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After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: POLICE TURMOIL CONTINUES
After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
After more than a year of turmoil that consumed 2024 and bled over into the first quarter of 2025, the Ouray Police Department underwent a complete tear down and transition under an interim police chi...
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Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: SWISS VILLAGE SAVED
Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
As the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025, things looked bleak for the residents of Swiss Village Mobile Home Park in Ouray. They had rallied to form a cooperative in the wake of learning the park was...
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Field of dreams realized in Ridgway
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: ATHLETIC COMPLEX FINISHED
Field of dreams realized in Ridgway
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
Ridgway Secondary School athletes were tired. Tired of running on hard surfaces that were tough on their bodies and practicing in school hallways and backyards. Tired of carpooling to Olathe in order ...
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Legislators seek to transfer reservoir to city
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: CRYSTAL RESERVOIR BILLS INTRODUCED
Legislators seek to transfer reservoir to city
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
Bipartisan members of Congress representing Ouray County co-sponsored bills introduced in 2025 to transfer Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray, nearly a year after the ...
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Town builds public trail after judge allows land buy
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: RIDGWAY WINS CONDEMNATION CASE
Town builds public trail after judge allows land buy
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
The town of Ridgway won its case to condemn private property to build a public trail from the River Park subdivision to Ridgway Secondary School, after attempts to purchase a slice of property from th...
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Spike in wrecks prompts concern, improvements
News
TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: HIGHWAY 550 SAFETY CONCERNS
Spike in wrecks prompts concern, improvements
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 31, 2025
A spike in fatal and serious-injury accidents on U.S. Highway 550 in Ouray County in 2025 caught the attention of the public and the Colorado Department of Transportation, which moved to expedite some...
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Oh, what fun it is to dance
Main, News...
Oh, what fun it is to dance
December 24, 2025
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Affordable housing nonprofit to expand across state
Main, News...
Affordable housing nonprofit to expand across state
Telluride-based Rural Homes plans to build 120 new units in 2026, but future of Ouray project unclear
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 24, 2025
Telluride-based Rural Homes is entering a new era of affordable housing work across the state after bringing on a new CEO and looking beyond pilot projects in Ouray and San Miguel counties. The afford...
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News
Commissioners appoint replacement clerk
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
December 24, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have appointed a current employee to replace outgoing Clerk and Recorder Cristy Lynn when she leaves her position in January. Commissioners unanimously approved appointing c...
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News
Fire district adopts budget with expanded wildland program
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
December 24, 2025
The Ridgway Fire Protection District board of directors last week adopted a 2026 budget slightly larger than its 2025 budget, while expanding its wildland firefighting program. The board approved a 20...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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...
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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...
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A visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
Main, News...
A visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus
December 10, 2025
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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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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

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

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PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

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