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The pinnacle of autumn
Main, News...
The pinnacle of autumn
October 8, 2025
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State eyes Ouray County for wolf release
Main, News...
State eyes Ouray County for wolf release
Wildlife officials won't disclose dropoff site for up to 15 wolves this winter, but Billy Creek a possibility
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
October 8, 2025
Wildlife officials are eyeing Ouray County for the next release of gray wolves in southwest Colorado this winter to help fulfill a mandate from voters to re-establish a self-sustaining population of t...
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Main, News...
Hiring freeze, no pay raises for county
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 8, 2025
Ouray County plans to enact a hiring freeze and eliminate raises, including cost-of-living adjustments, to help balance its 2026 budget. After a nearly four-hour special work session on Sept. 29, comm...
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Fire chief vows to clean up fireworks trash found by visitors
Main, News...
Fire chief vows to clean up fireworks trash found by visitors
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 8, 2025
Michal Nowicki was looking for a panoramic view above Ouray when he hiked near the "Switzerland of America" sign last week. He found it — along with a mess. Dozens of empty cardboard boxes formerly co...
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News
Covid vaccines available at public health department
COVID vaccines available at Public Health
October 8, 2025
Ouray County Public Health is offering COVID-19 vaccines, though there is currently a waitlist. The department administered 47 doses of the vaccine between Sept. 3 and Oct. 6 and is now waiting on new...
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News
Ridgway bans artificial turf for most new projects
Councilors split on restrictions that apply to residential properties, non-recreational uses
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 8, 2025
The Ridgway Town Council has approved new landscaping rules that ban artificial turf for non-recreational uses, including residential properties. The rules comply with a new state law prohibiting the ...
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News
City considers outdoor lighting rules
Draft ordinances would restrict brightness, allow police to enforce nuisance on private property
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
October 8, 2025
The city of Ouray doesn’t have a comprehensive ordinance regulating outdoor lighting, and city officials have decided it’s about time to get one. The city council on Monday directed staff to create tw...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
October 8, 2025
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago October 14, 1965 Philip F. Icke, Ouray attorney, gave an address on most common legal...
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News
Duplan appointed to Planning Commission
Last Planning Commission vacancy filled
October 8, 2025
Ouray County commissioners unanimously approved appointing Shellie Duplan to fill a vacancy on the Ouray County Planning Commission, filling the last vacancy since an exodus of four planning commissio...
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News
Good For You!
October 8, 2025
The “Good For You!” page is a new feature we have launched in the Plaindealer, where we publish reader-submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Maybe you snapped photos of volun...
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Calendar & Events
News
Calendar & Events
Oct. 9-22, 2025
October 8, 2025
Thursday, October 9 Facing Wildfire Risk in Ouray County, a short film and panel discussion presented by the Telluride Foundation and West Region Wildfire Council. 6-7:30 p.m., Sherbino Theater, 602 C...
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A race against time, Mother Nature
Main, News...
A race against time, Mother Nature
More than a year after catastrophic flooding, Ridgway pushes to finish water diversion project
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Randy Barnes knew that morning he needed to check on Beaver Creek and the ditch bringing water down from the mountains above Elk Meadows to supply the town of Ridgway. More than 40 years of experience...
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Main, News...
U.S. HIGHWAY 550 ACCIDENTS
State to speed up some safety upgrades on Highway 550
Safety audit of Ridgway-Montrose County section to be done June 2026; shoulder widening to start in 2027
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
The Colorado Department of Transportation will expedite a shoulder-widening project on U.S. Highway 550 and potential interim safety measures along the corridor in response to public concern about dan...
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New to wildfire science, nonprofit director boasts experience in leadership, planning
News
New to wildfire science, nonprofit director boasts experience in leadership, planning
West Region W ildfire Council's Tim Pinnow to moderate panel discussion Oct. 9
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Tim Pinnow's resume might not immediately lead someone to think about forestry or fire mitigation. But what you will find is evidence of a career spent cultivating relationships and building resilienc...
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News
District attorney seeks 35% hike in budget, mostly for payroll
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Just a year after the Seventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office asked Ouray County for a 13% budget increase, the office is seeking to nearly triple that percentage increase in 2026, primarily for p...
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Hurd mum on reservoir transfer
Main, News...
Hurd mum on reservoir transfer
Congressman not yet saying whether he'll back city taking over Crystal Reservoir
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd is remaining mum on whether he will support a bill that would transfer Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray. Since Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hick...
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Main, News...
Prairie dog mitigation to proceed
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Top of the Pines will hire a contractor to lethally fumigate a portion of its prairie dog population, despite adopting a management plan prioritizing the animals’ natural occurrence. During a regular ...
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Once in ‘crisis,’ Ouray police rebuilding
Main, News...
Once in ‘crisis,’ Ouray police rebuilding
A year after grave warning, the department is nearly fully staffed, overhauling policies and regaining trust
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Daric Harvey needs another dry erase board. The one hanging on the wall next to his desk is out of room, crammed with a checklist of goals and initiatives Ouray’s interim police chief has etched in bl...
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News
Postal Service probing locked boxes in Ridgway
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
The U.S. Postal Service is addressing complaints from Ridgway residents who had their post office boxes at the Ridgway Post Office locked without notice, violating the agency’s policy. Ridgway residen...
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News
County names trio of manager finalists
Community meet and greet set for Oct. 20; decision could come next day
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have selected three finalists for the county manager vacancy, a step toward ensuring they will usher in new, permanent county leadership for the first time in more than two ...
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Editor Picks
How the San Juans got their name from an early trailblazer
Columns, Feature...
How the San Juans got their name from an early trailblazer
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
October 8, 2025
The San Juan Mountains are not just a mountain range; they are the jagged, breathtaking spine of southwestern Colorado. This is a land of untamed peaks, alpine meadows and sheer rock faces. Our mighty...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ridgway post office locked a paid box
October 8, 2025
Dear Editor: I read with interest the reporting from Lia Salvatierra in the Sept. 25 edition regarding the Postal Service probe of locked boxes in Ridgway and wondered who alerted her to the matter. I...
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Run, don’t walk: How a Ridgway athlete is improving dramatically
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
Run, don’t walk: How a Ridgway athlete is improving dramatically
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
October 8, 2025
Orion Catron first ran because he really, really didn’t want to walk. As a freshman at Ridgway High School, he wasn’t connecting with classmates or pushing himself. “I think my parents recognized this...
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‘An Iliad’ shares ‘an epic story in a really intimate setting’
Feature
‘An Iliad’ shares ‘an epic story in a really intimate setting’
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Playing in Ouray this weekend, modern-day retelling of Homer's poem explores valor, savagery of Trojan War In the last 20 years, John Kissingford has played all manner of roles. A novelist in a romant...
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Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
October 1, 2025
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 50 Years Ago October 2, 1975 A one-ticket purchaser won the Jeep Cherokee in the Color Week drawin...
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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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