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News
Ridgway gets initial OK for $1.34M grant
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 4, 2026
Ridgway has received initial approval for a $1.34 million grant to help it explore an all-electric building code for new construction and help electrify municipal operations, to lower its carbon footp...
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News
Judge to decide whether to unseal civil case
Plaindealer seeks public access to file that's be en sealed for nine months
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
February 4, 2026
A district court judge will decide whether to unseal records in a civil lawsuit that was filed nine months ago against the former Ouray police chief and has proceeded in secret. The lawsuit was filed ...
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News
Council, mayor seats up for election
February 4, 2026
Ridgway’s town council has three council seats and the mayor's position coming up for election this spring. Mayor John Clark and councilors Terry Schuyler, Kevin Grambley and Josey Scoville are up for...
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Feature, News...
‘Love Song’ takes to stage for Valentine’s
February 4, 2026
Sometimes audiences need a whimsical, light performance. And that's what folks can expect from UpstART Theater's next play, "Love Song," timed to lead up to Valentine's Day. The all-local cast of perf...
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Sheriff’s office takes on policing for city, meeting scheduled tonight
News
Sheriff’s office takes on policing for city, meeting scheduled tonight
Another officer resigns from police department, leaving sergeant and administrative assistant
By Mike Wiggins 
February 2, 2026
The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office has assumed full responsibility for law enforcement services in the city of Ouray after City Administrator Michelle Metteer reassigned the police department’s two rem...
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Onward and upward
Main, News...
Onward and upward
January 28, 2026
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Main, News...
Town prepares for legal battle
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 28, 2026
Editor's note: This article has been corrected to reflect that Ridgway Lodge LLC is the owner of MTN Lodge. Ridgway retains attorney after MTN Lodge owners say they won't pay taxes on long-term worker...
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Main, News...
County eyes budget cuts
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 28, 2026
Manager: Looking for ways to avoid cutting employees Ouray County leaders have loosely settled on wanting to cut $500,000 from the county’s 2026 budget, anticipating they will have more unexpected exp...
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Coroner seeks help with unclaimed body
News
Coroner seeks help with unclaimed body
January 28, 2026
UPDATE: The Plaindealer learned Thursday that the coroner's office has had someone come forward to help. _________________________ Ouray County's coroner is seeking help finding friends of a man who w...
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News
Citing violations, county orders disc golf tourney to cease
January 28, 2026
Ouray County has ordered a disc golf tournament held on Log Hill Mesa to stop operating without a special- use permit, citing concerns about illegal gambling as well as other county rule violations. C...
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News
Wildfire mitigation project secures federal funding
January 28, 2026
A 93-acre wildfire mitigation project is receiving $500,000 in federal funding that was holding up completion of the $1.3 million effort. The Ouray Community Forest Resilience Project aims to scour de...
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News
Board votes to change school calendar next fall
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
January 28, 2026
Families in the Ouray School District will see several changes to the school calendar for the next two years, including the addition of a mid-winter break and graduation moving to the Sunday before Me...
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News
District delays adopting master plan
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
January 28, 2026
The Ouray School District is one step closer to having an approved facilities master plan to use as a conceptual blueprint guiding future building projects. The Ouray School Board on Monday postponed ...
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News
County to discuss prairie dogs as nuisance
Resident threatens legal action unless board adopts rules requiring landowners to control species
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 28, 2026
Ouray County commissioners will hold a work session next month to discuss prairie dogs as a nuisance, following a written demand from a citizen who said he would pursue a class action lawsuit if the c...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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Ridgway shelves anti-idling ordinance
News
Ridgway shelves anti-idling ordinance
Citing concerns, town will instead explore zones where running vehicles would be prohibited
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
The Ridgway Town Council last week rejected a proposed ordinance aimed at outlawing idling vehicles on public property, citing concerns including enforcement difficulties. The council instead decided ...
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News
Council appoints Wood, Light to Ouray planning commission
Wood, Light named to planning commission
January 21, 2026
In a pair of split votes, the Ouray City Council on Tuesday night appointed John Wood and Pat Light to the Ouray Planning Commission. Councilors voted 3-2 to select Wood for a seat on the commission, ...
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Editor Picks
Evacuation drill an exercise not in futility
Main, News...
Evacuation drill an exercise not in futility
County's first full-scale training May 15 meant to 'test where our holes are'
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
Sirens will wail and residents will likely see emergency vehicles headed through Ridgway, up County Road 5 on May 15. Traffic will filter back into town, with residents headed to an evacuation center....
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Mine owner proposes water treatment
Main, News...
Mine owner proposes water treatment
Unable to reduce heavy metals in Red Mountain Creek, Newmont exploring building plant atop pass
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
The company that owns the Idarado Mine is exploring the idea of building a treatment plant on Red Mountain Pass to remove heavy metals from water flowing into Red Mountain Creek. Representatives from ...
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News
Town mulls affordable housing mandate
Ridgway may require 10% of units to be deed restricted
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
The town of Ridgway will consider requiring developers to reserve 10% of units within market-rate residential projects as affordable housing for local workers and retirees. The proposed “community hou...
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News
County appoints new planning commissioner
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
April 29, 2026
Ouray County commissioners unanimously appointed Danika Gilbert to the county Planning Commission on Tuesday. Gilbert will take the seat of Jennifer Cram, who resigned from the seven-person board afte...
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County raises 4-H use fees
News
County raises 4-H use fees
Commissioners approve first facility rate increase since 2015
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
Fees for using the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds are going up for the first time in more than a decade, with the aim of making the facility’s operations self-sustaining. It’s the large...
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First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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