Wildlife area in Ouray County closed until spring Billy Creek State Wildlife Area is closed until April 30, to protect big game animals. The area, between Ouray and Montrose, is routinely closed durin...

An organization representing one of the oldest industries and ways of life in Ouray County is in danger of fizzling out, and its last remaining board member is sounding the alarm. Katie Merkley of Rid...

A longtime mainstay of downtown Ouray shuttered its doors suddenly this week, when O’Brien’s Pub & Grill closed. A sign stating “out of business” written on the bottom of a pineapple juice box in the ...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 3 Local governments experienced turnover at the highest levels in 2019, as all three Ouray County law enforcement agencies received new leaders and Ouray and Ridgway hired new...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 8 A roller coaster of 2019 for the Ouray Tourism Office began with the organization celebrating an infusion of additional funding and ended with the nonprofit heading into 202...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 6 After surveys of constituents indicated Ouray County residents were in support of a proposed tax measure to fund a series of roads maintenance projects, voters rejected the ...

The Mountain Medical Center in Ridgway has provided critical medical care for Western Slope residents for more than 20 years. Now, the future of healthcare in Ouray County might be in jeopardy, as the...

Ouray County commissioners and other county officials will take additional steps to ensure the public is safe and informed about avalanche mitigation work after hearing concerns from Ouray Silver Mine...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 5 Ouray residents made it clear in 2019 they were ready for a change when it came to their elected representatives. Voters in November convincingly chose a new mayor and two n...

A homeless man who allegedly went on a crime spree in Ouray County has been arrested and faces potential charges including burglary, auto theft and felony menacing. Kane Conner Berner was arrested in ...

GUNNISON Proponents for two high school sports who have long advocated for their addition in Gunnison Watershed RE1J schools have reason to celebrate. Superintendent Leslie Nichols on Friday announced...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 2 Mother Nature walloped the northern San Juans in 2019, first with record snowfall, then with record avalanches, which led to record snowpack and fears of flooding causing d...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 1 The turmoil involving the two top law enforcement officers at the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office is the Plaindealer’s No. 1 story of 2019. Sheriff Lance Fitz-Gerald was sworn...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 9 The town of Ridgway’s efforts to implement a new water-rate structure met vocal opposition from business owners, ultimately leading councilors to back off on commercial wate...

Wildlife officials are reminding people not to collect shed antlers on all public lands west of Interstate 25 until April 30. These statewide restrictions are in place to protect wintering big-game an...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 4 After tasting the sweetness of reaching the state playoffs three years in a row, only to chase it with the bitterness of losing in the first or second round each time, the R...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 7 The Revenue-Virginius Mine moved closer to reopening for commercial production in 2019, as its new owners added employees and announced plans to move the company’s headquart...

STORIES OF THE YEAR: NO. 10 In 2019, the Ouray County Plaindealer was sold to new owners, the latest in its 142-year history. Alan Todd and Beecher Threatt, who owned 550 Publishing, sold the newspape...

  Former Ouray Building Inspector Dave Doherty abruptly quit his job this fall after learning his position would be reduced from full-time to part-time next year. Emails obtained by the Plaindealer un...

  County officials debriefed during a work session last week about the response to the Cow Creek Fire in October, to discuss what went well and what could be improved the next time a similar incident ...