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
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
News
County pauses most 4-H Center events
Budget cuts eliminated staff; work session planned with new manager
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
Ouray County leaders decided Tuesday to cancel most 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds events after San Juan Skijoring in January, until the county comes up with a plan to manage the space. It’s unclear...
this is a test
News
CORRECTION
December 17, 2025
An article on Page 2 of the Dec. 11–17 edition incorrectly reported the remaining fund balance of Ouray County’s disaster fund. There is $57,445 remaining in the fund going into 2026.
this is a test
News
Cemetery turns attention to overdue maintenance
Armed with property tax boost, Cedar Hill board approves 2026 budget that includes $65,000 in irrigation, electrical fixes
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 17, 2025
Furnished with a boost in property tax revenue, the board in charge of operating and maintaining the Cedar Hill Cemetery north of Ouray will embark next year on the first of a series of overdue mainte...
this is a test
News
SEASON OF SHARING
Ouray Trail Group
December 17, 2025
Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...
this is a test
A visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Main, News...
A visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
December 10, 2025
this is a test
Main, News...
Vehicle problems toss wrench at sheriff
Maintenance costs pile up as agency wrestles with delays in replacing patrol cars
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 10, 2025
Gio Mendoza’s coworkers thought he was missing for more than an hour. Emergency dispatchers were scrambling to get in touch with him. They had no idea the Ouray County sheriff’s investigator was stran...
this is a test
Main, News...
Resident: Tax money should fund ‘creatives’
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 10, 2025
A Ridgway woman is proposing the town give "creative" residents a monthly, unconditional cash payment to encourage them to stay living and working in town. Ridgway resident Tia Mihelarakis proposed a ...
this is a test
News
Commissioner opposes change to cost-savings policy
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 10, 2025
Ouray County Commissioner Lynn Padgett voted against a minor change to the county's new cost-savings policy, citing unclear language as the reason she canceled her attendance at a statewide conference...
this is a test
News
County OKs budget, will diminish savings
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 10, 2025
Editor’s note: This story has been corrected to accurately reflect the county's disaster fund balance heading into 2026. Ouray County commissioners approved the county's 2026 budget during their regul...
this is a test
News
Ouray School Board considers calendar options
Opinions vary on start, end, graduation dates, four-day school week
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
December 10, 2025
The Ouray School District is looking at calendar options for the next two years, and officials are considering feedback from a survey of parents, staff, students and the community to help its decision...
this is a test
News
Ridgway finalizes budget for 2026
December 10, 2025
Ridgway is ready to adopt its largest budget ever for 2026, after its council decided how much funding it will grant to 20 community organizations. During a Dec. 3 budget workshop, town councilors agr...
this is a test
News
Ranch allowed temporary access to plow County Road 7
December 10, 2025
Ouray County commissioners agreed to grant Wolf Cattle and Land Co. temporary access to plow snow on County Road 7 to complete a wildfire mitigation project. The ranch will receive a right-of-way encr...
this is a test
News
Clerk recommends employee replace her
December 10, 2025
Outgoing Ouray County Clerk and Recorder Cristy Lynn has issued a recommendation for her replacement when she leaves her role in January. Lynn sent a letter to county commissioners formally recommendi...
this is a test
Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires
Main, News...
Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires
Additional staff, engine can enhance skills, create more revenue
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 3, 2025
Ridgway’s wildland firefighters have mopped up hotspots in Nevada, fought wildfire on the front lines in California and protected structures at home in Colorado. Since the Ridgway Fire Protection Dist...
this is a test
Main, News...
County chops event center operations to aid budget
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 3, 2025
Ouray County is performing triage on its 2026 budget as 2025 revenues are coming in lower than expected, placing even more pressure on the county’s general fund savings. County leaders have been worki...
this is a test
New council’s first task: Fill vacancies
News
New council’s first task: Fill vacancies
After soliciting applications, councilors to interview, pick appointments Jan. 5
December 3, 2025
Ouray city leaders swore in a new mayor and city councilor Monday night, then turned their attention to the council’s most pressing issue: Finding and appointing two more councilors to fill out the ra...
this is a test
News
Slow start to snow season
Wave of storms helps, but snowpack in San Juans well below normal
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 3, 2025
A series of post-Thanksgiving storms delivered desperately needed snow to the moisture-starved San Juans, but snowpack at the start of December remains well below average in Ouray County and the surro...
this is a test
News
SEASON OF SHARING
Ridgway Ouray Community Council
December 3, 2025
Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...
this is a test
News
Snowpack lagging in San Juans
December 3, 2025
A recent series of storms helped boost the paltry snowpack in the San Juans, but the amount of water in that snowpack in the Gunnison River Basin — known as snow-water equivalent — is still among the ...
this is a test
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 173
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
News
City administrator to lead Ouray police chief search
By Mike Wiggins 
January 21, 2026
Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer told city councilors Tuesday she will take charge of recruiting a new police chief. That’s a different approach than the city took when it was looking for a p...
this is a test
ICE FARMERS GET THEIR CROP
Main, News...
ICE FARMERS GET THEIR CROP
A long-awaited cold snap allows Ice Park to open, just in time for festival
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
January 21, 2026
After weeks of planning for the worst, the Ouray Ice Park has ice to offer after all, just in time for the 31st Ice Festival this weekend. Ice Park Executive Director Peter O’Neil has spent the past t...
this is a test
Judge delays assault trials
Main, News...
Judge delays assault trials
Attorneys say they're not ready; cases will be heard by Montrose juries
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
The trials for two men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 have been postponed, even as the woman and the judge presiding over the cases expressed concerns about ...
this is a test
News
New county manager tackles big ticket items
Mendez focused on 2027 budget, team building
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
Ouray County’s new manager wants commissioners to start thinking about the county’s 2027 budget now — just two weeks into 2026 and three weeks into his new job. During Antonio Mendez’s first work sess...
this is a test
Film showcases climber’s return to sport
Feature
Film showcases climber’s return to sport
'Anna' documents how Ouray-based Pfaff pushed ahead after amputation of toes
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
Anna Pfaff’s choice to move onward and, especially upward, resonates beyond world-class peaks in a locally made film on the elite Ouray-based climber. "Anna" is a 22-minute portrait of Pfaff’s return ...
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