Dear Editor: Not only is a burn pit a good idea, it is a necessity, but not in the way described. Times and codes are changing. The new fire and construction codes will require more area to be cleared...

Dear Editor: Today is a rare day. Snow capped mountains with a cloudless sky are not rare, but when the air is also clear, that is rare, because too often smoke fills the Ouray and Ridgway valleys. Th...

Dear Editor: In none of the large, taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects in the city over the past years — the school, the courthouse complex, the pool, the water plant and the sewer treatment plant...

Dear Editor: I saved last year’s July 10-16 edition of the Plaindealer because its coverage of the city of Ouray’s Independence Day parade reminded me that it marked the beginning of what would be a y...

Dear Editor: We all know how lucky we are to live in Ouray, but most of us do not know how fortunate we are to have Michelle Metteer as our city administrator. She is a soft-spoken person so I would l...

Dear Editor: On behalf of the Ouray County Coroner’s Office, I want to express our sincere gratitude to this community for stepping up when it mattered most. Over the past few weeks, our office manage...

Dear Editor: There are many instances where we are told that our children’s behavior is not a reflection of their parenting. As a parent of a sometimes rebellious child, I welcome that sentiment. But ...

Dear Editor: Several months ago, I attempted to contact Rep. Jeff Hurd regarding an issue in Ouray County. Upon calling his office, I was connected to a voicemail that stated the best way to contact h...

Dear Editor: Thank you for alerting the public to the absurd bluff of Mark Kirk. He is threatening to sue the Ouray County commissioners if they don’t adopt a regulation to accommodate the exterminati...

Dear Editor: My wife and I are very proud of all the many improvements that have been made to our little town of Ridgway since we moved here about 10 years ago. We have one suggestion that we feel wou...

Dear Editor: I want to commend the Ridgway Town Council for its decision not to move forward with the proposed vehicle idling ordinance and for taking a thoughtful, practical approach to the issue. I ...

Dear Editor: With the departure of Interim Police Chief Daric Harvey, Ouray once again faces instability in its police department. Rather than automatically rebuilding the same structure, this feels l...

Dear Editor: As we welcome the winter solstice, and the slow return of the light, I want to share some thoughts for the season, and the year to come. I believe the core values of the season, whatever ...

We don’t put women in timeout; we put children in timeout. When you put a woman in timeout, you are putting her voice in timeout; telling her to go be quiet and that she should be seen and not heard. ...

Had I not participated in scores of Ouray County Board of County Commissioners' and Planning Commission meetings, that Commissioner Lynn Padgett was elected or appointed to, I may have felt differentl...

Concerning the proposed San Miguel Power Association rate increase: Has the recent peak/off-peak rate structure worked to reduce the demand charge from Tri-State Generation and Transmission Associatio...

Dear Editor: I’m surprised that no one has considered the fairly obvious solution to the wolf release issue and the Top of the Pines prairie dog problem. Release the wolves at Top of the Pines. Charle...

Dear Editor: I would like to offer a different perspective in support of the decision by the Ouray County Board of County Commissioners to proceed with management of the prairie dog colony at Top of t...

Dear Editor: Is it just me, or is the Plaindealer crossword puzzle often taking pleasure by inflicting pain on others (sadistic)? For example, here are some actual clues (and answers) from the Oct. 9 ...

Dear Editor: Attorney General Phil Weiser is running for governor of Colorado. As attorney general he has a proven record that has been advantageous to the citizens of Colorado. Recently President Don...