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New county clerk sworn in
News
New county clerk sworn in
January 21, 2026
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News
Sustainability board to ramp up work in 2026
To-do list includes creating composting options, landscaping incentives
January 21, 2026
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com Ridgway’s Sustainability Advisory Board plans to create residential composting options, incentives for water-conscious landscaping and a zero-waste policy for even...
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News
Drone show celebrates 150th anniversaries of Ouray, state
By erin@ouraynews.com 
January 21, 2026
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the U.S. and 150th anniversary of Colorado, state officials will put on a "Stories in the Sky" drone show starting at 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22 in Ouray. It’s...
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Ice Park to open, resurrecting season after weeks of warm temperatures
Main, News...
Ice Park to open, resurrecting season after weeks of warm temperatures
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
January 20, 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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News
Trials in sex assault case delayed
By Mike Wiggins 
January 16, 2026
The trials for two men accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 have been postponed. Gabriel Trujillo and Ashton Whittington were set to go to trial starting Feb. 9, b...
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Welcome to the snow-deo
Main, News...
Welcome to the snow-deo
January 14, 2026
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Public: Rebuild Ouray PD
Main, News...
Public: Rebuild Ouray PD
Residents seek retention of independent agency after departure of interim chief
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
Ouray residents sent a clear message this week: They want to maintain an independent police department instead of permanently relying on the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement. Faced wi...
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Tax questions linger as lodge proceeds with housing plans
Main, News...
Tax questions linger as lodge proceeds with housing plans
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
MTN Lodge in Ridgway is moving forward with plans to convert the hotel to workforce housing for four years starting in February, though the town has yet to cement an agreement with the owners about pa...
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News
County OKs permit for guest ranch
Stipulations require Gold Mountain to account for bighorn sheep
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
January 14, 2026
Gold Mountain Ranch will be allowed to operate a guest ranch in Ouray County, and county commissioners hope the special-use permit they approved in December will allay community concerns about wildlif...
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News
EV charging station approved for 4-H Center
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
A high-speed electric vehicle charging station is coming to the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds parking lot as early as July. During a regular meeting Tuesday, county commissioners unani...
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News
Public renews debate over parking for recreation at Senator Gulch
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
January 14, 2026
New signs ordered for County Road 361 and the Senator Gulch parking area have renewed debates over how to improve safety at the high-use access point for winter recreation. The parking area below a ga...
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News
County chooses contractor for Corbett Creek bridge project
Bid awarded for Corbett Creek work
January 14, 2026
Ouray County commissioners have awarded a more than $1 million construction contract to replace the bridge over Corbett Creek into Whispering Pines, more than five years after initiating the project. ...
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Unaffiliated county candidates announce election campaigns
Main, News...
Unaffiliated county candidates announce election campaigns
First-timers Todd, Oakland seek clerk, treasurer posts
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to specify that Glenn Boyd volunteers for the county EMS department. A group of unaffiliated political candidates joined together this week to announce the...
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Main, News...
Mild temps leave Ice Park high, dry
Without key ingredient — ice — and no estimated opening date, officials forced to reimagine festivals
By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
The half-bare walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge tell a story Peter O’Neil wanted no part of — one of 50-degree December days and out-of-work rangers and ice farmers scrambling to find other sources of in...
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Schiffer, Doherty picked for council
Main, News...
Schiffer, Doherty picked for council
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
Ouray Planning Commissioner Kevin Schiffer and former city building inspector Dave Doherty were selected Monday to fill the two vacancies on the Ouray City Council, restoring a full slate of elected o...
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News
Sheriff steps in again to help police
Residents back former interim chief as meeting scheduled to discuss future of policing in Ouray
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
The city of Ouray is once again leaning on the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office to fill gaps in police officer patrol shifts, after City Administrator Michelle Metteer decided not to hire Interim Police ...
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News
Skijoring marks anniversary with expanded competition
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
January 7, 2026
The organizers of the San Juan Skijoring event learned a long time ago they couldn't count on Mother Nature to provide the materials for their competition. Last year, they invested $54,000 in their ow...
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News
Nine vying to fill two openings on Ouray City Council
Council will use ranked choice voting to select councilors
By Mike Wiggins 
January 2, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect council applicant Ashley Hineline's recent job change. The three-member Ouray City Council will have plenty of options to choose from when it deci...
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Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: BRIAN SCRANTON CONVICTED OF SEX ASSAULT
Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
Editor’s note: This story contains details about a sex assault case. Ten years after he was first arrested for alleged sex assault in Ouray County, a Ridgway man was convicted in another sex assault c...
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County endures year of resignations, infighting
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: TUMULT WITHIN TOP RANKS OF COUNTY
County endures year of resignations, infighting
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
Ouray County government weathered a year of turmoil and transition in 2025, and ended the year hopeful that its new top leader would bring a fresh perspective and stability. County commissioners ended...
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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

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

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

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