The Plaindealer prioritizes occupying a very narrow niche in the world of journalism. Some people call it “hyperlocal,” meaning we target a specific geographic area, and particularly in news coverage ...

50 YEARS AGO March 30, 1972 — The real old-fashioned community pride and spirit has shown itself the past two weekends in Ridgway. The problem: cut away and level land for the new Ridgway School. Befo...

Dear Editor: The Ouray County Sheriff's Office's annual report is impressive but demonstrates a serious need for additional staffing. The history of the Sheriff’s Office has two unforgettable blemishe...

The Southern Utes and Ute Mountain Utes are the only two federally recognized tribes in Colorado. Tribal members have been working with us in the General Assembly this year to craft meaningful legisla...

50 YEARS AGO March 16, 1972 — A drastic change took place on Ouray’s Main Street this week, and now people will have to search for other reminders of all the yesterdays embodied in the historic Vanoli...

50 YEARS AGO March 2, 1972 — Rumors romped all over Ouray this week, on the heels of news that Roland Hinkson has filed on 17 unpatented mining claims, all around within the city. Courthouse records a...

A story on Page 1 in the Feb. 17-23 edition incorrectly indicated San Juan Huts is a guide service. The business simply provides backcountry huts for the public through special-use permits administere...

50 YEARS AGO February 24, 1972 - Having the foresight to jump at the right time has saved more than one life in these mountains when a vehicle goes out of control. Monday afternoon, Dick Zanett of Our...

When people ask how my wife, Sandy, and I met, I tell them the following story: I was afoot in Ridgway one night, and while taking a shortcut through an alley in the dark, I stumbled over something. I...

What were Ouray town folk chatting about in the winter of 1922? The Spanish Flu finally had finally waned. The new hot springs pool was filling up. World War I veterans had returned home and were rece...

A Chalkbeat Colorado story that published in the Feb. 3-9 print edition of the Plaindealer incorrectly said the Ouray School District was one of 26 districts in the state flagged by the Colorado Depar...

50 YEARS AGO February 3, 1972 - Dear Editor: One letter to the editor deserves another. I found myself becoming impatient as I read the letters of two local citizens in your paper last week, and I’d l...

50 YEARS AGO January 27, 1972 - There is encouraging increase in use of the Ouray Public Library, according to figures released by Librarian Jonny Jindra. Circulation figures have been steadily increa...

Dear Editor: As the New Year dawns, residents in Louisville and Superior are still shocked at the loss of over 1,000 structures, one confirmed death and damage to more than 100 more homes. Few people ...

50 YEARS AGO January 20, 1972 - The only way the Ouray School can keep its present 18 teachers and current programs is by taking emergency measures. Following defeat in the December election of the re...

I’m trying to decide which New Year's resolutions I’ll be breaking this year. 1. Quit chewing tobacco. Yeah right! Like that’s gonna happen! I’ll quit chewing when it snows 3 feet in Phoenix on the 4t...

50 YEARS AGO January 13, 1972 - Ouray can have smog, too. A temperature inversion headed Ouray into a very smoggy Sunday this week. Smoke collected over town so heavy that buildings and mountains were...

50 YEARS AGO January 6, 1972 - Hopes of beginning construction on a sewer system for the town of Ridgway by April or May seemed dashed Monday night, but the Town Council isn’t giving up the idea. For ...

50 YEARS AGO December 30, 1971 - Marvin Gregory had a painful accident last Wednesday while working with a power saw, and has now joined the club of butchers, carpenters, etc., who are minus fingers o...

Growing up here, I despised the cold and snow. At 6 a.m., 58 years ago, my stepdad Roger and I were driving the team toward the silage pit. The temperature was 15 degrees below zero and it was snowing...