50 YEARS AGO December 9, 1971 - With the advent of excellent sledding conditions, kids have been observed all over Ouray, sledding in areas not particularly conducive to coming home alive. The Ouray C...

Thanksgiving is here – and we do need a respite from pressing issues. Given this latest COVID outbreak, the recent international agreement on climate change, our lingering drought and a second La Niña...

50 YEARS AGO November 18, 1971 - It was anything but relaxing and certainly a very different kind of “wilderness experience” for those who attended the lengthy hearings, Monday through Thursday this w...

An article on Page 2 of the Nov. 11-17 Plaindealer should have clarified that Ouray Silver Mines does not make the decision to open or close County Road 361. This decision is made solely by Ouray Coun...

Dear Editor: On behalf of our students, our staff, our school board and our entire Ridgway School District, we would like to thank the Ridgway voters for their support in the passage of ballot measure...

50 YEARS AGO November 11, 1971 - Police Blotter: October 4, Women’s outhouse was moved from Rotary Park to the swimming pool area on U.S. 550. Attempt to burn outhouse was made. People involved were l...

Dear Editor: Before the recent election, I was disturbed to receive a postcard from a kindergartner from Ridgway Elementary recently. This little one begged us to vote for 4A and 4B, then signed her n...

Dear Editor: 315 people voted for taxing tourists, out of nearly 900 registered voters. That does not sound like an overwhelming mandate when only 35% of the good people of Ouray wish to limit tourism...

50 YEARS AGO November 4, 1971 - Ouray, San Miguel and Montrose counties have come to an agreement to combine forces to obtain a full-time planner, whose services the three counties will share. Ouray C...

After three unusually hot summer months followed by a hotter than average September (days 3.8 degrees above normal, nights 2.1 above), October 2021 has been relatively temperate. By Tuesday the 26th, ...

50 YEARS AGO October 28, 1971 - The 10 percent drop in school enrollment this term is costing the Ouray School District R-1 about $12,000 in state aid under the 1969 School Foundation Act. In addition...

Sandy has gone to Indiana to visit our family. She left Hobo the cat and me here to look after things. What the heck was she thinkin’?! That's kinda like leavin’ a rabbit to guard a head of lettuce! I...

50 YEARS AGO October 21, 1971 - Word was received late Wednesday this week that the dam proposed at Ridgway will not go in there, which will come as welcome news to many in this area who have opposed ...

50 YEARS AGO October 7, 1971 - Two escapes from the Roubideau Honor Camp at Delta, one considered dangerous, were captured in Ouray at 11 a.m. last Friday by officers from the camp, the Ouray and Mont...

Dear Editor: Join me in voting yes for 4A (MLO) and 4B (BOND) to preserve excellence in our local schools. The State of Colorado has taken more than $5.3 million from the Ridgway School District’s rev...

50 YEARS AGO September 30, 1971 - Kitchen Korner with Betty Goddard High Altitude Kitchen Tested Recipes: Hello Friends; You should step into my kitchen, the aroma is simply wonderful. Why? Because I ...

Much of this really glorious, golden September has been hot and dry; thankfully though, this week’s cooler and wetter. By Tuesday morning, the 28th, day temperatures averaged 75.2 degrees (the new nor...

Dear Editor: On Nov. 2, Ouray voters will be asked to pass a 15% excise tax on short-term rentals, but the ballot language is not very specific. It states that the tax is to “use the proceeds to fund ...

Dear Editor: According to the May, 2021 Notice of Valuation from the county assessor’s office my property taxes due in 2022 went up approximately 15% (if the mill levy remains the same). The revenue f...

Dear Editor: The Grand Mesa-Uncompahgre-Gunnison National Forest released its draft forest plan and draft Environmental Impact Statement on Aug. 13, which opened the 90-day comment period. The forest ...