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News
Hurd introduces reservoir legislation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 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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News
Ouray utility bills to rise by 6%
Acting on public input, council ditches plan for new signs at Rotary Park, Hot Springs Pool entrance
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray residents and business owners will see their utility bills rise by 6% next year, as the city seeks additional revenue to meet the requirements of the loans on its new wastewater and water treatm...
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News
SMPA proposes rate increase
Public can comment on plan to hike base rate, peak demand price
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
San Miguel Power Association is proposing a rate hike for customers in 2026, including a $5 increase to the monthly base rate and a 3-cent per kilowatt hour increase on electricity used during peak de...
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County, Ridgway join talks about resort impacts
News
County, Ridgway join talks about resort impacts
Town council to discuss proposal to house Mountain Village workers at MTN Lodge on Nov. 12
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray County leaders have joined conversations about the impacts of a new Four Seasons development in Mountain Village on neighboring communities, which will house the resort’s construction and operat...
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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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News
Council nixes alcohol at hot springs
Ouray parks director had suggested limited sales at special events next year to generate revenue
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
The Ouray City Council rejected a proposal Monday to sell alcohol at three special events at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool next year, concluding the costs and risks outweigh the potential revenue. Parks ...
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News
Mayoral hopefuls make pitches to voters
At candidates' forum, Gulde, Underwood agree on most issues, part ways on some
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
Ouray's mayoral candidates agreed last week the biggest challenge facing the city is a breakdown in communication and understanding between the city council and residents and pledged to fix that gap. ...
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Residents praise interim police chief
News
Residents praise interim police chief
Administrator says meet-and-greet important part of process of filling permanent job
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
Mark Rozich and Karen Risch were happy to duck inside Cassidy’s Cafe & Antiques on a rainy evening last week and share their opinions about Ouray’s interim police chief, Daric Harvey. They’re just not...
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News
CORRECTION
October 29, 2025
An article on Page 1 of the Oct. 23-29 edition incorrectly stated Ouray County manager finalist Antonio Mendez is originally from the Dominican Republic. Mendez is Dominican-American and was born in t...
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News
Ouray to hire full-time fire chief in ’26
Council agrees to create salaried position, will shift management away from volunteer firefighters
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
The city of Ouray plans to bring aboard a full-time, salaried fire chief next year, a change that will shift the responsibility for hiring, firing and managing the position from volunteer firefighters...
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News
Mendez accepts county manager job offer
Mendez accepts county manager job
By By Lia Salvatierra lia @ouraynews. com 
October 29, 2025
Antonio Mendez has accepted an offer to become Ouray County’s next county manager, though he could start as late as February. County commissioners and Mendez will review and formalize a contract with ...
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School board candidates debate at forum
News
School board candidates debate at forum
Fagrelius, Meruelo tout experience in district; Schmidt seeks to keep 'ideologies' out of classroom
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
Three candidates for the Ouray School Board made bids for the position during an election forum held Oct. 22, answering an assortment of questions that boiled down to one key idea: who the school boar...
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News
Chamber backs away from marketing bid
Ridgway organization not among 10 applicants, claims no financial sense in seeking to retain services
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 29, 2025
The Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce is forgoing the chance to provide marketing and tourism services for the town of Ridgway, saying it doesn’t make financial sense for the organization. Despite the ...
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Ute dancers perform at film fest
Main, News...
Ute dancers perform at film fest
October 22, 2025
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Board makes offer on top job
Main, News...
Board makes offer on top job
On same day commissioners pick Peace Corps director, interim manager resigns
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
Editor’s note: This has been corrected to identify Mendez, who was born in the United States, as Dominican-American.  Ouray County’s new county manager will travel from Santiago de Queretaro, Mexico, ...
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Federal shutdown threatens food assistance program
Main, News...
Federal shutdown threatens food assistance program
By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
Food assistance for low-income residents in Ouray County will likely be cut off at the end of the month due to the federal government shutdown, leaving an estimated 170 households with less money and ...
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Editor Picks
‘There’s not a day where I don’t do something impactful’
Main, News...
‘There’s not a day where I don’t do something impactful’
Community paramedicine brings vital care to mountain, rural places
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
November 19, 2025
Editor’s note: There’s a proposal to start a community paramedicine program here in Ouray County, and we wanted to know more about how these kinds of services work in other places in Colorado where th...
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Main, News...
Commissioner: ‘My patience is gone’
Claiming continued poor behavior, Nauer asks Padgett to take 'timeout,' attend meetings remotely
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 19, 2025
Ouray County Commissioner Michelle Nauer has asked Commissioner Lynn Padgett to take a "timeout" and attend meetings by Zoom while the county makes leadership transitions over the next few months, cit...
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News
Police chief, sheriff urge Ouray council to rethink strict response time policy
Councilors table plan requiring officers to live within 10 miles of city after concern from leaders
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 19, 2025
The Ouray City Council on Monday pitched and then quickly ditched a proposal to require police officers to live within 10 miles and a 10-minute drive from the city after local law enforcement and city...
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News
SMPA approves rate increases
Monthly base, peak energy charges to rise in 2026 as electric cooperative prepares for escalating wholesale power costs
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 19, 2025
The San Miguel Power Association board of directors on Tuesday approved dual rate increases in 2026 for the second year in a row, as the rural electric cooperative continues to grapple with higher who...
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News
Ridgway hires North Carolina agency for tourism, marketing
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 19, 2025
The town of Ridgway has hired a North Carolina-based agency for its tourism and marketing services, choosing an outside perspective familiar with rural communities. During a Nov. 12 town council meeti...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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