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Ouray hires interim police chief
Main, News...
Ouray hires interim police chief
Previous city administrator finalist Daric Harvey to lead department
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 12, 2025
Four months ago, Michelle Metteer and Daric Harvey were vying to lead Ouray’s city government. Now they are working together to stabilize and restore public trust in the Ouray Police Department. Mette...
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LICENSED TO CARE
Main, News...
LICENSED TO CARE
In-home child care centers open in Ouray, meeting big county need
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 5, 2025
It’s been nearly a year full of licensing classes, childproofing and dreaming up business plans. Ouray County’s much-awaited inhome child care providers are officially cutting the ribbon on their full...
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Main, News...
City alters police overtime policy
Officers can now earn extra pay more quickly, as administrator seeks interim chief relief
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 5, 2025
The city took its first step Monday night toward helping Ouray police officers who have complained they’re overworked and underpaid, approving a policy change that will allow officers to earn overtime...
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‘There wasn’t even time to have a goodbye party’
Main, News...
‘There wasn’t even time to have a goodbye party’
The same day she received a plaque designating her a full-time Forest Service alpine ranger, Kricket Olin was swept up in the federal layoffs
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 26, 2025
Kricket Olin didn’t check her email on Valentine’s Day morning because she wanted to go to work. She didn't want to believe it could be her last day. She spent the day riding snowmobiles to make sure ...
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Main
Council pledges to help police
Tense meeting marked by criticism, warning more officers may quit
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
February 26, 2025
Ouray city councilors vowed Tuesday night to pursue measures to boost police officer pay and hire more sworn help as quickly as possible, even while asking for continued patience as the city administr...
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OURAY’S LIVING ROOM
Main, News...
OURAY COUNTY'S 'THIRD PLACES'
OURAY’S LIVING ROOM
More than a bouldering gym for the adventurous, Basecamp Ouray proves to be rock that supports, strengthens and builds community
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 19, 2025
Penny Price curled up on a couch at the foot of a climbing wall, plotting out how she’d try and get to the top. The 8-year-old’s parents and other surrounding climbers toyed with a smartphone app that...
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Main
Outfitter settles wildfire claims
Firm pays $500K to Forest Service but denies liability
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
February 19, 2025
A San Miguel County hunting outfitter will pay the U.S. Forest Service $500,000 to resolve allegations it was liable for a 2019 wildfire east of Ridgway. The settlement agreement, announced last week ...
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County manager resigns
Main, News...
County manager resigns
Week after criticism, Hunt defends herself, then gives notice
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
February 12, 2025
Ouray County Manager Connie Hunt resigned from her position after meeting with commissioners for more than three hours Tuesday to discuss her performance evaluation. Commissioners reiterated they were...
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Main, News...
Partners in crime
Contracting police services common across Colorado, notably in rural areas, mountains
By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
February 12, 2025
A fix to the city of Ouray's ongoing challenges with its police department may be just a block down the street — at the Ouray County Sheriff's Office. Other municipalities in Colorado that have had di...
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CREATING SPACES FOR OTHERS
Main, News...
CREATING SPACES FOR OTHERS
Ouray's new parks director seeks public collaboration to make most of city's jewels
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
February 5, 2025
Long after the early winter sun dipped behind Twin Peaks, after he filled the daylight hours contemplating grant applications and reviewing plans spread across a conference table, Joe Brown took the s...
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Main, News...
Manager faces criticism
Hunt 'crushed' after commissioners insist on improvement
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
February 5, 2025
Ouray County commissioners spent more than an hour Wednesday criticizing County Manager Connie Hunt’s job performance in the last year, saying they felt some recurring issues hadn’t been addressed, sh...
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Main, News...
Cop rips city over hiring process
Officer says department needs new chief, other help now, suggests he may resign
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
February 5, 2025
A Ouray police officer criticized city leaders Monday night for restarting the search for a new police chief rather than selecting one of the finalists for the job, and said he might quit. Officer Bra...
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‘I want to build something really cool’
Main, News...
‘I want to build something really cool’
New chief takes helm as county emergency medical services grows, modernizes
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 29, 2025
Nathan McCullough's new desk is stickered all over with pink Post-it notes about supply orders, grants, paying volunteers and reminders about determination, positivity and faith. For the past six mont...
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Main, News...
Search for police chief starts over
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 29, 2025
If the city of Ouray’s search for a new police chief mirrored the career arc of a law enforcement officer, it would be back at the training academy. Seven months after firing Police Chief Jeff Wood an...
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Mobile home park deal inked
Main, News...
Mobile home park deal inked
Swiss Village residents set to close on land in May for $2.5M
By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
January 29, 2025
Residents of Swiss Village Mobile Home Park are under contract to purchase the land their homes sit upon, a crucial step toward ensuring the park between the Uncompahgre River and the steep cliffs on ...
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The man behind the tower
Main, News...
The man behind the tower
Marcus Garcia's 'artwork' serves as focal point of Ice Fest competition
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 22, 2025
It peers out from the Uncompahgre Gorge like a swan with a body of rock and ice, daring climbers to reach its head. Rooted at the foot of the gorge, a slab of rock is sandwiched between two distinct s...
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Main, News...
Ouray to take over via ferrata
Nonprofit to transition out of management, as guides, users hail move
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 22, 2025
The city of Ouray is expected to take charge of the operations of the Ouray Via Ferrata within the next year, overseeing an outdoor attraction that has simultaneously surged in popularity and stirred ...
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SADDLE UP AND RIDE
Main, News...
SADDLE UP AND RIDE
January 15, 2025
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Report: Padgett likely treated workers poorly
Main, News...
Report: Padgett likely treated workers poorly
Commissioner apologizes; county plans to adopt code of conduct
By By Deb Hurley Brobst and Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 15, 2025
Ouray County commissioners will develop a conduct policy for both elected county leaders and staff in the wake of a final report on an investigation of Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger’s compl...
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An adventurer of ‘considerable abilities’
Main, News...
An adventurer of ‘considerable abilities’
Whether he was testing his own athletic limits or mentoring others, avalanche victim Don Moden Jr. was passionate about the outdoors
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 15, 2025
It was a workout day for Don Moden Jr. For the 57-year-old Ridgway athlete and adventurer, that could take many forms — a gravel bike ride along County Road 24, a run on one of the countless ribbons o...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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
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