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News
CORRECTION
October 22, 2025
A brief on Page 6 of the Oct. 9-15 edition incorrectly stated Ridgway town councilors’ current annual salaries. They are currently paid $3,000, not $2,000.
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News
4-H Center manager quits amid complaints
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
Ouray County leaders are sorting out how to manage upcoming events at the 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds in the wake of the venue manager's resignation amid complaints about her performance. Cassidy...
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News
Ouray fire chief seeks full-time role, pay
In request to council, Kunz cites increased calls for service, decreased volunteer involvement
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
Ouray Volunteer Fire Department Chief Adam Kunz is seeking a full-time salary, saying the role is consuming more of his time due to increased call volumes and declining volunteer participation. Kunz s...
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EMS chief pushes to hire more staff
News
EMS chief pushes to hire more staff
Leader hopes proposed fire, medical services merger will counter waning volunteer assistance
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
Ouray County Emergency Medical Services Chief Nate McCullough wants to figure out how the county’s emergency and fire services can come together to hire more paid staff and rely less on volunteers. Hi...
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News
City waiting on facility remodel price tag
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
October 22, 2025
The Ouray City Council will have several issues — and costs — to balance as it considers its 2026 budget at its first official budget meeting on Oct. 27. One of those questions still to be answered is...
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Ute dancers perform at film fest
News
Ute dancers perform at film fest
October 22, 2025
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Good for you!
News
Good for you!
October 22, 2025
The “Good For You!” page is a place for reader-submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Want to submit a photo for publication? Here are some guidelines for submissions: - This ...
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Driver survives plunge off pass
Main, News...
Driver survives plunge off pass
Distracted Montrose County man sustains minor injuries, cited for suspected careless driving
By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
A Montrose County resident survived an accident on Red Mountain Pass on Oct. 9, where his truck went over the edge and rolled down the mountain. According to information from the Colorado State Patrol...
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Gulde touts experience, years of service
News
Election 2025
Gulde touts experience, years of service
Gulde touts experience, years of service
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
Tamara Gulde didn’t intend to assemble campaign flyers and put up yard signs this fall. After four years as a Ouray city councilor, she was ready to step back and let someone else take their turn as o...
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Underwood sees gap between council, public
News
Election 2025
Underwood sees gap between council, public
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
When he looks out at the audience at a Ouray City Council meeting or walks Main Street, Michael Underwood said he sees and hears people who are disconnected from those elected to represent them. Some ...
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News
Water costs increase for county irrigators
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
The cost of leasing backup water to support Ouray County irrigators is increasing this year, as the Tri-County Water Conservancy District is charging $21,000 to store the water in the Ridgway Reservoi...
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News
Wildfire panel focuses on insurance issues
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
Wildfires are one natural disaster communities can exercise some control over. And the hope is that soon homeowners will not only have control over mitigating wildfire risk around their homes, but als...
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News
In budget crunch, county may revive hiring policy
Commissioners could have final say on filling vacant positions
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
Ouray County leaders plan to revive a policy that would allow county commissioners to reconsider hiring new employees to fill vacant roles, as alarm over the county’s financial situation intensifies. ...
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News
County ok’s variance for home construction
Variance OK'd for home
October 15, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have approved an exception to the county’s skyline regulations for a property in Dallas Meadows, agreeing there was no way to build on the property without violating those r...
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Investigation nabs illegal guns, suspected drugs
News
Investigation nabs illegal guns, suspected drugs
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
An investigation into a report of shots fired from a truck on Log Hill Mesa led the Ouray County Sheriff's Office to an arrest involving illegal firearms and suspected drugs. David Allen Wolfe, 46, wa...
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Ouray School Board candidate profile: Phylis Fagrelius
News
Election 2025
Ouray School Board candidate profile: Phylis Fagrelius
By Erin McIntyre 
October 15, 2025
Phylis Fagrelius has learned an important lesson, living in Ouray for the past 37 years. “The more you give, the more you get back,” she said. It’s something she has experienced through teaching, ment...
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Ouray School Board candidate profile: Andrea Calhoon Meruelo
News
Election 2025
Ouray School Board candidate profile: Andrea Calhoon Meruelo
By Erin McIntyre 
October 15, 2025
It wasn’t long after Andrea Calhoon Meruelo graduated from Ouray School in 1999 that she realized she received a pretty stellar education at the tiny mountain school. “I recognized right away in colle...
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Ouray School Board candidate profile: Tony Schmidt
News
Election 2025
Ouray School Board candidate profile: Tony Schmidt
By Erin McIntyre 
October 15, 2025
Tony Schmidt remembers how Ouray School used to feel like it was the center of the community. When he was a kid, he saw community members coming to the basketball games, even the ones who didn't have ...
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News
Ouray approves housing administrator contract
By erin@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
Ouray city officials have approved their portion of the contract to hire an affordable housing administrator along with Ouray County and the town of Ridgway. The city council on Oct. 6 unanimously app...
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News
Open house scheduled to meet county manager finalists Oct. 20
By erin@ouraynews.com 
October 15, 2025
Residents can meet the two finalists for Ouray County’s county manager position on Monday, Oct. 20, at the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds. The finalists are Patrick Rondinelli, the Colo...
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Editor Picks
Hurd introduces House bill to transfer Crystal Reservoir to Ouray
News
Hurd introduces House bill to transfer Crystal Reservoir to Ouray
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
November 4, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd has introduced legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray, identical to a Senate bill introduced in September, after w...
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Ridgway girls cross country team nabs state title
Main, News...
Ridgway girls cross country team nabs state title
By Plaindealer Staff Report 
November 1, 2025
The Ridgway High School girls’ cross country team is bringing a state title back to the San Juans. The six-person team won the Class 2A state title Saturday afternoon in Colorado Springs, capping a te...
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Food assistance benefits dry up
Main, News...
Food assistance benefits dry up
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
An estimated $51,000 in federal food benefits will no longer be available to 170 Ouray County households starting Friday. The monthlong federal government shutdown without Congressional appropriations...
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Main, News...
Mine shaft wasn’t identified as hazard
State vows to secure opening quickly following Ridgway woman's death
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
A dangerous, water-filled mine shaft where a woman's body was found last week had not yet been identified for closure by state officials charged with securing hazardous mine openings. Though the state...
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Main, News...
Pushback against wolves grows
Ranchers oppose release in county; feds seek to block state
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
The Ouray County Cattlemen’s Association has objected to releasing wolves in the county, amid other efforts potentially complicating or stifling wolf reintroduction in the region this winter. A letter...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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