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
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...
this is a test
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...
this is a test
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...
this is a test
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...
this is a test
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...
this is a test
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 ...
this is a test
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...
this is a test
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...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Medics, rescuers provided best of care
June 3, 2026
Dear Editor: A huge thank you to our incredible Ouray County Emergency Medical Services and our volunteer Ouray Mountain Rescue Team for taking such good care of me when I took a bad fall last Thursda...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Advocacy is about preserving historic character, public health
June 3, 2026
Dear Editor: I was pleased to see an article in the Plaindealer about people exercising their right as American citizens to address their representatives via letters to City Council. It is obvious tha...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters show small-town politics at its worst
May 27, 2026
Dear Editor: I found last week’s article about the letter-writing campaign that influenced Ouray city councilors to block Tamara Gulde from returning to the council after she lost her race for mayor t...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
To change behavior, change infrastructure
May 27, 2026
Dear Editor: Two current local controversies are similar and could benefit from consideration of basic behavioral science principles. Both issues involve protection of people and public places from in...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
Smear campaign against Gulde disappointing
May 27, 2026
Dear Editor: I am writing as a citizen of Ouray, a citizen who is very disappointed that we have among us a faction of folks who “organized” (or should I say “Orgrenized”) against Tamara Gulde and sen...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Contrary to ‘influencers,’ Gulde helps all of Ouray
May 27, 2026
Dear Editor: Approximately 15 people, some who are not Ouray residents, vilified former City Councilor Tamara Gulde. This minority thinks she is more interested in business and tourism than she is int...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
Gulde proven to be upstanding citizen
May 27, 2026
Dear Editor: We are writing in support of Tamara Gulde, against whom 14 Ouray and Ouray-area citizens organized a group to keep her from being appointed to a City Council position. Unfortunately, that...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Savage would bring expertise, connection to SMPA board
By Dear Editor: 
May 13, 2026
As San Miguel Power Association District 6 members prepare to vote, for the first time in quite some time we have a choice between two excellent candidates. I encourage members to take a close look at...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
MTN Lodge’s refusal to pay tax appalling
By Sheridan Ribbing 
April 29, 2026
Dear Editor: I’m appalled at the MTN Lodge's blatant refusal to pay the lodging tax to the town of Ridgway. MTN Lodge has entered into a multiyear agreement with Merrimac Ventures to lease out all of ...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Road through Calhoon land is indeed public
By Jennifer Cram 
April 29, 2026
Dear Editor: I am writing to respond to the paid advertisement by Aaron Calhoon in last week's Plaindealer. There is no doubt that the Calhoons are well-liked, respected and valued long-time members o...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
More needs to be done to protect Yankee Boy
By Alex Menard 
April 29, 2026
Dear Editor: The Ouray County Commissioners' work session on April 15 discussed plans to repair damage to the road in Yankee Boy Basin. The discussion was centered on repair of road areas damaged by a...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Szwarc’s credentials suit him for SMPA board
By Al Lowande 
April 29, 2026
Dear Editor: Our electric cooperative, San Miguel Power Association, will be conducting an election in June for the board of director position representing Ridgway area and Log Hill Mesa. As we know, ...
this is a test
  • 1
  • 2
  • …
  • 19
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
‘Big box’ tightens on Gold Mountain Fire
Main, News...
‘Big box’ tightens on Gold Mountain Fire
Aided by cooler temps, rain, firefighters increase containment to 24%
By Chart Riggall 
July 22, 2026
Surveying a sprawling map of the northern San Juans last week, Mike Smith was deep in a geometry of fire. Fingers tracing fire lines and ridges, Smith – the current incident commander over Gold Mounta...
this is a test
County eyes recovery funds
Main
County eyes recovery funds
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 22, 2026
Federal program could offer nearly $3 million — if cash-poor leaders can find matching dollars Ouray County could receive nearly $3 million in federal funding to protect homes, roads and other infrast...
this is a test
Spring targeted for tree-thinning effort
News
Spring targeted for tree-thinning effort
Without additional funding, original scope for Ouray-area project may reduced
By Chart Riggall 
July 22, 2026
A joint wildfire mitigation effort to remove dead or diseased trees from the city of Ouray’s perimeter is expected to move forward next spring, though with a potentially more limited scope. Officials ...
this is a test
News
City reorganizes planning department
Administrator ditches director post, divides duties among consultant, staff
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 22, 2026
Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer is overhauling the city’s community development department, dividing responsibilities among a third-party consultant and two city employees rather than consol...
this is a test
News
Ridgway to market itself as destination, not crossroads
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
July 22, 2026
A consultant has recommended that Ridgway reimagine its marketing campaign to bring outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs and regional explorers to town. The idea is to shift tourists’ perception away fr...
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