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Latest News
Main, News...
Backcountry road closure eyed
County to shut off portion of Yankee Boy Basin to vehicles this summer due to environmental damage
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday directed staff to pursue closing...
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Councilor seeks relaxed in-person attendance policy
News
Councilor seeks relaxed in-person attendance policy
Doherty claims job keeps him out of town; council to decide whether to change cap on remote participation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
A newly appointed Ouray city councilor who has attended just half of t...
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Go-away-finding: Ouray to nix project, remove signs
News
Go-away-finding: Ouray to nix project, remove signs
After spending more than $100K on branding, design and fabrication, council halts wayfinding initiative that could have cost up to $800K
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Large maroon wayfinding signs installed on Main Street in Ouray last s...
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Bright start, cloudy future for bus service
Main, News...
Bright start, cloudy future for bus service
Two years after launch, OurWay ridership has doubled. It’s unclear if grant money and matching local funds will help it keep running
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Georgia Evans greeted the bus driver with jugs of milk and water in her hands and boarded the 11-seater OurWay shuttle, headed home from work in Ridgway to Montrose. She noticed it was a different bus driver from the usual one. Evans would know. The 26-year-old single mom takes the bus every day to work at Mountain Market in Ridgway. She makes good money at the grocery store, and the service is th...
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Wet snow, later sunsets mark spring’s approach
Columns, Opinion...
Wet snow, later sunsets mark spring’s approach
By Karen Risch 
February 25, 2026
Thanks to warming sun, wet snow showers, spells of shirtsleeve weather, earlier sunrises and later sunsets, meteorological spring (March 1) is upon us. It’s been an a-ha moment these last two weeks as...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
February 25, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago February 24, 1966 In a decision handed down Feb. 10, District Judge Fred Calhoon rule...
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News
News
County attorney gets high marks in evaluation
Niece, Nauer give Caselli 99 out of 100 points; no record of evaluation from Padgett, who missed meeting
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
February 25, 2026
Ouray County Attorney Leo Caselli received a near-perfect annual performance review score from two county commissioners who reviewed his performance earlier this month. Caselli scored 99 out of 100 po...
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News
For first time in four years, Ridgway to hold election
Two vying for mayor, three competing for five council seats
By lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
By Lia Salvatierra The town of Ridgway will hold an election for mayor and town council for the first time in four years, since there are enough candidates who qualified to run for the election to mak...
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News
Ridgway sewer rates may rise this year
Town engineer: Millions of dollars in state-mandated improvements needed
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
February 25, 2026
Ridgway residents may end up paying more on their sewer bills next year, but the timing of the proposed increase and the amount is still up in the air. If town leaders decide to raise rates, it will b...
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News
City reroutes funds to pay for pedestrian crosswalk project
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
February 25, 2026
Ouray city councilors voted last week to redirect funds originally designated for wayfinding signs to build two crosswalks on either side of town, which is costing more than expected. During a Feb. 17...
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News
City to consider creating local license for tobacco retailers
February 25, 2026
Ouray city councilors will hold a work session to discuss a proposal to create a local license for tobacco retailers, on top of a state license, with a goal of reducing underage access to nicotine pro...
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News
Councilor criticizes spending
February 25, 2026
Councilor Dave Doherty voiced frustration about the council’s move to spend money on two items it had initially or previously approved before he was appointed to the board. He voted against approving ...
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Features coverage
Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
Feb. 19-28, 2026
February 18, 2026
Thursday, February 19 Community book club, noon-1 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library. Bring lunch and discuss "The Road to Tender Hearts" by Annie Hartnett. Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech pr...
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Wine Fest returns to Ouray
Feature
Wine Fest returns to Ouray
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
February 11, 2026
The fourth annual Ouray Winter Wine Festival just happens to fall on Valentine's Day this year. And that means not only will there be wine — there will be flowers, chocolate and more goodies to help s...
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How science fiction, silver built Mount Sneffels
Columns, Feature...
How science fiction, silver built Mount Sneffels
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
February 11, 2026
For those of us lucky enough to step onto our decks or open our front doors to a view of the northern San Juans, one silhouette dominates the horizon: Mount Sneffels. Known as the "Queen of the San Ju...
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Senior’s work ethic pays off with superb season
Columns, Feature...
Senior’s work ethic pays off with superb season
By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer 
February 11, 2026
The majority of high school student-athletes in Ouray County are headed on a post-graduation pathway in a career in something other than sports. But for some, their drive to excel extends to a desire ...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
February 11, 2026
Thursday, February 12 Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech problems from 4-6 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Walk-ins welcome. After school Valentine's Day craft time for eleme...
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Good for you! Uncompahgre STEAM Fair
Feature
Good for you! Uncompahgre STEAM Fair
February 4, 2026
The “Good For You!” page is a place for reader-submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Want to submit a photo for publication? Here are some guidelines for submissions: - This ...
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News
Councilors select new legal counsel
February 25, 2026
The Ouray City Council approved selecting Karp Neu Hanlon as its new legal counsel during a Feb. 17 meeting. The law firm has an office in Ridgway with additional offices in Glenwood Springs, Aspen an...
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Good for you!
News
Good for you!
Send us your celebrations!
February 25, 2026
The “Good For You!” page is a place for reader-submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Want to submit a photo for publication? Here are some guidelines for submissions: - This ...
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Leading governor candidates spar over best approach to affordable housing
News
Leading governor candidates spar over best approach to affordable housing
By By Chase Woodruff 
February 25, 2026
Democrats Michael Bennet, Phil Weiser seek to lead state that ranks among 10 least affordable for housing Colorado Newsline The two leading candidates for Colorado governor broadly agree on the need t...
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News
Homeowners’ insurance taking bigger bite of budget
By By Rachel Cohen KUNC 
February 25, 2026
In a nondescript office building in Littleton, insurance agents sit in cubicles, talking into headsets. They are fielding calls from homeowners searching for coverage that won’t break the bank. “It's ...
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News
Bill would put workplace safety rules in state law
Legislation anticipates lack of federal enforcement
By Sara Wilson Colorado Newsline 
February 25, 2026
A bill championed by a pair of Colorado Democrats seeks to put federal workplace safety law into state statute in anticipation of rollbacks and lack of enforcement by the Occupational Safety and Healt...
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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