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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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Main, News...
Woman’s body found in mine shaft
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
A Ridgway woman who was reported missing Monday night was found dead in a deep, water-filled mine shaft on Red Mountain Pass. Rescuers found Jennifer Nelson, 54, early Tuesday morning after accidental...
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News
City OKs purchase of new police vehicles
Interim police chief sought five hybrid SUVs to replace aging fleet; council authorizes three
By Mike Wiggins and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
The Ouray City Council approved the purchase of three new police vehicles Monday night, allowing the police department to start rotating in new patrol cars for an aging fleet that hasn’t been replaced...
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County clerk announces resignation
News
County clerk announces resignation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
Commissioners to appoint replacement for Lynn, who's moving to help family Ouray County Clerk and Recorder Cristy Lynn announced Tuesday she will resign from her position at the end of this year to re...
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News
Without funding, county likely to end wastewater surveillance
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 22, 2025
Ouray County’s wastewater surveillance program is due to end this spring unless outside funding becomes available. The program relaunched in January and tests for the presence of COVID-19, respiratory...
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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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Editor Picks
Ridgway girls run down state title
Main, News...
Ridgway girls run down state title
Young team blows past competition to hoist Class 2A cross country trophy
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
November 5, 2025
There isn’t a perfect translation for “hill” in Chinese. That's something Natasha Hessler discovered when she arrived at the famous creek crossing during the Colorado State Cross Country Championship ...
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Underwood elected mayor
Main, News...
ELECTION 2025
Underwood elected mayor
Hart joins council, which needs to fill two spots
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray City Councilor Michael Underwood won election to the mayor’s seat Tuesday night, succeeding on a campaign that emphasized fiscal conservatism and a vow to fix what he perceives as a disconnect b...
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News
Property tax hikes pass for cemetery, fire districts
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Voters Tuesday night approved tax increases for the Cedar Hill Cemetery District and the Ouray Fire Protection District. A measure to increase the cemetery district’s mill levy from 0.33 mills to 1 mi...
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News
ELECTION 2025
Voters approve new county lodging tax
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Voters in unincorporated Ouray County approved a new 6% lodging tax that is expected to provide more than $182,000 in additional funding during a tight 2026 budget year and into the future. The measur...
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News
ELECTION 2025
Fagrelius, Meruelo win school board seats
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
November 5, 2025
Ouray voters have chosen two former educators to join the Ouray School Board, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s election. Three candidates competed for two open seats on the school board,...
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First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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