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Origins of ‘Danny Boy’ found in the U.K. — and Ouray
Columns, Opinion...
Origins of ‘Danny Boy’ found in the U.K. — and Ouray
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
September 11, 2024
“Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen, and down the mountain side The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling, It’s you, it’s you must go, and I must bide.” The history o...
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August monsoon continues year of extremes
Columns, Opinion...
August monsoon continues year of extremes
By Karen Risch 
August 28, 2024
Last Sunday, Ouray’s wet August weather definitively broke the old precipitation record for the month, 5.28 inches, set during the serious flood year of 1982, when both Portland and Cascade Creeks cau...
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Ouray deserves accountability, transparency
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ouray deserves accountability, transparency
By Erin McIntyre 
July 31, 2024
Some folks might be tempted to think the biggest problem with the Ouray Police Department has been solved, because the city fired the chief. They think the trash has been taken out, so to speak. But s...
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Early monsoon a welcome prelude to dry July
Columns
Early monsoon a welcome prelude to dry July
By Karen Risch 
July 24, 2024
During this summer, like last year’s, it’s not just Earth’s cities and countrysides that are swelteringly hot. The oceans, which cover 70% of the planet, are too. Science writer and essayist David Wal...
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Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHERS
A welcome boost for local news
July 10, 2024
Being in the Plaindealer staff box that appears at the bottom of this page most every week has felt a little lonely this year. For more than five months, the only names you’ve seen there are ours and ...
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Falls a natural marvel and tribute to pathfinder
Columns, Opinion...
Falls a natural marvel and tribute to pathfinder
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
July 10, 2024
The mineral rush was on! Prospectors found gold, silver and other mineral deposits in the northern San Juan Mountains in the years following the Civil War. The historic Red Mountain Mining District ex...
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County may be small, but climate varies widely here
Columns, Opinion...
County may be small, but climate varies widely here
By Karen Risch 
June 26, 2024
It’s easy to forget how small Ouray County is, both in population (4,874 2020 census) and land area (542 square miles). It’s only 37 road miles but 4,717 feet of elevation difference from Colona (6,36...
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Adventurers, problem-solvers long drawn to this area
Columns, Opinion...
Adventurers, problem-solvers long drawn to this area
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
June 12, 2024
Ouray County’s diverse landscape includes high alpine mountains, the headwaters of the Uncompahgre River, wind-swept valleys, and the Uncompahgre Plateau. From its earliest days, Ouray County has attr...
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May unusually cool, but summer looks warm, dry
Columns, Opinion...
May unusually cool, but summer looks warm, dry
May 29, 2024
Summer 2024 could make perennial climate change deniers finally take global warming/weirding seriously. In many farflung places — as well as close to home on this beautiful but very stressed planet — ...
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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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Editor Picks
Dispute over extended background check leads to Ouray police chief’s last day
Main, News...
Dispute over extended background check leads to Ouray police chief’s last day
City administrator declines to make interim chief permanent
By Mike Wiggins 
December 17, 2025
Ouray Interim Police Chief Daric Harvey is leaving his job over his objections to City Administrator Michelle Metteer’s insistence that he undergo a second, more extensive background check to determin...
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Commissioners fight over board leadership position
Main, News...
Commissioners fight over board leadership position
Niece to serve as chairperson after he, Nauer reject requests from Padgett's backers to appoint her
By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
For the second year in a row, Ouray County commissioners fought over who should serve as board chairperson, rejecting requests from supporters of Commissioner Lynn Padgett to appoint her to the positi...
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News
Space to Create owner, management address complaints, pledge fixes
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
Space to Create’s owner and property management company are pledging to remedy issues with Ouray County’s first affordable housing project and re-establish strong communication with residents after re...
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News
Council qualifies homebuyer for deed-restricted unit
December 17, 2025
The Ridgway Town Council approved qualifying a homebuyer for a deed-restricted unit in the Vista Park Commons neighborhood after discussing whether the unit was advertised fairly. The council, acting ...
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News
Following concerns, town delays adopting anti-idling ordinance
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
Ridgway town councilors decided to delay final approval of a new anti-idling ordinance after hearing public concerns and discussing other issues related to the new rules during a Dec. 10 regular meeti...
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First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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