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A rare chance to celebrate twin anniversaries
Columns, Opinion...
A rare chance to celebrate twin anniversaries
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
May 8, 2024
Think back to the summer of 1976. Assuming you were alive, where were you? Did you see a fireworks show, go to a concert, visit Washington D.C., watch a parade, or wear red, white, and blue? Fifty yea...
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Biological spring arriving earlier here and elsewhere
Columns, Feature...
Biological spring arriving earlier here and elsewhere
By Karen Risch 
April 24, 2024
The bees are back, hugging the grape hyacinths and dandelions, buzzing me as I work. I am living a gardener’s dream. It’s not quite 60 degrees, my carefully nurtured earth in this mountain place is fi...
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Atop Imogene Pass, a remnant of old labor wars
Columns, Opinion...
Atop Imogene Pass, a remnant of old labor wars
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
April 10, 2024
News of gold and silver discoveries brought fortune-seekers to the northern San Juan Mountains in the late 1800s. After the Silver Crash of 1893, gold took over as the primary mineral produced high ab...
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From the publishers: Councilor’s threat won’t work
Columns, Opinion...
From the publishers: Councilor’s threat won’t work
By Erin McIntyre 
March 20, 2024
The ominous note came in an envelope with an advertising bill. Instead of payment, the sender included the message on personalized stationery, the kind of notepad one would use for a grocery list or a...
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Columns, Opinion...
Guest column: Darkness reigns during Sunshine Week
By Jeff Roberts and Steve Zansberg Special to the Plaindealer 
March 20, 2024
Irony is the juxtaposition of one conceptual proposition with a directly contrary reality, like a “vegetarian butcher” or something that’s “seriously funny.” Or the swift enactment — during Sunshine W...
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John Gunnison helped guide West Slope settlement
Columns, Feature...
John Gunnison helped guide West Slope settlement
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
March 13, 2024
Animal hides, skins and pelts were in demand worldwide as the 19th century began. Trappers roamed the Rocky Mountains hunting and trapping for decades, but each year brought increasing challenges. By ...
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After extra winter day, what will spring bring?
Columns, Opinion...
After extra winter day, what will spring bring?
By Karen Risch 
February 28, 2024
Leap year 2024: An extra day — Feb. 29 — for most of us, a once-in-four years’ birthday for a select few. We can thank the ancient Egyptians for this essential astronomical invention, according to a f...
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The short, adventurous life of Mineral Point
Columns, Opinion...
The short, adventurous life of Mineral Point
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
February 7, 2024
1873 was a big year for miners in the San Juan Mountains. Two prospectors, Charles McIntyre and Abe Burrows, decided to try their luck at higher elevations and staked several claims. In addition to go...
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Columns, Opinion...
On grudges, ‘close to the bone’ journalism and being human
By Erin McIntyre 
February 7, 2024
Last week, Mike and I took a moment for lunch at a local restaurant, sitting in a daze while we began planning the next edition. Thursday is a day of recovery, a day I feel hungover from the exhaustio...
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Despite January powder, Ouray still in snow deficit
Columns, Opinion...
Despite January powder, Ouray still in snow deficit
By Karen Risch 
January 24, 2024
It’s the last week of January and it’s been a strange weather roller coaster of a month. But then, last year was strange, too. Four warm days averaging nearly 40 degrees and little snow on the ground ...
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The local news minefield: tough decisions, lessons learned
Columns, Opinion...
The local news minefield: tough decisions, lessons learned
January 24, 2024
EDITORIAL: FROM THE PUBLISHERS Publishing a small newspaper feels like tiptoeing through a minefield each week. We debate the smallest details to identify potential hazards before taking a step. In th...
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A new chapter in old story of uranium in Uravan
Columns, Opinion...
A new chapter in old story of uranium in Uravan
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
January 10, 2024
Do you own a piece of uranium glass? This green-tinted “Vaseline” glass from the 1930s can be found in flea markets, antique shops, and online. Yes, it is radioactive, and it might be connected to min...
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White Christmas the gift we desperately need
Columns, Opinion...
White Christmas the gift we desperately need
By Karen Risch 
December 20, 2023
Today is the low point of the sun’s trajectory across the Northern Hemisphere. Sunlight increases tomorrow through June 21, 2024. Twenty-first century Americans celebrate at Christmas, as the ancient ...
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Frank Carney’s legacy remains visible in Ouray
Columns, Feature...
Frank Carney’s legacy remains visible in Ouray
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
December 13, 2023
Francis (Frank) Carney was born in County Fermanagh, Ireland, in 1846. After emigrating to the United States in 1859, he completed schooling in Corning and Watkins, New York. The family moved to New Y...
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A warm, dry November gives way to winter
Columns
A warm, dry November gives way to winter
By Karen Risch 
November 29, 2023
Meteorological winter begins tomorrow. Never mind that it’s felt like winter the last couple of weeks. Nighttime temperatures recently descended into single digits. Snow lingers on the ground, coverin...
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2023 started cold and wet. It’s ending frighteningly dry
Columns, Opinion...
2023 started cold and wet. It’s ending frighteningly dry
October 25, 2023
The year 2023 may be remembered for weather and climate whiplash. In Ouray, the first six months were cold, gray and abnormally wet. As the 10th month closes, the city is on track to end the year in d...
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Nucla’s fascinating history goes beyond nuclear energy
Columns, Feature...
Nucla’s fascinating history goes beyond nuclear energy
October 18, 2023
What is in a name? If you have assumed that the West End town of Nucla was named for its role in nuclear energy, think again. The community’s name was from the founders’ dream of a cooperative communi...
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Monsoon was MIA this year. What’s in store next?
Columns, Opinion...
Monsoon was MIA this year. What’s in store next?
By Karen Risch 
September 27, 2023
This year's minimal monsoon made a couple of short appearances this month, but overall just 0.97 inches of rain fell, 48% of the new normal, 2.04 inches. These recent storms sparked dry lightning and ...
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Birds of Ouray County: The remarkable vision of birds
Columns, Feature...
Birds of Ouray County: The remarkable vision of birds
By Sue Hirshman 
September 20, 2023
On average, birds can see Two or three times more Sharply than humans – David Allen Sibley I always wondered why birds always seem to notice me before I see them. I would be birding and just when I sp...
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Dry, hot summer gives way to fall’s bounty
Columns, Opinion...
Dry, hot summer gives way to fall’s bounty
By Karen Risch 
August 30, 2023
As you read this, the first day of meteorological autumn arrives Friday, Sept. 1. Not that the weather will change drastically, but these last few cool mornings and evenings have certainly felt differ...
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Editor Picks
Hurd introduces House bill to transfer Crystal Reservoir to Ouray
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
Main, News...
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
Main, News...
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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Main, News...
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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Main, News...
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...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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