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Opinion
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dismissal of forest ranger an insult
March 5, 2025
Dear Editor: My heart goes out to Kricket Olin, former alpine ranger, with the Ouray Ranger District of the Uncompahgre National Forest. She was incredibly qualified for that position and had received...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Planning Commission’s work deserves praise, not criticism
March 5, 2025
Dear Editor: It seems the chair of the Board of County Commissioners (Jake Niece) has lost track of common courtesy. Rather than praise the Planning Commission for their dedication, thoughtfulness and...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ouray County, U.S. need Congress to do its job, rein in Musk
February 26, 2025
Dear Editor: Let’s get real for a minute. I’m guessing that in Ouray County our interactions with federal government programs are connected primarily with Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, grazing a...
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After February warmup, what’s in store for March?
Columns, Opinion...
After February warmup, what’s in store for March?
By Karen Risch 
February 26, 2025
Two weeks ago, following the first of two meltingly wet 8-inch February snowstorms, the grape hyacinths, daffodils and tulips decided it was time to shake off winter. Their deep green foliage was a re...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Sheriff, marshal stances on immigration appreciated
February 19, 2025
Dear Editor: I want to thank you for publishing the very informative article by Lindsey Toomer of the Colorado Newsline and the policies of our police (Feb. 6-12 edition). I am personally very concern...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Devising police solutions requires open mind
February 19, 2025
Dear Editor: I would like to thank the Plaindealer for your well-researched article on law enforcement intergovernmental agreements in Colorado. To make it clear, I am not a resident of Ouray, but I d...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Drug affordability at risk
February 5, 2025
Dear Editor: In his first day in office President Trump revoked former President Biden’s Executive Order No. 14087, which was designed to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare and Medicaid enroll...
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Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHERS
Have opinions about the Plaindealer? We want to hear them
February 5, 2025
Who wants to come have lunch and tell us what you think of the Plaindealer? Yep, we're looking for some of our readers to share their opinions. Sounds like fun, right? We're inviting readers to apply ...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Wild horses managed improperly
February 5, 2025
Dear Editor: I have been involved in the wild horse and burro issue for over 40 years. The best researched facts I have found are Craig Downer’s 2012 book, "The Wild Horse Conspiracy," and James Klein...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Preconceived notions sunk police chief hiring decision
January 29, 2025
Dear Editor: The decision to bypass a thorough four-month vetting process in selecting Ouray’s new police chief raises serious concerns about our community’s commitment to professionalism and fairness...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Community kindness overwhelming
January 29, 2025
Dear Editor: I would like to express my sincere appreciation for everyone in the community who has reached out to me after the recent death of my husband, Don Moden. I am overwhelmed with gratitude fo...
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Frigid January follows one of hottest years on record
Columns, Opinion...
Frigid January follows one of hottest years on record
By Karen Risch 
January 29, 2025
It’s been a bitter January for most of the Mountain West and eastern two-thirds of the country. The huge arctic airmass responsible for this outbreak measured 10,000 feet deep on soundings in Riverton...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Despite headlines, my mother deserves love and support
January 22, 2025
Dear Editor: I write this letter not to you, but to my mother, Lynn Padgett. One of my earliest memories is holding her hand as we walked through Ouray, knocking on doors and meeting residents. I didn...
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Letters, Opinion...
Gratitude for mobile home park donors’ generosity
January 15, 2025
Dear Editor: I would like to express my gratitude for the remarkable act of kindness demonstrated by Jay and Jackie Lauderdale, and Cat and Barthold Lichtenbelt in making a nearly one-million-dollar d...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Chief candidates deserve questions
January 15, 2025
Dear Editor: I am writing to thank the Plaindealer for their article last week, "Police chief finalists to visit Ouray." The general public, although we have a tremendous stake in who leads our Police...
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The rise, fall and rise of Ophir
Columns, Opinion...
The rise, fall and rise of Ophir
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
January 8, 2025
Put Ophir, Colorado, on your exploration bucket list for this summer. At 9,695 feet in elevation, this off-the-beaten-path community is seven miles southwest of Telluride and 10 “adventurous” miles fr...
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Opinion
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Where moo the cows?
January 1, 2025
Dear Editor: Where moo the cows that once feasted On the greenest of Uncompahgre grasses? Perhaps they were whisked away by green aliens, Jersey drones, Mothman, or the chupacabra? Or maybe the bovine...
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Opinion
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
When judicial system falls short, what can we do?
December 25, 2024
Dear Editor: I am appalled, dismayed and enraged that alleged rapist Brian Scranton pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual assault in spite of basically admitting to forced intercourse without consen...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
School district should rethink characteristics of learner
December 11, 2024
Dear Editor: Recently, the Ouray School District adopted five concepts that Ouray School will teach for and teach by. These words are: "Honorable, Resilient, Authentic, Inquisitive and Worldly." These...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Let’s save Swiss Village
December 11, 2024
Dear Editor: Swiss Village is a small, thriving mobile home neighborhood with 20 homes on 3 acres on Oak Street in Ouray. The residents own the homes but not the land beneath them. Thanks to the owner...
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Editor Picks
Smoke blankets Ouray County as wildfires burn in region
News
Smoke blankets Ouray County as wildfires burn in region
By Mike Wiggins 
July 11, 2025
Heavy smoke and haze choked Ouray County for a second straight day Friday as a series of wildfires churned through tinder-dry trees and brush in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. The Colora...
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Signs of trouble in Ouray
Main, News...
Signs of trouble in Ouray
City halts production after public backlash over size, appearance of wayfinding signs
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 9, 2025
Ouray business owners and residents threw up a symbolic stop sign in front of the city council on Monday, urging city leaders to pause or altogether abandon plans to install dozens of new wayfinding s...
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Go Fourth and celebrate
Main, News...
Go Fourth and celebrate
July 9, 2025
The crowd cheers as a fire department tanker truck sprays the wet side of the street during the July 4 parade in Ouray. Ouray Tourism and Destination Marketing Director Kailey Rhoten said cellular dat...
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Main, News...
County scrambles to pay for road repairs from rockfall
Leaders pull from multiple sources to cover $300,000 tab, look to replenish emergency fund
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 9, 2025
Ouray County is scraping together money to pay for emergency repairs on County Road 361 while looking for ways to replenish its emergency fund in anticipation of other disasters. During a work session...
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News
Hot Springs moves forward with upgrades
Council OKs bathhouse design contract; pipeline replacement, heat exchange system on tap this fall
By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com 
July 9, 2025
A series of much-anticipated upgrades to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool is coming together, with the city beginning infrastructure replacements this fall and searching for ways to pay for building a new b...
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First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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