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Latest News
Main, News...
U.S. HIGHWAY 550 ACCIDENTS
State to speed up some safety upgrades on Highway 550
Safety audit of Ridgway-Montrose County section to be done June 2026; shoulder widening to start in 2027
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
The Colorado Department of Transportation will expedite a shoulder-wid...
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New to wildfire science, nonprofit director boasts experience in leadership, planning
News
New to wildfire science, nonprofit director boasts experience in leadership, planning
West Region W ildfire Council's Tim Pinnow to moderate panel discussion Oct. 9
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Tim Pinnow's resume might not immediately lead someone to think about ...
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‘An Iliad’ shares ‘an epic story in a really intimate setting’
Feature
‘An Iliad’ shares ‘an epic story in a really intimate setting’
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Playing in Ouray this weekend, modern-day retelling of Homer's poem ex...
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A race against time, Mother Nature
Main, News...
A race against time, Mother Nature
More than a year after catastrophic flooding, Ridgway pushes to finish water diversion project
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Randy Barnes knew that morning he needed to check on Beaver Creek and the ditch bringing water down from the mountains above Elk Meadows to supply the town of Ridgway. More than 40 years of experience working for the town in public works told him the rain over the weekend probably brought down rocks and mud, and he needed to clean out the ditch. He'd seen several flash flood events over the years,...
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Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
October 1, 2025
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 50 Years Ago October 2, 1975 A one-ticket purchaser won the Jeep Cherokee in the Color Week drawin...
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News
District attorney seeks 35% hike in budget, mostly for payroll
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
October 1, 2025
Just a year after the Seventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office asked Ouray County for a 13% budget increase, the office is seeking to nearly triple that percentage increase in 2026, primarily for p...
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News
Hurd mum on reservoir transfer
Main, News...
Hurd mum on reservoir transfer
Congressman not yet saying whether he'll back city taking over Crystal Reservoir
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd is remaining mum on whether he will support a bill that would transfer Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray. Since Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hick...
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Main, News...
Prairie dog mitigation to proceed
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Top of the Pines will hire a contractor to lethally fumigate a portion of its prairie dog population, despite adopting a management plan prioritizing the animals’ natural occurrence. During a regular ...
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Once in ‘crisis,’ Ouray police rebuilding
Main, News...
Once in ‘crisis,’ Ouray police rebuilding
A year after grave warning, the department is nearly fully staffed, overhauling policies and regaining trust
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Daric Harvey needs another dry erase board. The one hanging on the wall next to his desk is out of room, crammed with a checklist of goals and initiatives Ouray’s interim police chief has etched in bl...
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News
Postal Service probing locked boxes in Ridgway
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
The U.S. Postal Service is addressing complaints from Ridgway residents who had their post office boxes at the Ridgway Post Office locked without notice, violating the agency’s policy. Ridgway residen...
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News
County names trio of manager finalists
Community meet and greet set for Oct. 20; decision could come next day
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Ouray County commissioners have selected three finalists for the county manager vacancy, a step toward ensuring they will usher in new, permanent county leadership for the first time in more than two ...
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School board approves purchase of properties
News
School board approves purchase of properties
Ouray district could use Fourth Street parcels to expand campus, build new gym; dollar amounts not disclosed
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
The Ouray School Board has decided to spend an undisclosed amount of money to buy two neighboring properties for the purpose of expanding the school's campus and possibly building a new gym. Board mem...
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Features coverage
Ridgway girls’ cross country storms Sweitzer Lake
Feature
PREP SPORTS
Ridgway girls’ cross country storms Sweitzer Lake
By By Joel Priest Special to the Plaindealer 
October 1, 2025
DELTA — Keeping a friend close but a cross-country enemy (of sorts) even closer, Natasha and Ariel Hessler’s relaxation run on Sept. 26 may as well have been a continuation of how the 2025 Sweitzer La...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
Oct. 2-16, 2025
October 1, 2025
THURSDAY OCTOBER 2 Ouray County Republican Central Committee monthly meeting, 6 p.m., Twin Peaks Hot Springs Riverside breakfast room, 124 Third St. in Ouray. More information at ourayrepublicans.com....
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‘Ordinary mom’ helps bring history to life
Feature
NEIGHBORS AND HELPERS
‘Ordinary mom’ helps bring history to life
By By Ariel Hessler Special to the Plaindealer 
September 24, 2025
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the location Amanda Caldwell taught in Longmont. For Amanda Caldwell, most mornings start the same way: coffee with her husband, then breakfast ...
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Spotlight on the Arts: Katy Kristoffersen
Feature
SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS
Spotlight on the Arts: Katy Kristoffersen
By By Natasha Hessler Special to the Plaindealer 
September 24, 2025
For Katy Kristoffersen music is therapeutic. Kristoffersen, who is now the music director at the United Church of the San Juans in Ridgway, double- majored in psychology and music at Miami University ...
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New Ouray athletics director seeks to build attendance, program support
Columns, Feature...
PREP ROUNDUP
New Ouray athletics director seeks to build attendance, program support
By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer 
September 24, 2025
Like many with remote positions, Leah Klempner and her husband explored the country through their travels. They made their way to Ouray in 2020 and immediately fell in love, returning each summer afte...
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‘Good people’: New family takes on Ouray Grocery
Feature
‘Good people’: New family takes on Ouray Grocery
Owners with previous ties to San Juans plan to add to inventory
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Brian Howerton found himself in the grocery business by accident. It all started more than 30 years ago, when he left a job in the Wyoming oil fields and moved to help his in-laws open a Kenny Rogers ...
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Special Sections

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Business and Real Estate

Summer Guide

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Editor Picks
Ilene MacLennan
Obituaries
Ilene MacLennan
October 1, 2025
June 1941 – September 2025 Ilene Anita (Jones) MacLennan, widely known as Mimi Mac, passed peacefully in the arms of her son and daughter-in-law. Mimi Mac was born in Waldron, Arkansas in June of 1941...
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Ben Kuehling
Obituaries
Ben Kuehling
October 1, 2025
September 1974 - September 2025 With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Ben Kuehling, a beloved son, brother, and friend, who left us too soon on September 8, at the age of 50, following a brief...
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Ridgway fire chief gets raise
News
Ridgway fire chief gets raise
Fire District board approves expense without public discussion, after taking 10 months to finalize performance evaluation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
September 24, 2025
Ridgway Fire Chief Chris Miller will receive a 14% salary increase and be paid a $95,000 salary for 2025 retroactively, after the Ridgway Fire Protection District’s board of directors approved giving ...
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Letters
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Why the delay in hiring Ouray police chief?
September 24, 2025
Dear Editor: I attended a Ouray City Council meeting some time ago when the interim police chief, Daric Harvey, came up. I've followed with great interest the progress — or lack of — since then. Offic...
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Letters
Thankfully, reservoir came without coal mine
September 24, 2025
Dear Editor: The historical commentary provided in Carolyn Snowbarger's column in the Sept. 11 edition of the Plaindealer left out the most interesting details, specifically the great, award-winning j...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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