Videos Login Subscribe Renew E-edition
logo
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
  • News
  • Features
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Letters
  • Obituaries
  • Classifieds
    • Place a Classified
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Legal Notices
    • Read Statewide Legal Notices
  • Archives
    • News
    • Features
    • Opinion
      • Columns
      • Letters
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified
    • Advertise
    • Contact us
    • Legal Notices
      • Read Statewide Legal Notices
    • Archives
Top story of 2024: What will become of Red Mountain reservoir?
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: CRYSTAL'S FUTURE CLOUDY
Top story of 2024: What will become of Red Mountain reservoir?
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 1, 2025
The future of Crystal Reservoir, the shallow body of water atop Red Mountain Pass prized for its scenic values and water rights, is very much up in the air heading into the new year. The U.S. Forest S...
this is a test
Top story of 2024: Council scrambles after administrator resigns
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: CHANGE AT THE TOP IN OURAY
Top story of 2024: Council scrambles after administrator resigns
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 1, 2025
When the Ouray City Council hired Silas Clarke as the city administrator in 2020, it did so hoping to end a merry-go-round of chief executive officers. Three people had rotated through the job in the ...
this is a test
Top story of 2024: Record rain triggers destructive flooding
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: SUMMER MONSOON WREAKS HAVOC
Top story of 2024: Record rain triggers destructive flooding
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 1, 2025
Record August rainfall caused extensive countywide destruction, at least $5 million in damages and triggered emergency disaster declarations at the local and state level, creating ripple effects for t...
this is a test
Top story of 2024: With housing, progress for some, uncertainty for others
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: AFFORDABLE HOUSING'S SUCCESSES, CHALLENGES
Top story of 2024: With housing, progress for some, uncertainty for others
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 1, 2025
Gains in planning and constructing deed-restricted housing in 2024 were matched by struggles to preserve one of Ouray County’s largest existing affordable housing communities. As homeowners celebrated...
this is a test
Top story of 2024: Feds affirm plan to limit hikers, campers
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: BLUE LAKES PERMIT SYSTEM
Top story of 2024: Feds affirm plan to limit hikers, campers
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 1, 2025
Hikers and campers will need permits to visit Blue Lakes southwest of Ridgway as soon as the summer of 2025 as part of a larger wilderness management plan the U.S. Forest Service signed in 2024. The “...
this is a test
Top story of 2024: Stolen newspapers triggers international story
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: THE THEFT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD
Top story of 2024: Stolen newspapers triggers international story
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
January 1, 2025
A Ridgway business owner upset at the Ouray County Plaindealer tried to prevent others from reading it when he stole nearly 200 copies of the newspaper from racks in Ridgway and Ouray in January. Inst...
this is a test
Looking Back, News...
OURAY COUNTY
OURAY COUNTY LOOKING BACK
40 YEARS AGO
By From the Ouray County Herald, Ouray County Plaindealer and the Ridgway Sun 
January 1, 2025
50 YEARS AGO January 3, 1975 – John Wilson, 28, of Ouray suffered the loss of his left arm in an accident at the Camp Bird Mill Dec. 28. The accident occurred between 3:30 and 4 p.m. According to Jim ...
this is a test
Home for the holidays
Main, News...
Home for the holidays
Perennial renters. Globetrotters. Forced minimalists. For financial and other reasons, they've spent most of their lives moving from place to place. Now, for the first time, these new Waterview homeowners are putting down roots in Ouray.
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
December 27, 2024
When Diane Todd pulled her white Chevy pickup into the driveway of her new home in Ouray, she jumped out of the car and gave her next-door neighbor a hug. It was the first time they had met, and both ...
this is a test
News
Blasting to resume above Ouray Jan. 6
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
December 27, 2024
Blasting for a private homeowner's garage project will resume Jan. 6 in the side of a mountain above Ouray, with operations paused for the upcoming Ouray Ice Festival due to safety concerns. The proje...
this is a test
News
Ouray business owner touts benefits of work visa program
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 25, 2024
For the past five high-tourism seasons, university students from Brazil to Malaysia came to work at Ouray Grocery on work exchange visas. Owner Tom Fedel hired his international employees through the ...
this is a test
News
BUSINESS BRIEFS
Ouray coffee shop closes, restaurant moves, cafe closes in Ridgway
December 25, 2024
Ouray coffee shop closes Mojo's Coffee has closed its doors, at 325 Sixth Ave. in Ouray, just shy of its fifth anniversary of opening. Owner Heather Toth advertised an opportunity for a buyer or busin...
this is a test
SUITE DREAMS ON STAGE
Main, News...
SUITE DREAMS ON STAGE
December 18, 2024
Dancer Ruby Noel, pictured at the center, reacts with the rest of the snowfl ake ballerinas during a scene. The dance program included more than 100 young dancers from across the region.
this is a test
Ridgway carried Padgett to victory
Main, News...
Ridgway carried Padgett to victory
County voters' favor for Democratic candidates stronger than ever
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 18, 2024
Just like four years ago, Democrat Lynn Padgett has Ridgway-area voters primarily to thank for lifting her to victory and securing a second four-year term as a Ouray County commissioner. Padgett won 5...
this is a test
News
County mulls bolstering weapons ban
Commissioners weigh options with new state law that prohibits firearms in "sensitive spaces"
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 18, 2024
Ouray County leaders are considering more stringent rules prompted by a new state law which prohibits firearms in “sensitive spaces” like local government buildings where the county commissioners have...
this is a test
Ridgway athletic complex near full funding threshold
News
Ridgway athletic complex near full funding threshold
Commitments to soccer field, track now just $300K shy of $3.6M
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 18, 2024
If advocates for a new athletic complex behind Ridgway Secondary School were running a 5-kilometer race to raise the funding needed for the project, they’d now be approaching mile marker 3. The finish...
this is a test
News
City boosts housing help for administrator
Contract for Michelle Metteer grants $1,000 monthly rent stipend for a year or $250,000 loan to buy
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 18, 2024
To bring aboard a new city administrator in 2020, Ouray city officials knew they would have to include some perks that, at the time, were unique to the city. A six-figure salary, a taxpayer-paid cellp...
this is a test
News
County OKs water plant near Colona
Padgett dissents, wants to see environmental assessment _irst
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
December 18, 2024
A water treatment plant proposed for U.S. Highway 550 near Colona is a step closer to being built after the Ouray County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesday to approve a special-use permit for the facilit...
this is a test
News
Town administrator gets high marks, salary raise
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
December 18, 2024
The Ridgway Town Council awarded Town Administrator Preston Neill high marks again in his annual evaluation, along with a salary bump in recognition of his leadership and performance. Councilors speci...
this is a test
Looking Back, News...
OURAY COUNTY LOOKING BACK
40 YEARS AGO
December 18, 2024
50 YEARS AGO December 20, 1974 – A petition is being circulated in Ouray this week by Lynn Barry, which already has a good number of signatures from residents opposing the proposed garbage ordinance, ...
this is a test
A VISIT WITH SANTA
Main, News...
A VISIT WITH SANTA
December 11, 2024
this is a test
  • 1
  • …
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • …
  • 171
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Dispute over extended background check leads to Ouray police chief’s last day
Main, News...
Dispute over extended background check leads to Ouray police chief’s last day
City administrator declines to make interim chief permanent
By Mike Wiggins 
December 17, 2025
Ouray Interim Police Chief Daric Harvey is leaving his job over his objections to City Administrator Michelle Metteer’s insistence that he undergo a second, more extensive background check to determin...
this is a test
Commissioners fight over board leadership position
Main, News...
Commissioners fight over board leadership position
Niece to serve as chairperson after he, Nauer reject requests from Padgett's backers to appoint her
By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
For the second year in a row, Ouray County commissioners fought over who should serve as board chairperson, rejecting requests from supporters of Commissioner Lynn Padgett to appoint her to the positi...
this is a test
News
Space to Create owner, management address complaints, pledge fixes
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
Space to Create’s owner and property management company are pledging to remedy issues with Ouray County’s first affordable housing project and re-establish strong communication with residents after re...
this is a test
News
Council qualifies homebuyer for deed-restricted unit
December 17, 2025
The Ridgway Town Council approved qualifying a homebuyer for a deed-restricted unit in the Vista Park Commons neighborhood after discussing whether the unit was advertised fairly. The council, acting ...
this is a test
News
Following concerns, town delays adopting anti-idling ordinance
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
Ridgway town councilors decided to delay final approval of a new anti-idling ordinance after hearing public concerns and discussing other issues related to the new rules during a Dec. 10 regular meeti...
this is a test
Facebook

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2023 Ouray County Plaindealer

  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Accessibility Policy