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Ridgway adopts policy to limit info provided to ICE
September 3, 2025
The Ridgway School District has adopted a policy protecting the information of students, parents, relatives and guardians in situations concerning federal immigration enforcement. Ridgway Superintende...
News
Red Mountain Pass delays scheduled
September 3, 2025
Motorists traveling over Red Mountain Pass should expect lengthy weekday delays starting this week, as San Miguel Power Association continues to rebuild its power line on the pass. A roughly three-mil...
News
News
Ridgway students seek volunteers for oral history project
September 3, 2025
The Global Issues and U.S. History classes at Ridgway Secondary School are seeking volunteers to be interviewed for a history project. The courses, taught by Craig Spearman and Ben Fibbe, include a pr...
Hickenlooper hears concerns from constituents
News
Hickenlooper hears concerns from constituents
Loss of federal funds prompts requests for help with wildfire mitigation, water and more
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
August 29, 2025
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper encouraged Ouray County nonprofits and public officials to persevere, find ways to do more with less money and look for opportunities to change systems during moments of tu...
News
Closures on Red Mountain expected for next few weeks
Five-hour closures scheduled Tuesday-Thursday for power line upgrades
By Erin 
August 29, 2025
Motorists traveling over Red Mountain Pass should expect lengthy weekday delays starting next week, as San Miguel Power Association continues to rebuild its power line on the pass. A roughly three-mil...
Bears start packing on pounds
Main, News...
Bears start packing on pounds
Wildlife officials urge residents to avoid attracting bruins as they seek food before hibernating
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
August 27, 2025
Bears have entered the time of year where they seek food for at least 20 hours a day, trying to pack on the pounds before the first snow flies. The compulsive eating, called hyperphagia, helps prepare...
Features coverage
Good For You!
Feature
Good For You!
September 3, 2025
The “Good For You!” page is a place for reader-submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Maybe you snapped photos of volunteers doing trail work, or your kids raising funds for a...
Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
Sept. 4-18, 2025
September 3, 2025
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4 Ouray County Republican Central Committee monthly meeting, 6 p.m., Ridgway Christian Center, 120 Redcliff Dr. More information at ourayrepublicans.com. Dallas Park Cemetery tour w...
Meet Ouray County’s new teachers
Feature
Meet Ouray County’s new teachers
August 27, 2025
Editor’s note: We have continued the tradition of including Q&A profiles of new teachers in the Ridgway and Ouray school districts in the newspaper this year, to help introduce these new leaders to th...
The purrfect addition to the team
Feature
The purrfect addition to the team
Second Chance welcomes new vet, reopens public clinic
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
August 27, 2025
Dr. Hannah Coenen didn't know at first she wanted to be a veterinarian. She studied wildlife biology and spent a year working in wildlife rehabilitation before deciding on this career path. But she di...
Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
Aug. 28-Sept. 18, 2025
August 27, 2025
THURSDAY AUGUST 28 Heather and Douglas live music, 7 p.m. at The Courtyard at 610, 610 Clinton St. in Ridgway. Entrance through the alley on Cora Street. Tickets $15 in advance at sherbino.org or $20 ...
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Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Let it be known: Care must come before cuts
By Dear Editor: 
September 3, 2025
I just watched (well, when I first wrote this) the president of the U.S. meet with seven key European leaders, along with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. They were obsequiously complimentary and the U....
Letters, Opinion...
Highway near Billy Creek can be improved
By Dear Editor: 
September 3, 2025
The article regarding all the accidents on U.S. Highway 550 left the impression that little could be done. That is probably true on the section south of Ouray where there isn’t room for a guardrail. B...
Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Don’t allow U.S. 550 to become like ‘Killer 82’
By Dear Editor: 
September 3, 2025
Whether local or visitor, commuter or sightseer, we are all affected by the tragic fatalities, devastating injuries and, yes, even the miraculous walkaways associated with this summer’s rash of vehicu...
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Honor Labor Day, remember working families
By Dear Editor: 
September 3, 2025
Each year, our community gathers to celebrate Labor Day — a holiday meant to honor the sacrifices and victories of working people in America. But as I watched this year’s parade, I couldn’t help but n...
Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
County shouldn’t use public land to meet needs
By Dear Editor: 
September 3, 2025
I'm disappointed to read in the Aug. 28 Ouray County Plaindealer that Ouray County commissioners Lynn Padgett and Jake Niece even considered a Bureau of Land Management parcel for its medical services...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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