office boxes and street addresses in more than 40 states every week and sent to more than 1,300 email addresses. Once in a while, a mailed new...
this is a test
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
Soccer aims to build on successful season
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
May 28, 2025
A longtime goal for the Ridgway High School girls’ soccer program was to make it to the second round of the state playoffs, travel to the Front Range to take on one of the top seeds and put up a compe...
this is a test
Drought reigns as county barrels toward summer
Columns, Opinion...
Drought reigns as county barrels toward summer
By Karen Risch 
May 28, 2025
Ouray County, along with much of far western Colorado and other Southwestern states, is now in severe drought status, according to NOAA’s U.S. West Drought Monitor, released Tuesday, May 20. More worr...
this is a test
Small but mighty: Ridgway girls’ track and field secures first league title as independent program
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
Small but mighty: Ridgway girls’ track and field secures first league title as independent program
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
May 7, 2025
In high school track and field, athletes are limited to competing in four events. It’s a way to ensure competitive balance, limit wear and tear on athletes and — in the case of the Ridgway girls' team...
this is a test
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
News
Sheriff’s office takes on policing for city, meeting scheduled tonight
Another officer resigns from police department, leaving sergeant and administrative assistant
By Mike Wiggins 
February 2, 2026
The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office has assumed full responsibility for law enforcement services in the city of Ouray after City Administrator Michelle Metteer reassigned the police department’s two rem...
this is a test
Onward and upward
Main, News...
Onward and upward
January 28, 2026
this is a test
Main, News...
Town prepares for legal battle
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 28, 2026
Editor's note: This article has been corrected to reflect that Ridgway Lodge LLC is the owner of MTN Lodge. Ridgway retains attorney after MTN Lodge owners say they won't pay taxes on long-term worker...
this is a test
Main, News...
County eyes budget cuts
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 28, 2026
Manager: Looking for ways to avoid cutting employees Ouray County leaders have loosely settled on wanting to cut $500,000 from the county’s 2026 budget, anticipating they will have more unexpected exp...
this is a test
Coroner seeks help with unclaimed body
News
Coroner seeks help with unclaimed body
January 28, 2026
Ouray County's coroner is seeking help finding friends of a man who was estranged from his family and died at a Ouray hotel. Quality Inn staff found William Curio Jr., who went by Billy, in his hotel ...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy