50 YEARS AGO July 15, 1971 - A major piece of business was transacted in the Ouray City Council meeting Monday night that may effect a considerable change in the appearance of Ouray’s business distric...

Dear Editor: On behalf of the entire family of Paul McElrea, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the friends who helped search for our beloved Paul and the Ouray County professionals, in ...

We’ve reached the time in summer when we play a game I don’t like much. The “where’s that smoke coming from” game. The haze first brings grayish skies, muddying our views of the spectacular mountain v...

A search for a missing Ridgway man ended tragically on Wednesday morning after his body was found at the scene of a motorcycle accident. Paul McElrea, 52, had left home before midnight on Monday and d...

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the Santa Fe Trail (1821-2021). This commercial route connected Missouri and Santa Fe and was an “international highway” used by travelers, settlers, freighter...

Rain spattered the plastic dessert plates as a breeze jostled the giant inflatable movie screen. “We invite you to watch the rest of the movie inside,” a voice announced. “Terry has a theater inside h...

In spite of a dry, warm May on most of the Western Slope, the San Juans and Ouray saw plentiful moisture and relatively cool temperatures the third week of the month. High mountains emerged with 5-10 ...

Since Sandy and I just celebrated our third wedding anniversary, I thought it only fitting to write this column. On June 1, 2018, Sandy and I were married at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk. The following is a true sto...

Most newspapers have a policy against allowing prior review. That’s the term we use when sources want to read an article before it’s published. There are a few reasons why we don’t allow this practice...

50 YEARS AGO June 10, 1971 - “Since I have been in this office, I have bitten by dogs four times — and there is four dead dogs.” Police Chief Harold Boyd made the statement Monday night at city counci...

Travel back (way back) in time along the Trail of the Ancients, a National Scenic Byway. This route showcases the archaeological and cultural history of the Native American peoples in the Four Corners...

I'm writing this column on my 71st birthday. Now that I'm a full-fledged, certified, card-carrying member of the social security crowd, I want to inform the younger generations of what they have to lo...

Robert “Bob” DeJulio was one of many locals who worked on the classic western movie, “True Grit,” in 1968. He was a “sign painter” when he got the gig of his life turning the little ranching town of R...

50 YEARS AGO May 6, 1971 - Reorganization to combine the Ouray and Ridgway school districts was defeated Tuesday by only 50 votes, 258 to 208, in one of the heaviest school elections in either Ouray o...

My grandfather was a mover and shaker in the Colorado sugar beet industry with Great Western Sugar, and he was also a professor of agriculture at Colorado State University. But the ag roots my brother...

Morning birdsong, tiny bees, blooming apricots, sprightly daffodils, thick green grass – the wonder that is April finally arrived. The first 15 days of the month were bone-dry, though. Luckily, since ...

Not knowing how much time I have left on Earth, I want to share some of my favorite sayings. Some are my originals, but most are quotes from family and friends. Mostly nonsense, but if you look deep, ...

50 YEARS AGO April 8, 1971 - The Ridgway Town Council had received a letter from Mr. and Mrs. Pastore requesting a public dance permit for the Fort Smith Tavern and Little Chef Cafe. Mr. Tom Van Arsda...

50 YEARS AGO April 1, 1971 - It just may be that phone users will find the lines much busier than usual around the Ouray area this weekend, if too many people are playing with the new direct distance ...

Dear Editor: Greetings to members of the Ouray County Health Department and all volunteers who have assisted in providing the important vaccinations for COVID-19. My wife Margaret and I think of today...