A beautiful, early summer day has begun on the ranch. Well, to tell the truth, every day on the ranch is beautiful — and an early one. It doesn’t matter if it is a work day or not. The Cowboy is out o...

My column this week was going to review the work we were doing at the Capitol as we rejoined with other Legislators after so many weeks of working at home. But, instead, it is about my heart. I am gri...

Dear Editor: A “yes” vote, June 30, on the recall election of Sheriff Lance FitzGerald is the most important vote facing Ouray County residents. The campaign for Ted Wolfe or Justin Perry is irrelevan...

Dear Editor: Hello Ouray County Citizens, I hope you are all well, in good health and you are surviving this COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a difficult time for everyone. Hopefully we will all be able...

Dear Editor: I would like to thank Mike and Erin of the Plaindealer for their support of the graduating Class of zozo and me. Their kind doings have really helped the senior class and I enjoy our grad...

Dear Editor: Last week the Plaindealer wrote a lengthy article about City Council. I’d like to address only what referred to myself. I don’t speak up about too much but I did to the two letters that w...

Ridgway resident Cat Lichtenbelt sews custom fabric masks for people in her mobile sewing studio — a travel trailer she set up next to the Ridgway Fire House during Farmer’s Market on Friday. Lichtenb...

May 2020 has been hot and dry, with gusty winds 46 to 49 mph buffeting Ouray for two days last week Daytime highs have averaged 68.9 degrees, nights 39.9. Normal May highs are 63.5 degrees, lows 37.7....

Dear Editor: I’m a free American. That’s important to me, but what does it mean? Free elections, free speech, freedom to drink alcohol, freedom to drive drunk, freedom to smoke pot in the park, freedo...

Dear Editor: In regard to the article on the KOA, It is obvious to me that the folks who run the KOA have no concern about the community they live and work in. They care more about the money they can ...

Dear Editor: Your recent article on the KOA campground and county lodging limits brought to mind a book I read nearly 3o years ago. In it the historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. lamented the lack of soci...

The Ouray County Plaindealer earned the top award for newspapers in its class from the Colorado Press Association for its work in 2019, along with recognition for general excellence, editorial excelle...

Editor's note: We hope you enjoy the first column from our newest contributor, Carolyn Snowbarger of Ridgway. Carolyn is a retired teacher who has a curiosity for the history of this region. Her colum...

Colorado’s general fund is taking a pounding during the pandemic. Unless Washington steps in with more aid to state and local governments, legislators are facing the challenge of cutting potentially u...

Wolfe, Schmidt will be a formidable team Dear Editor: Many of you won't know who I am. After a 20-year career with the Wichita Police Department, I retired and moved to Ouray in October 1981. On Janua...

The long-anticipated Ouray Via Ferrata is scheduled to open to the public on Memorial Day weekend, adding another human-powered activity to Ouray’s long list of outdoor recreation pursuits and potent...

Bird songs are a part of the music existence.” — Enos A. Mills Most people think the large group of sparrows are just in a class called L.B.B. (little brown birds) and are often overlooked, because of...

Voters have solid choice of candidates for sheriff Dear Editor: The Ouray County Sheriff’s Office has recently suffered major incidents involving the top two leadership officers. People are aware of t...

Ridgway favorite Panny’s Pizza has new owners, but the menu and management will stay the same, ensuring happy customers continue to enjoy pizza, soup and ice cream. John Lynch and his fiancee, Frida D...

Ouray residents Heather and Josh Smith are the new owners of O’Toys and are moving the beloved Ouray toy store a few blocks south to a new location just off Main Street. The couple has lived in Ouray ...