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A PLUCKY VENTURE
Main, News...
A PLUCKY VENTURE
As bird flu drives up egg prices, the Lancasters find growing their flock is, in fact, all it's cracked up to be
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 12, 2025
Roosted on the stoop of their honor-code farm stand, Julie and Timothy Lancaster described how they accidentally became one of Ouray County’s largest commercially licensed egg farms. It all began with...
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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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Editor Picks
Unaffiliated county candidates announce election campaigns
Main, News...
Unaffiliated county candidates announce election campaigns
First-timers Todd, Oakland seek clerk, treasurer posts
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to specify that Glenn Boyd volunteers for the county EMS department. A group of unaffiliated political candidates joined together this week to announce the...
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Main, News...
Mild temps leave Ice Park high, dry
Without key ingredient — ice — and no estimated opening date, officials forced to reimagine festivals
By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
The half-bare walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge tell a story Peter O’Neil wanted no part of — one of 50-degree December days and out-of-work rangers and ice farmers scrambling to find other sources of in...
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Schiffer, Doherty picked for council
Main, News...
Schiffer, Doherty picked for council
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
Ouray Planning Commissioner Kevin Schiffer and former city building inspector Dave Doherty were selected Monday to fill the two vacancies on the Ouray City Council, restoring a full slate of elected o...
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News
Sheriff steps in again to help police
Residents back former interim chief as meeting scheduled to discuss future of policing in Ouray
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
The city of Ouray is once again leaning on the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office to fill gaps in police officer patrol shifts, after City Administrator Michelle Metteer decided not to hire Interim Police ...
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News
Skijoring marks anniversary with expanded competition
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
The organizers of the San Juan Skijoring event learned a long time ago they couldn't count on Mother Nature to provide the materials for their competition. Last year, they invested $54,000 in their ow...
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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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