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Letters, Opinion...
With water shortage, recreation shouldn’t trump irrigators
September 16, 2026
Dear Editor: Regarding the Aspen Journalism article that published in the Sept. 10 edition of the Plaindealer, I would like to respond to statements made by RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Service owner Tim Pat...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Local agencies can do more to protect public lands
September 16, 2026
Dear Editor: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service are proposing two management changes with profound effects on our public lands throughout the West and in our local mountain...
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Letters, Opinion...
Who is the MTN Lodge?
By SUE HUSCH 
September 2, 2026
Dear Editor: I opened the letter received last Wednesday and was a bit confused as to the intent, since the photos leading the letter are of the True Grit and several businesses that no longer exist i...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
OHVs have made trail access more difficult
By Jennifer Cram 
September 2, 2026
Dear Editor: I am writing in response to Jeff Lindberg’s letter in the Aug. 27 edition. My husband and I live in Ouray County primarily because we love to hike. We have lived here for eight years, but...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Tree thinning vital to managing wildfire
September 2, 2026
Dear Editor: This letter pertains to an article by Chart Riggall in the Aug. 27 edition. I thought it was an excellent article on the history of fire in the San Juans, etc. However, there was, in my o...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Wind played major factor in Gold Mountain Fire
September 2, 2026
Dear Editor: It was the wind. I read with great interest the in-depth article by Chart Riggall in the Aug. 27 edition of the Ouray County Plaindealer. He cited the history of our forests and the reaso...
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Letters
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Public trails for all, not personal interests
By Jeff Lindberg 
August 26, 2026
Dear Editor: In response to the letter to the editor from Dianne Eschman in the Aug. 13 edition, as an avid off-roader and business owner in Ouray, I take issue with a few claims made. Off-highway veh...
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Letters
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
County needs a disaster fund, not an endless tax
By George Kerber 
August 26, 2026
Dear Editor: I am writing because the proposed disaster recovery fund sales tax deserves careful consideration before voters approve it. I’m concerned the ballot language creates an unlimited forever ...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
We need to stand firm to preserve alpine tundra
By Dianne Eschman 
August 12, 2026
Dear Editor: The July 23 guest column by Sue Dreamweaver Spielman was excellent and brings up so many issues that we regular backcountry users experience. I have been recreating in this area since 197...
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Letters, Opinion...
County clerk provided excellent service
By Jim Myers 
August 12, 2026
Dear Editor: I would like to acknowledge the excellent service I received from Damon Todd, Ouray County clerk and recorder. I had a question/complaint about the online vehicle license renewal system. ...
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Letters, Opinion...
Rather than sales tax, charge CR 361 road toll
By Jeremy Hellman 
August 12, 2026
Dear Editor: I agree with the recent proposal by Ouray County to fund a rainy-day account for use in seemingly annual “emergencies” such as the rockfall last year on County Road 361, the cleanup from ...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Thank you, community
July 29, 2026
Dear Editor: We were getting ready for bed the evening of June 27 when our power went out. Shortly after we received the evacuation alert on our phone. At this point we were unaware of the fire. We lo...
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Letters, Opinion...
Thank you, helpers
By Dave Conrad 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: A word of gratitude: These last days since the Gold Mountain Fire started on June 27 have been hard for us, individually and as a community. During times of strife and difficulty a wise m...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thank you, firefighters
By Kathy Hall 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: Thank you is a simple phrase most of us use every day. However, now "thank you" just doesn’t seem adequate for our firefighters and first responders. Thank you for saving our town, our ho...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dead trees need removal
By Thomas Lang 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: On the evening of June 27 my wife, Lori, and I evacuated our home in unincorporated Ouray County and drove to Montrose due to the Gold Mountain Fire. All afternoon we watched from my fron...
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Letters, Opinion...
City has known issues with gym for years
By Kitty Calhoun 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: I would like to clarify some points made in the Plaindealer's article, “Following outcry, Ouray seeks gym solutions," from the July 9 edition. First, it was “acknowledged that the city di...
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Letters, Opinion...
Prairie dog problem bigger than fairgrounds
June 24, 2026
Dear Editor: While I appreciate the prairie dog problem at the Ouray County Fairgrounds getting attention, it’s a short-sighted view. There are plenty more prairie dogs that will migrate and repopulat...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Ouray should rethink Fourth of July fireworks
By Tamra Evangelista 
June 24, 2026
Dear Editor: I recently wrote to the Ouray City Council asking them to consider an alternative to our traditional Fourth of July fireworks display this year given the significant wildfire risk we are ...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Plaindealer maintains its important mission
By Dear Editor: 
June 17, 2026
Dear Editor, Before moving to Ouray five and a half years ago, my only experience with a small town newspaper was the one in my husband's home town, population 2,500. If I wanted to know who lunched w...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Help highway look good
By Dear Editor: 
June 17, 2026
Dear Editor, Recently a section of U.S. Highway 550 in Ouray County became available for adoption through the Colorado Department of Transportation's Adopt a Highway program. The program relies on vol...
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Editor Picks
County: Layoffs likely
Main, News...
County: Layoffs likely
Commissioners, administrators warn of job cuts to close $1.5 million gap; staff criticizes leaders for not addressing problem earlier
By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com 
September 16, 2026
Ouray County will likely need to lay off employees to make up a projected $1.5 million gap between requested expenses and revenue next year, county officials warned at a budget workshop on Sept. 9. Th...
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Main, News...
Disaster tax not ‘backfill’ for fire costs, leaders say
By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com 
September 16, 2026
In the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s declaration of the Gold Mountain Fire as a major federal disaster, Ouray County commissioners say the potential influx of additional federal funds doesn't ...
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News
Town considers options for sewer plant location
By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com 
September 16, 2026
The Ridgway Town Council wants to see some dollar estimates before deciding where to build a new wastewater treatment plant. Town staff briefed the council on three possible locations north of town at...
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News
City prepared to pay fees for housing project
Despite some councilors' misgivings, Ouray in line to give more money to deed-restricted apartment complex
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
September 16, 2026
The city of Ouray is set to provide up to $225,000 to a nonprofit organization to cover water and sewer tap and building permit fees for a 13-unit affordable housing project. At City Administrator Mic...
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News
Local Briefs
Gold Mountain Fire closure area reduced
September 16, 2026
The closure area associated with the Gold Mountain Fire was reduced on Tuesday, reopening several roads and recreation areas in time for fall color season. The reopened areas include Owl Creek Pass, S...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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