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News
City administrator to lead Ouray police chief search
By Mike Wiggins 
January 21, 2026
Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer told city councilors Tuesday she will take charge of recruiting a new police chief. That’s a different approach than the city took when it was looking for a p...
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ICE FARMERS GET THEIR CROP
Main, News...
ICE FARMERS GET THEIR CROP
A long-awaited cold snap allows Ice Park to open, just in time for festival
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
January 21, 2026
After weeks of planning for the worst, the Ouray Ice Park has ice to offer after all, just in time for the 31st Ice Festival this weekend. Ice Park Executive Director Peter O’Neil has spent the past t...
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Judge delays assault trials
Main, News...
Judge delays assault trials
Attorneys say they're not ready; cases will be heard by Montrose juries
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
The trials for two men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 have been postponed, even as the woman and the judge presiding over the cases expressed concerns about ...
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News
New county manager tackles big ticket items
Mendez focused on 2027 budget, team building
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
Ouray County’s new manager wants commissioners to start thinking about the county’s 2027 budget now — just two weeks into 2026 and three weeks into his new job. During Antonio Mendez’s first work sess...
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Ridgway shelves anti-idling ordinance
News
Ridgway shelves anti-idling ordinance
Citing concerns, town will instead explore zones where running vehicles would be prohibited
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
The Ridgway Town Council last week rejected a proposed ordinance aimed at outlawing idling vehicles on public property, citing concerns including enforcement difficulties. The council instead decided ...
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News
Council appoints Wood, Light to Ouray planning commission
Wood, Light named to planning commission
January 21, 2026
In a pair of split votes, the Ouray City Council on Tuesday night appointed John Wood and Pat Light to the Ouray Planning Commission. Councilors voted 3-2 to select Wood for a seat on the commission, ...
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New county clerk sworn in
News
New county clerk sworn in
January 21, 2026
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News
Sustainability board to ramp up work in 2026
To-do list includes creating composting options, landscaping incentives
January 21, 2026
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com Ridgway’s Sustainability Advisory Board plans to create residential composting options, incentives for water-conscious landscaping and a zero-waste policy for even...
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News
Drone show celebrates 150th anniversaries of Ouray, state
By erin@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and 150th anniversary of Colorado, state officials will put on a "Stories in the Sky" drone show starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 in Ouray. It’s...
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Ice Park to open, resurrecting season after weeks of warm temperatures
Main, News...
Ice Park to open, resurrecting season after weeks of warm temperatures
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
January 20, 2026
After weeks of planning for the worst, the Ouray Ice Park has ice to offer after all, just in time for the 31st Ice Festival this weekend. Ice Park Executive Director Peter O’Neil has spent the past t...
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News
Trials in sex assault case delayed
By Mike Wiggins 
January 16, 2026
The trials for two men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 have been postponed. Gabriel Trujillo and Ashton Whittington were set to go to trial starting Feb. 9, b...
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Welcome to the snow-deo
Main, News...
Welcome to the snow-deo
January 14, 2026
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Public: Rebuild Ouray PD
Main, News...
Public: Rebuild Ouray PD
Residents seek retention of independent agency after departure of interim chief
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
Ouray residents sent a clear message this week: They want to maintain an independent police department instead of permanently relying on the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement. Faced wi...
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Tax questions linger as lodge proceeds with housing plans
Main, News...
Tax questions linger as lodge proceeds with housing plans
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
MTN Lodge in Ridgway is moving forward with plans to convert the hotel to workforce housing for four years starting in February, though the town has yet to cement an agreement with the owners about pa...
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News
County OKs permit for guest ranch
Stipulations require Gold Mountain to account for bighorn sheep
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
January 14, 2026
Gold Mountain Ranch will be allowed to operate a guest ranch in Ouray County, and county commissioners hope the special-use permit they approved in December will allay community concerns about wildlif...
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News
EV charging station approved for 4-H Center
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
A high-speed electric vehicle charging station is coming to the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds parking lot as early as July. During a regular meeting Tuesday, county commissioners unani...
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News
Public renews debate over parking for recreation at Senator Gulch
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
New signs ordered for County Road 361 and the Senator Gulch parking area have renewed debates over how to improve safety at the high-use access point for winter recreation. The parking area below a ga...
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News
County chooses contractor for Corbett Creek bridge project
Bid awarded for Corbett Creek work
January 14, 2026
Ouray County commissioners have awarded a more than $1 million construction contract to replace the bridge over Corbett Creek into Whispering Pines, more than five years after initiating the project. ...
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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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Editor Picks
Film showcases climber’s return to sport
Feature
Film showcases climber’s return to sport
'Anna' documents how Ouray-based Pfaff pushed ahead after amputation of toes
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
Anna Pfaff’s choice to move onward and, especially upward, resonates beyond world-class peaks in a locally made film on the elite Ouray-based climber. "Anna" is a 22-minute portrait of Pfaff’s return ...
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Good for you!
Feature
Good for you!
Send us your celebrations!
January 21, 2026
Ridgway Secondary School guidance counselor Terra Malmstrom gave a presentation during a conference celebrating Rudolf Steiner in December at Harvard Divinity School. Her presentation, "Beyond Surviva...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
Jan. 22-Feb. 5, 2026
January 21, 2026
Thursday, January 22 Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech problems from 4-6 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Walk-ins welcome. Film club: "Famous Last Words," with the Ouray Pub...
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Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
January 14, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago January 20, 1966 Two men, injured Thursday night when their ore truck plunged over a ...
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1884 ‘Big Snow’ a reminder: Careful what you wish for
Columns, Feature...
1884 ‘Big Snow’ a reminder: Careful what you wish for
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
January 14, 2026
So far this winter we have had a reprieve from icy sidewalks and snow shoveling — a far cry from what Silverton experienced with the legendary "Big Snow” in March 1884. We are complaining about the pe...
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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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