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Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Coming soon: A spruced-up Plaindealer
By Erin McIntyre 
June 11, 2025
The Plaindealer just celebrated its 148th birthday. Personally, I don't think it looks a day over 99. Still, from time to time, we need to show the paper some love and spruce it up. That's why we've b...
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Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Weary of mail problems? Try the e-edition
By Mike Wiggins 
June 4, 2025
The newspaper you’re reading is mailed to nearly 900 post office boxes and street addresses in more than 40 states every week and sent to more than 1,300 email addresses. Once in a while, a mailed new...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Hurd breaks promise to voters
May 28, 2025
Dear Editor: Our Third Congressional District Representative, Jeff Hurd, voted to cut at least $715 billion in health care spending and $300 billion from SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progra...
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Drought reigns as county barrels toward summer
Columns, Opinion...
Drought reigns as county barrels toward summer
By Karen Risch 
May 28, 2025
Ouray County, along with much of far western Colorado and other Southwestern states, is now in severe drought status, according to NOAA’s U.S. West Drought Monitor, released Tuesday, May 20. More worr...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
A brief appreciation
May 21, 2025
Dear Editor: It was so nice to read the News Briefs in the Plaindealer. I, personally, prefer it when you have shorter, more concise, informative articles that don't contain confrontational subject ma...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dim the lights, help the birds
May 7, 2025
Dear Editor: Late April and early May is peak time for spring bird migration in Colorado! According to a May 3 article in the Denver Post, bird populations are in a steady decline. Many reports and re...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Hurd’s defense of Medicaid welcome
April 30, 2025
Dear Editor: I was pleased to read the online article (posted April 25) regarding Representative Hurd’s appearance at the recent county commissioners’ meeting. It is but the most recent example of you...
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Letters, Opinion...
Are we ready for the next round of growth?
April 30, 2025
Dear Editor: Neighbors, the biggest problem with growth occurs when it is not anticipated and not managed. Look at Ridgway’s current growth. No one can say, “I didn’t see that coming.” Are we planning...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Be mindful of shared history
April 23, 2025
Dear Editor: Although disturbing and sad, I was keenly interested in the anti-immigrant history lesson shared by columnist Carolyn Snowbarger in the April 10 edition. (“The forgotten – and shameful – ...
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Letters, Opinion...
Don’t stick us with legal bill
April 23, 2025
Dear Editor: Why would a county commissioner need legal representation? As elected officials, county commissioners are afforded consid- erable protection from liability by the Colorado Governmental Im...
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Brief warm spells, plenty of snow — yes, it’s April
Columns, Opinion...
Brief warm spells, plenty of snow — yes, it’s April
By Karen Risch 
April 23, 2025
April, a notorious trickster of a month, has lived up to its reputation this year. Fine hot spells, not-so-good freezing temperatures, ample snow and, unfortunately, a continuing drought. It’s been a ...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Padgett needs to pay for her own attorney
April 16, 2025
Dear Editor: At their April 22 meeting, the Ouray County commissioners will be deciding to approve or deny a request from Commissioner Lynn Padgett to pay her personal attorney fee of approximately $1...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Allow property owners to plow in winter
April 16, 2025
Dear Editor: In response to last week's article by Lia Salvatierra about road plowing, I have lived in Ouray for practically my whole life and have watched county commissioners increase government ove...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Residents can take simple actions to protect planet
April 16, 2025
Dear Editor: April 22, 1970, was the date Earth Day was created. It was initiated by Sen. Gaylord Nelson to raise awareness about environmental issues and encourage action to protect the planet. We ca...
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Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Ouray deserves better than fake public votes, shredding documents
By Erin McIntyre 
April 9, 2025
Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. I've been thinking about that quote from C.S. Lewis a lot lately, because I'm concerned about secret activities in the city of Ouray t...
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The forgotten — and shameful — history of Silverton
Columns, Opinion...
The forgotten — and shameful — history of Silverton
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
April 9, 2025
Mining entrepreneurs founded the town of Silverton in 1874. With the discovery of silver, gold and zinc, it was a boomtown with prospectors, suppliers and builders arriving daily for adventure, riches...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Public shouldn’t pay lawyer fees
April 2, 2025
Dear Editor: I don't believe that Lynn Padgett deserves to have Ouray County pay her attorney fees, but if it will stop her Trump-like whining about how unfairly she has been treated I guess I am OK w...
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Letters, Opinion...
Don’t kill the prairie dogs
April 2, 2025
Dear Editor: This is in response to the March 18 Board of County Commissioners’ meeting. The activity which initiated this was the Top of the Pines board's improper and dangerous poisoning of the Gunn...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
What a waste
March 26, 2025
Dear Editor: Regarding the city of Ouray's decision to pay $120,000 to former Police Chief Jeff Wood to settle his lawsuit: What a careless waste of my tax dollars. Shame on that crooked cop and shame...
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Letters, Opinion...
Relief, worry from Hurd’s comments
March 26, 2025
Dear Editor: My husband and I attended Jeff Hurd’s telephone town hall Tuesday, March 11. We were relieved to hear that our new representative supports Ukraine and the rehiring of fired federal worker...
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Editor Picks
Blood moon rising
Main, News...
Blood moon rising
March 4, 2026
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Main, News...
City: No to more remote governance
Ouray council rejects member's request to attend more meetings from afar
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 4, 2026
The Ouray City Council on Monday unanimously rejected a councilor’s request for greater leeway to participate in council meetings remotely, agreeing it’s vital for elected officials to face constituen...
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A dilemma 25 years in the making
Main, News...
4-H EVENT CENTER
A dilemma 25 years in the making
Commissioners determined to improve fiscal health of facility plagued by management, use questions since its donation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 4, 2026
The dilemma of how to manage, finance and use the Ouray County 4-H Event Center is coming full circle, reflecting conversations that happened more than 25 years ago when the facility was donated to th...
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Pool house design draws varied reactions
News
Pool house design draws varied reactions
Residents alternately praise, pan contemporary appearance, debate proposed community space
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 4, 2026
Ouray County residents peppered architects and Ouray parks and recreation officials with questions and feedback about a proposed new pool house at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, revealing a broad spectru...
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News
Rural teens, caregivers sought to participate in suicide risk study
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
March 4, 2026
Editor's note: This story talks about topics related to suicide. If you or anyone else needs resources, please call or text 988 or visit 988colorado.com. For Dr. Maya Haasz, it didn’t feel right to us...
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First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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