1873 was a big year for miners in the San Juan Mountains. Two prospectors, Charles McIntyre and Abe Burrows, decided to try their luck at higher elevations and staked several claims. In addition to go...

Last week, Mike and I took a moment for lunch at a local restaurant, sitting in a daze while we began planning the next edition. Thursday is a day of recovery, a day I feel hungover from the exhaustio...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: Recently there has been more light shed on Ouray County’s rape culture problem. Here’s a good definition from Vox: “Rape culture is a culture in which sexual violence...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: Last month I was on a rare vacation in Boston. My house sitter went on an errand and one of my dogs snuck out the back door into the fenced yard and was barking for a...

Dear Editor: Ouray County is uncommonly civil, a place where its people preserve an ever- shrinking mountainfolk culture amid the raucous noise of our digital world. Here the steep beauty and refreshi...

Dear Editor: As a newish resident to Ouray, it’s not always clear what exactly the issues are with the Ouray Hot Springs. When longtime residents mention the hot springs were better before the remodel...

Dear Editor: Men, are you angry? Apparently, to some of us, to men we know, it seems perfectly acceptable to incapacitate a woman, rape her, and blithely go about one’s day. Where is our outrage? In c...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR to your continued success. Thank you and keep up the great work. Dear Editor: Residents and visitors alike count ourselves lucky to partake in our unique part of the world. The wo...

Dear Editor: Thanks for shaking things up in our not-so-secret rape and otherwise misogynistic culture. Loved the letters supporting you and your terrific paper. Just wanted to support your efforts an...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: The front page treatment of the latest reported sexual assault in Ouray was followed a week later by a letter to editor from Robyn Cascade, respected Ridgway educator...

Dear Editor: Last week’s edition of the Plaindealer included a letter asking for Ouray Police Chief Jeff Wood's resignation. The sole reason from the writer was the public silence of the chief. Since ...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: As residents of the town of Ridgway, and the parents of four young children, we cannot say enough about how awesome this town is. From its vibrant, creative communit...

Dear Editor: Thank you for sharing the news about the town of Ridgway continuing its contract with the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce in the Jan. 18 Plaindealer article. The RACC board and staff bel...

Dear Editor: The latest study on the climate crisis by 200 climate scientists indicates that the Earth is perilously close to several “tipping points.” These are moments when the Earth has warmed beyo...

Dear Editor: In all my years, I’ve never seen a Plaindealer like last week’s. So many emotions, and so many different opinions. In light of that, I’m writing to urge us to pull together as a community...

It’s the last week of January and it’s been a strange weather roller coaster of a month. But then, last year was strange, too. Four warm days averaging nearly 40 degrees and little snow on the ground ...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: It is understood that it is the job of journalists to get the stories out. Your recent piece about the alleged rape of a girl is a complete injustice to any woman who...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: I am writing to express my deep concern and dismay over the recent incident involving the alleged sexual assault of a minor by the police chief's stepson and two othe...

Dear Editor: My wife and I used to travel to Ouray often when we lived in Colorado. It’s an absolutely beautiful town. I was shocked to read about your newspapers being stolen this week, apparently to...

Dear Editor: Good for you clarifying this situation with the stolen newspapers! When I initially read the article I was impressed that finally sexual abuse was being treated in a straightforward, hone...