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Easter egg hunters hop to it
Main, News...
Easter egg hunters hop to it
April 8, 2026
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Town mayor re-elected in landslide
Main, News...
Town mayor re-elected in landslide
Voters select incumbents Grambley, Scoville, newcomer Greenwood
By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
April 8, 2026
John Clark will continue serving as Ridgway mayor, defeating his only challenger in 14 years since he was first elected, newcomer Tia Mihelarakis. Clark received 321 votes to Mihelarakis’ 51 votes. Cl...
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Main, News...
Does Ouray need a new pool house? Council, public split
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 8, 2026
A series of tweaks to the design of a proposed new pool house at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool has exposed a deep divide among Ouray City Council members and the public over whether the city should proce...
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Ridgway sues MTN Lodge
Main, News...
Ridgway sues MTN Lodge
Town seeks payment of sales, lodging taxes; hotel calls lawsuit 'misguided'
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 1, 2026
The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge over their plans to use the hotel as workforce housing for the next several years, aiming to suspend operations and demanding they pay lodging and ...
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Main, News...
Board rebukes commissioner
Niece, Nauer censure Padgett for secretly recording closed-door meeting
By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
April 1, 2026
Two Ouray County commissioners publicly reprimanded their fellow commissioner after discovering she secretly recorded an executive session last week. Portions of the audio from that executive session ...
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Main, News...
Proposed merger could make fire chief highest paid official
Latest draft bases members' voting power on financial contributions
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 1, 2026
The current proposal to combine fire and emergency medical services entities in Ouray County could eventually make the new fire chief the highest-paid public official in the county and may base partic...
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Town to sue MTN Lodge owners
Main, News...
Town to sue MTN Lodge owners
Council votes unanimously to pursue legal action over enforcing land use code, long-term housing at hotel
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
March 27, 2026
The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge, demanding they continue to pay lodging taxes while using their hotel as workforce housing over the next four years. The lawsuit comes after months...
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Ridgway council candidates discuss issues at forum
Main, News...
Ridgway council candidates discuss issues at forum
Mihelarakis, Clark focus on sustainability, economy
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
Seasoned insights squared off with fresh perspective during an election forum last week as both of Ridgway’s mayoral candidates answered questions centered on their approaches to sustainability and fo...
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Sergeant slams city leaders
Main, News...
Sergeant slams city leaders
Troxell claims council, administrator mishandled police department; sheriff offers to hire, train officers
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
The lone remaining sworn officer in the Ouray Police Department criticized city leaders Tuesday for their management of the latest round of turmoil within the department, claiming City Administrator M...
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Views vary on electric building code, other issues
Main, News...
Views vary on electric building code, other issues
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 25, 2026
Ridgway Town Council candidates split last week over whether they support the potential adoption of an all-electric building code for new development in town, one of several hot topics at a candidate ...
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A christening for Cimarron Athletic Field
Main, News...
A christening for Cimarron Athletic Field
March 18, 2026
The Cimarron Athletic Field at Ridgway Secondary School hosted its inaugural meet with the Ridgway Invite on March 14. Ridgway senior Sophia Forrest won the girls' 100-meter dash with a time of 13.19....
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Race pits experience against new perspective
Main, News...
RIDGWAY MAYOR CANDIDATES
Race pits experience against new perspective
Clark proud of town's progress, aware of challenges
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
March 18, 2026
Even after 14 years serving as Ridgway's mayor, John Clark still thinks there's work to be done. He's served seven terms. Every two years, when his seat comes up for election, folks ask him if he want...
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Mihelarakis advocates for creatives in first bid for office
Main, News...
RIDGWAY MAYOR CANDIDATES
Mihelarakis advocates for creatives in first bid for office
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 18, 2026
Tia Mihelarakis believes the Ridgway Town Council deserves a leader with new perspectives — specifically those of creatives, renters and the younger generation. Mihelarakis, 34, is challenging Mayor J...
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Main, News...
Water leaders sound supply alarm
Record-low snowpack in San Juans, balmy temps portend meager runoff
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 18, 2026
State water managers Tuesday painted a dire picture of record-low snowpack and abnormally warm temperatures this winter straining water supplies for Western Slope municipalities and agricultural produ...
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Pop rock
Main, News...
Pop rock
March 11, 2026
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Main, News...
Ouray housing project scores federal funding
Nearly $1.5M coming to Waterview, but type of homes in second phase unclear
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 11, 2026
The Waterview Homes affordable housing project will receive $1.46 million in federal funding to begin a second phase of development, but it's unclear what that next phase will look like. The Ouray Cit...
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Main, News...
County venue to hire manager
Commissioners agree to pick leader for 4-H Center, fairgrounds, could reopen space in late spring
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 11, 2026
Ouray County commissioners will hire a salaried manager for the 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds, rather than an incentive-based position as previously discussed. During a meeting Tuesday, commissione...
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Blood moon rising
Main, News...
Blood moon rising
March 4, 2026
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Main, News...
City: No to more remote governance
Ouray council rejects member's request to attend more meetings from afar
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 4, 2026
The Ouray City Council on Monday unanimously rejected a councilor’s request for greater leeway to participate in council meetings remotely, agreeing it’s vital for elected officials to face constituen...
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A dilemma 25 years in the making
Main, News...
4-H EVENT CENTER
A dilemma 25 years in the making
Commissioners determined to improve fiscal health of facility plagued by management, use questions since its donation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 4, 2026
The dilemma of how to manage, finance and use the Ouray County 4-H Event Center is coming full circle, reflecting conversations that happened more than 25 years ago when the facility was donated to th...
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Editor Picks
News
Council absorbs more criticism over police
Employee pleads 'give us answers' as city OKs higher reimbursement rate for law enforcement services
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 8, 2026
The Ouray City Council on Monday agreed to pay Ouray County more for providing law enforcement services in the city, but not before absorbing another round of blistering criticism from the public and ...
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News
County, Forest Service to discuss Yankee Boy closure next week
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 8, 2026
Ouray County commissioners will hold a work session next week with the U.S. Forest Service to discuss their plan to close the upper portion of the road into Yankee Boy Basin to reduce environmental an...
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News
Ouray man killed in highway accident
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
April 8, 2026
A 34-year-old Ouray man died in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ridgway Monday night Alixzander Thomsen was driving the Dodge Caravan, headed toward Ouray, when the crash occurred ...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Another dangerous part of U.S. 550 needs help
April 8, 2026
Dear Editor: About two months ago, I reported to the Colorado Department of Transportation my concerns about the three-lane area on U.S. Highway 550 that connects the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk entrance to Ridgway...
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A valley of broken promises and bitter water
Columns, Feature...
A valley of broken promises and bitter water
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
April 8, 2026
For anyone driving the lonely stretch of Colorado Highway 141 through the West End of Montrose County, the sign for “Disappointment Valley” usually prompts a chuckle or a sympathetic sigh. It sounds l...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

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