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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
By Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 
October 28, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago October 27, 1966 A change of venue was granted on the vandalism trial of five Denver ...
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Ballot Issue 1A: A vital backstop against future disasters or misguided forever tax?
News
Ballot Issue 1A: A vital backstop against future disasters or misguided forever tax?
Commissioner, resident present pro/con views
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 28, 2026
A Ouray County commissioner and a tax hike critic took opposing sides last week on the merits of a proposed county sales tax increase to help cover the costs of future disasters. Commissioner Jake Nie...
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College student from Ridgway missing near Buena Vista
Main, News...
College student from Ridgway missing near Buena Vista
By Mike 
October 27, 2026
A firefighter with the Log Hill Volunteer Fire Department and another man are missing near Buena Vista after they went hiking last weekend and didn’t return. Kaden Matsuda, 19, of Ridgway, and Jackson...
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‘This is the challenge that I needed in my life’
Main, News...
‘This is the challenge that I needed in my life’
Ouray Ice Park's new executive director trims staff, seeks more buy-in from recreational climbers amid financial crunch
By Chart Riggall 
October 21, 2026
In the waning weeks of the 2019 ice climbing season, a 27-year-old Tres Barbatelli stood at the bottom of the Uncompahgre Gorge wondering what he’d just done. Minutes before, he’d rappelled down into ...
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Police department dissolved
Main, News...
Police department dissolved
Council turns over services to sheriff; remaining employee laid off
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 21, 2026
The city of Ouray terminated the sole employee of its police department and turned over its police services to the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, officially dissolving a stand-alone law enf...
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News
Paramedic fired after three months’ leave
Commissioners pause refilling second EMS vacancy
By James Hanlon 
October 21, 2026
A paramedic for Ouray County Emergency Medical Services, who has been on administrative leave since the Gold Mountain Fire, was fired last week after a meeting with county administration went awry. Jo...
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News
County wraps up draft budget without layoffs
Initial plan leaves five positions vacant, reduces some departmental hours
By James Hanlon 
October 21, 2026
Ouray County’s draft budget for next year proposes five staff reductions from general fund departments – all of which are currently vacant positions. The positions are from administration, the assesso...
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News
Veteran transport program approved
Veteran transport program approved
October 21, 2026
After resolving concerns about an intergovernmental agreement with San Miguel County, Ouray County commissioners approved a new partnership last week that will transport veterans to medical appointmen...
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News
Watershed protection project extended
October 21, 2026
The Emergency Watershed Protection project to mitigate debris flows below the Gold Mountain Fire burn area has received a 45-day extension with a new completion date of Nov. 17. Most construction is s...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
October 21, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago October 20, 1966 A parent-teacher day was introduced into Ouray schools Oct. 14. This...
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News
Board seeks clarity on EMS budget
Commissioner: 'Vote of no-confidence' on merger with Ridgway Fire District until concerns resolved
By James Hanlon 
October 21, 2026
Ouray County commissioners have unresolved concerns with the Ouray County Emergency Medical Services budget that raise questions about the viability of the plan to consolidate EMS under the Ridgway Fi...
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News
Voters to decide next month on county disaster sales tax
By Chart Riggall 
October 21, 2026
Ouray County voters will decide next month whether to raise the county’s sales tax by 0.5% to fund relief efforts for future disasters, a measure county officials argue is needed to prepare for fires,...
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Democrats lose House candidate
News
Democrats lose House candidate
Alec Lindeman isn't challenging Larry Don Suckla for HD58 seat due to placeholder filing error
By James Hanlon 
October 21, 2026
Alec Lindeman wasn’t planning to run for the Colorado House of Representatives this year. Neither was Susannah Smith, a Ridgway resident who volunteered to be a placeholder candidate in the Democratic...
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News
County wants water users to take on reservoir lease
By Chart Riggall 
October 21, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the correct amount of money Tri-County Water Conservancy District is paid to operate and manage Ouray County’s water lease. As Ouray County appr...
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News
AMENDMENT 81
Police, DAs would be forced to alert ICE after filing certain charges
By Jesse Paul The Colorado Sun 
October 21, 2026
Colorado voters will decide in November whether to require state and local law enforcement to work more closely with federal immigration authorities. Amendment 81, brought by a conservative political ...
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News
PROPOSITION 133
Should child sex trafficking be punishable by life in prison?
By By Colleen Slevin The Colorado Sun 
October 21, 2026
Colorado voters will decide in November whether to require that people convicted of child sex trafficking be sentenced to prison for life, without any chance of parole, by passing Proposition 133. The...
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News
PROPOSITION NN
TABOR refunds would divert to K-12 education
By By Erica Breunlin and Brian Eason The Colorado Sun 
October 21, 2026
Colorado voters will decide in November whether to give K-12 public schools billions more dollars using money that taxpayers would otherwise get back in state refunds through the Taxpayer’s Bill of Ri...
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News
Editor’s note
October 21, 2026
Editor's note: Welcome to the first edition of Peak Living, a special section in the Plaindealer. We hope to gain enough support for this feature to bring it to you monthly, but initially we're trying...
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News
New community center opens next week
Cimarron Gathering Place offers daytime activities, aims to build social connections
By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com 
October 21, 2026
A new program for older residents starts next week in Ouray County, offering exercise classes, guest speakers and activities. Organizers want to help fight loneliness and keep residents connected and ...
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Will Coloradans choose the ‘right to hunt’?
Main, News...
AMENDMENT 83
Will Coloradans choose the ‘right to hunt’?
Proposed constitutional amendment asks who should dictate wildlife policy
By Chart Riggall 
October 14, 2026
Colorado’s vote next month on whether to amend the state Constitution by codifying the right to hunt and fish has intensified debate among hunters, conservationists and legal experts over exactly who ...
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Editor Picks
News
Cimarron Gathering Place opens with fanfare
By James Hanlon 
November 6, 2026
After months of planning, elder community members now have a place to gather during the week. The Cimarron Gathering Place is an age-friendly community center held most Tuesdays and Thursdays at the O...
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Cleared for takeoff
Main, News...
Cleared for takeoff
Halloween full of tricks and treats
By Erin McIntyre 
November 4, 2026
Ouray’s Main Street was a spooky place to be on Halloween, with witches at the Wright Opera House including Gayle Veum of Log Hill. The “King of Pop” and a member of the Jackson Five were spotted tric...
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Main, News...
Sales tax measure fails
By Chart Riggall 
November 4, 2026
Ouray County voters on Tuesday rejected a proposal to raise the local sales tax rate by 0.5% in order to fund future disaster relief, dashing county officials’ hopes to find a new revenue source for e...
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Ridgway teen memorialized
Main, News...
Ridgway teen memorialized
Killed in climbing accident, Matsuda remembered for loyalty, passion, work ethic
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 4, 2026
After pulling a 16-hour shift on this summer’s Gold Mountain Fire, Bennett Raley knew he could trust and rely on his young teammate. The volunteer firefighter with the Log Hill Volunteer Fire Departme...
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Can public save Alpine Ranger program?
News
Can public save Alpine Ranger program?
With government bowing out, group seeks to raise money for backcountry patrols
By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com 
November 4, 2026
With a lack of government funding to continue Ouray County’s Alpine Ranger patrols next year, the task has fallen to locals to raise enough money – $67,000, to be exact – to keep the backcountry patro...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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