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City retains lawyer in light of sewer problems
News
City retains lawyer in light of sewer problems
Mayor says he doesn't think the city will take legal action, but firm will review potential defect claims
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
August 20, 2025
The city of Ouray will hire an attorney who could help potentially pursue legal claims against the contractors who built and equipped the city’s new $17 million wastewater treatment plant, which has b...
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News
Ridgway opens door for tourism marketing
Town follows through on plan to seek bids for services; chamber to seek to keep contract
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
August 20, 2025
The town of Ridgway is opening up a competitive process for its tourism and marketing services after years of handing the task to the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce. The shift toward a competitive p...
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News
Plaindealer takes home 14 awards in statewide contest
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
August 20, 2025
The Ouray County Plaindealer took home 14 awards at the Colorado Press Association convention last weekend. The annual Better Newspaper Contest, which covered work published during the 2024 calendar y...
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News
Administrator secures positive review, raise
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
August 20, 2025
Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer received high marks on her first job performance review and will secure a 6% pay raise early next year. City councilors unanimously agreed Monday night to ame...
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News
County drafts language for lodging tax ballot question
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
August 20, 2025
Ouray County commissioners finished drafting a buzzer beater ballot measure to ask voters to approve a new county lodging tax on Tuesday. Commissioners are expected to vote next week on whether to pla...
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News
DUI checkpoint set for Friday
August 20, 2025
The Colorado State Patrol has announced it will be holding a DUI checkpoint here in Ouray County this weekend, as part of an effort to ensure road safety. The State Patrol's Statewide DUI Task Force w...
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News
Commissioner rebukes spending county’s emergency fund
August 20, 2025
Ouray County Commissioner Lynn Padgett voted against a mid-year budget amendment created to pay for more than $300,000 in rockfall repairs to County Road 361. During a Tuesday commissioners’ meeting s...
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Crashes spur calls for change
News
Crashes spur calls for change
Speed study underway, but safety improvements on Highway 550 could take years to finish
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
August 20, 2025
Zoe Denison has a front row seat to the perils of traveling on U.S. Highway 550. Drivers have crashed through the wildlife fence separating the highway from her home between Billy Creek State Wildlife...
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A fair to remember
Main, News...
A fair to remember
August 13, 2025
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Problems persist at sewer plant
Main, News...
Problems persist at sewer plant
City says it has fixed issue that triggered odors, but other troubles linger at $17M facility
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
August 13, 2025
When Ouray's new wastewater treatment plant is working, no one seems to notice. The electrical panels, motors, pumps and other equipment inside the nondescript, earth-toned building at the northern en...
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News
County weighs lodging tax measure
Voters could be asked in November to approve 6% tax to fund public safety, housing, child care
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
August 13, 2025
Ouray County commissioners are considering a ballot measure this fall to levy a new lodging tax in the unincorporated county to help pay for public safety, housing and child care initiatives and progr...
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News
Stage 2 fire restrictions adopted
Tinder-dry conditions prompt stricter rules, no campfires allowed
August 13, 2025
All three local governments in Ouray County ramped up to stage 2 fire restrictions this week, as multiple wildfires burn across the Western Slope and the San Juans continue to wither under a hot, dry ...
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News
Neighborhood to consider mosquito fogging
Health officials, government leaders debate efficacy of possible treatment in Dallas Meadows
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
August 13, 2025
Ouray County may help Dallas Meadows residents pay to kill adult mosquitos swarming the area since some preventative treatments were skipped earlier this spring. Leaders from Ouray County, the town of...
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News
Immigration officers arrest man in Ouray
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
August 13, 2025
At least one person has been detained during immigration enforcement operations recently in Ouray, according to an eyewitness who saw the arrest last week. A man driving a white GMC was stopped by thr...
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Man arrested in Ouray by immigration enforcement officers
News
Man arrested in Ouray by immigration enforcement officers
By Erin McIntyre 
August 7, 2025
Federal immigration officials detained at least one person in Ouray this morning, according to eyewitness reports which have been confirmed by the Ouray County Sheriff's Office. According to an eyewit...
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Fired federal rangers return to backcountry
Main, News...
Fired federal rangers return to backcountry
Patrol, education duties look similar, only now county foots the bill
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
August 6, 2025
Kricket Olin pulled the side-by-side ATV over to a cluster of off-highway vehicles and leaned over the door, sticking her head in the neon helmet out the window. “Hi I’m Kricket, an alpine ranger with...
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Interim chief has first shot at permanent job
News
Interim chief has first shot at permanent job
City administrator plans interviews, public meet-and-greet for Daric Harvey, whose contract is up soon
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
August 6, 2025
Interim Ouray Police Chief Daric Harvey will be given the first crack at the permanent police chief position through an internal interview process arranged by City Administrator Michelle Metteer. Mett...
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News
Council nomination petitions available
August 6, 2025
Ouray residents who are thinking about running for one of the three open seats on the city council this fall can now pick up and begin circulating nomination petitions. The two-year term for Mayor Eth...
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News
Ridgway schools go cellphone free
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
August 6, 2025
Ridgway schools are now cellphone free. The Ridgway School District, like many school districts in the state, including Ouray, is restricting students from using cellphones during school hours startin...
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News
City approves rooftop deck for library
Council clears way for second-story outdoor space
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
August 6, 2025
The Ouray Public Library will get its rooftop deck — and at its preferred location. The Ouray City Council voted Monday night to amend the library’s lease with the city to allow it to build a 670-squa...
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Editor Picks
A weekend full of pride
Main
A weekend full of pride
August 20, 2025
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Letters
Time to lower the speed limit on U.S. 550
August 20, 2025
Dear Editor: Hardly a week goes by without another fatal accident on U.S. Highway 550, it seems. Or am I just imagining things? Winter or summer, events conspire, someone dies and the road is closed f...
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Letters
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Revisiting postal history
August 20, 2025
Dear Editor: I read with interest Ms. Snowbarger’s column, “The West’s Unsung Heroes? Post Offices” in the Aug. 7, 2025, issue of the Plaindealer. Postal history, particularly that of Ouray County and...
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Letters
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
A plea to think, slow down — or go away
August 20, 2025
Dear Editor: I wonder if you know … I wonder if you know that the car you are recklessly and illegally passing has a new driver with a permit or just got their driver's license … Or maybe it's an elde...
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Letters
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Why is fairgrounds arena closed to public?
August 20, 2025
Dear Editor: What is going on with the arena at the Ouray County Fairgrounds? We went there back on the Fourth of July to do some ground work with our horses and introduce a novice rider to horsemansh...
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First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

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