Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
‘I did it for the animals’
Main, News...
‘I did it for the animals’
Continuing a tradition she started more than 20 years ago, Ridgway's Dana Ivers partners with land trust to shield 170 acres from development
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
Dodging prairie dog holes, Dana Ivers walked through her roughly 170-acre property on the southern side of Ridgway, admiring the sound and clear color of snowmelt rushing through ditches and into her ...
this is a test
Judge delays sex assault trial again
Main, News...
Judge delays sex assault trial again
Over objections to another holdup, defense says DNA expert not available in January
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
The trial for one of three men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 has been postponed for a second time. Seventh Judicial Chief District Judge Cory Jackson agreed...
this is a test
News
Ouray to pursue 24-hour police coverage
Interim chief suggests change after council OKs response time policy that could impact his job status
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
Ouray’s interim police chief will explore implementing around-the-clock police coverage, a significant change aimed at nullifying a new policy the city council adopted last week that could otherwise m...
this is a test
News
County hires deputy attorney, makes other transition plans
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 12, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have hired a new deputy county attorney and made transition plans for three other vacant county leadership roles. For varying reasons, four top-level county roles were vacat...
this is a test
News
County court judge suspended after reports of misconduct
Judge suspended by state Supreme Court
By Erin McIntyre 
November 12, 2025
A Seventh Judicial District county court judge has been suspended from his job by the Colorado Supreme Court after the state judicial commission investigated reports of judicial misconduct. San Miguel...
this is a test
News
County adopts cost-saving policy
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
November 12, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have adopted a new austerity policy meant to help save costs during a tight budget year. Commissioners started talking about reviving a similar 2010 recession-era policy las...
this is a test
Underwood elected mayor
Main, News...
ELECTION 2025
Underwood elected mayor
Hart joins council, which needs to fill two spots
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray City Councilor Michael Underwood won election to the mayor’s seat Tuesday night, succeeding on a campaign that emphasized fiscal conservatism and a vow to fix what he perceives as a disconnect b...
this is a test
News
Property tax hikes pass for cemetery, fire districts
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Voters Tuesday night approved tax increases for the Cedar Hill Cemetery District and the Ouray Fire Protection District. A measure to increase the cemetery district’s mill levy from 0.33 mills to 1 mi...
this is a test
News
ELECTION 2025
Voters approve new county lodging tax
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Voters in unincorporated Ouray County approved a new 6% lodging tax that is expected to provide more than $182,000 in additional funding during a tight 2026 budget year and into the future. The measur...
this is a test
News
ELECTION 2025
Fagrelius, Meruelo win school board seats
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray voters have chosen two former educators to join the Ouray School Board, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election. Three candidates competed for two open seats on the school board,...
this is a test
News
Hurd introduces reservoir legislation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd has introduced legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray, identical to a Senate bill introduced in September, after w...
this is a test
News
Ouray utility bills to rise by 6%
Acting on public input, council ditches plan for new signs at Rotary Park, Hot Springs Pool entrance
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray residents and business owners will see their utility bills rise by 6% next year, as the city seeks additional revenue to meet the requirements of the loans on its new wastewater and water treatm...
this is a test
News
SMPA proposes rate increase
Public can comment on plan to hike base rate, peak demand price
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
San Miguel Power Association is proposing a rate hike for customers in 2026, including a $5 increase to the monthly base rate and a 3-cent per kilowatt hour increase on electricity used during peak de...
this is a test
County, Ridgway join talks about resort impacts
News
County, Ridgway join talks about resort impacts
Town council to discuss proposal to house Mountain Village workers at MTN Lodge on Nov. 12
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray County leaders have joined conversations about the impacts of a new Four Seasons development in Mountain Village on neighboring communities, which will house the resort’s construction and operat...
this is a test
Hurd introduces House bill to transfer Crystal Reservoir to Ouray
News
Hurd introduces House bill to transfer Crystal Reservoir to Ouray
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
November 4, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd has introduced legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray, identical to a Senate bill introduced in September, after w...
this is a test
Ridgway girls cross country team nabs state title
Main, News...
Ridgway girls cross country team nabs state title
By Plaindealer Staff Report 
November 1, 2025
The Ridgway High School girls’ cross country team is bringing a state title back to the San Juans. The six-person team won the Class 2A state title Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs, capping a te...
this is a test
Food assistance benefits dry up
Main, News...
Food assistance benefits dry up
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
An estimated $51,000 in federal food benefits will no longer be available to 170 Ouray County households starting Friday. The monthlong federal government shutdown without Congressional appropriations...
this is a test
Main, News...
Mine shaft wasn’t identified as hazard
State vows to secure opening quickly following Ridgway woman's death
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
A dangerous, water-filled mine shaft where a woman's body was found last week had not yet been identified for closure by state officials charged with securing hazardous mine openings. Though the state...
this is a test
Main, News...
Pushback against wolves grows
Ranchers oppose release in county; feds seek to block state
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
The Ouray County Cattlemen’s Association has objected to releasing wolves in the county, amid other efforts potentially complicating or stifling wolf reintroduction in the region this winter. A letter...
this is a test
News
Council nixes alcohol at hot springs
Ouray parks director had suggested limited sales at special events next year to generate revenue
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
The Ouray City Council rejected a proposal Monday to sell alcohol at three special events at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool next year, concluding the costs and risks outweigh the potential revenue. Parks ...
this is a test
  • 1
  • 2
  • …
  • 169
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
SMPA’s rate structure is regressive
By Dear Editor: 
November 12, 2025
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...
this is a test
Letters, Opinion...
A solution to prairie dog, wolf release issues
By Dear Editor: 
November 12, 2025
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...
this is a test
Join us Friday for film, talk about local news inspiration, challenges
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Join us Friday for film, talk about local news inspiration, challenges
By Erin McIntyre 
November 12, 2025
I still can’t believe we own a newspaper. It feels silly to type that sentence. We’re almost seven years into being the caretakers of this community institution, publishing for 148 years. And yet, it ...
this is a test
A civilized Thanksgiving at an uncivilized time
Columns, Opinion...
A civilized Thanksgiving at an uncivilized time
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
November 12, 2025
Was the famed "Outlaw Thanksgiving" in Brown’s Park history or simply a tall tale? According to Ann Bassett, the "Queen of the Cattle Rustlers," it was a Thanksgiving feast for the ages, hosted by non...
this is a test
UpstART Theater
Feature
SEASON OF SHARING
UpstART Theater
November 12, 2025
Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy