By Samantha Tisdel Wright Special to the Plaindealer   "Go away." It's a tough message to send out into the world, for a community hard-wired to woo tourists to stay and play. But ever since March 20,...

Ouray County plans on loosening restrictions in relation to COVID-19 on a different timeline than the rest of the state, which will relax "stay-at-home" orders and transition to a "safer at home" phas...

Ouray County will give more hours to its interim Road and Bridge Department superintendent instead of ramping up its efforts to hire a new boss. County officia ls have been trying to hire a new roads ...

The Ouray City Council is considering hiring a private company to manage the Hot Springs Pool, concerned that visitation and revenue genera ted by the city's most popular tourist attraction has flatte...

Two days after learning the city of Ouray would not renew contracts that gave the Ouray Tourism Office the authority — and the funding — to market to tourists and run the Visitors’ Center, Ryan Hein m...

The peach, sequined dress arrived weeks ago, delivered in a box to the house. She carefully opened the package, lifted out the gown and admired its sequins, the applique flowers. Seventeen-year-old L...

As the stay-at-home order continues and non-essential businesses remain closed, workers and business owners in Ouray County are wondering how long their savings can keep them going. When Gov. Jared Po...

A pandemic, weeks of uncertainty, a frantic move-out and a nonstop cross-country road trip were not what Rosalind Greisz had in mind for her junior year of college. Colleges and universities across t...

Here's one bright spot to the coronavirus crisis. Ouray County residents impacted by the coronavirus pandemic who need to find temporary housing outside of their own home now have a free place to stay...

Students in Ouray County won't be returning to school in-person for the remainder of the school year. Ouray and Ridgway school district leaders announced they would continue to suspend face-to-face le...

The Ridgway School Board approved a contract for its new secondary school principal in a meeting last week, during which limited public comment was allowed. The board's new policy of restricting publi...

Last month’s sudden cancellation of recycling services by Bruin Waste Management has left Ridgway residents with a choice: Let plastic bottles, cans, paper and cardboard languish in a landfill - or in...

Traffic was nonexistent on Ouray's Main Street during a recent spring day, as shown from this aerial photo looking south toward Mt. Abram. Gov. Jared Polis's stay-at-home order is in effect until at l...

A special meeting Wednesday intended for the Ouray City Council to consider what kind of message the city wants to put out to tourists in the midst of the COVlD-19 pandemic devolved into two councilor...

Sheriff pleads not guilty in DUI case Lance FitzGerald has pleaded not guilty in his alleged DUI case, stemming from an incident in November. Seventh Judicial District County Court Judge Kurt Beckenha...

The utility companies that power and heat Ouray County homes and business have put a freeze on disconnecting customers who may be struggling to pay their bills and are working with them on payment pla...

Ouray County has delayed a decision on whether to proceed with plowing high-country roads, after considering a request to postpone clearing snow from routes popular with off-road enthusiasts. Commissi...

Ridgway Secondary School Athletic Director Tony Erickson submitted his letter of resignation to the Ridgway School Board last month. Erickson told the Plaindealer the decision was difficult because he...

SILVERTON San Juan County officials on April 3 tightened the public health order prohibiting visi tors and restricting residents' activities as concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic mounted. The new ord...

The city of Ouray is closing in on hiring a search firm to look for its next city administrator. City councilors unanimously agreed during an April 8 special meeting to enter into contract negotiation...