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City pays $120K to settle lawsuit
Main, News...
City pays $120K to settle lawsuit
Fired police chief Wood agrees to drop claim; Ouray denies wrongdoing
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 20, 2025
The city of Ouray and its insurer paid former Police Chief Jeff Wood $120,000 to settle the wrongful termination and defamation lawsuit he filed against the city last year. City officials agreed to th...
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Man takes plea deal in sex assault
Main, News...
Man takes plea deal in sex assault
Scranton pleads guilty to reduced charges, will receive prison
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
March 19, 2025
A Ridgway man has pleaded guilty to reduced charges in a sex assault case in exchange for a sentence of one to six years in prison. Brian Scranton, 49, waived his right to a jury trial and will be con...
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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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Editor Picks
City takes plunge on hot springs repairs
Main, News...
City takes plunge on hot springs repairs
Council approves $286,568 contract to resurface, replace tiles in overlook pools in September
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
The city of Ouray will spend more than $280,000 to resurface the hottest soaking areas at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool this fall, a repair pool managers say is vital to maintaining one of the city’s mos...
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County backs down on road closure
Main
County backs down on road closure
Rather than block access to upper Yankee Boy Basin, commissioners focus on managing, restoring
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
Ouray County has decided against closing the upper section of Yankee Boy Basin road to motorized traffic, and will work with the U.S. Forest Service and volunteer groups to keep drivers on the main ro...
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News
County leaders campaign for merger
Commissioner claims benefits to combined fire, EMS; Log Hill Fire District concerned about structure, cost
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
Ouray County leaders last week campaigned for a combined countywide fire and emergency services authority at a Log Hill Mesa Fire Protection District meeting, while the district’s board of directors a...
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News
City keeps status quo on Via Ferrata operations — for now
Climbing course to open soon under new municipal management, as users seek changes to guide fees, weight restrictions
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
The Ouray Via Ferrata is scheduled to open May 1 under a new municipal management structure, even as city leaders and commercial guides debate whether to tweak key details like guide fees and weight r...
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News
Federal officer charged with assault over confrontation at Durango ICE protest
By By Chase Woodruff Colorado Newsline 
April 22, 2026
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer is facing charges of assault and criminal mischief in Colorado state court after an investigation into an October 2025 incident in Durango in which he seiz...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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