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Mild temps leave Ice Park high, dry

Without key ingredient — ice — and no estimated opening date, officials forced to reimagine festivals

By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

The half-bare walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge tell a story Peter O’Neil...

Main, News...

Schiffer, Doherty picked for council

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

Ouray Planning Commissioner Kevin Schiffer and former city building in...

News

Sheriff steps in again to help police

Residents back former interim chief as meeting scheduled to discuss future of policing in Ouray

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

The city of Ouray is once again leaning on the Ouray County Sheriff’s ...

Main, News...

Unaffiliated county candidates announce election campaigns

First-timers Todd, Oakland seek clerk, treasurer posts

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to specify that Glenn Boyd volunteers for the county EMS department. A group of unaffiliated political candidates joined together this week to announce their campaigns for office. Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry, Ouray County Commissioner Michelle Nauer, Ouray County Assessor Susie Mayfield and Ouray County Coroner Glenn Boyd met on the courthouse ste...

News

Skijoring marks anniversary with expanded competition

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

The organizers of the San Juan Skijoring event learned a long time ago they couldn't count on Mother Nature to provide the materials for their competition. Last year, they invested $54,000 in their ow...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

Jan. 8-22, 2026

January 7, 2026

Thursday, January 8 Sewing class: Mug Rugs, from 1-3 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Sign up at the front desk. Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech problems from 4-6 p.m. at t...

News

Nine vying to fill two openings on Ouray City Council

Council will use ranked choice voting to select councilors

By Mike Wiggins

January 2, 2026

Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect council applicant Ashley Hineline's recent job change. The three-member Ouray City Council will have plenty of options to choose from when it deci...

Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: BRIAN SCRANTON CONVICTED OF SEX ASSAULT

Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Editor’s note: This story contains details about a sex assault case. Ten years after he was first arrested for alleged sex assault in Ouray County, a Ridgway man was convicted in another sex assault c...

County endures year of resignations, infighting

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: TUMULT WITHIN TOP RANKS OF COUNTY

County endures year of resignations, infighting

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Ouray County government weathered a year of turmoil and transition in 2025, and ended the year hopeful that its new top leader would bring a fresh perspective and stability. County commissioners ended...

After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: POLICE TURMOIL CONTINUES

After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

After more than a year of turmoil that consumed 2024 and bled over into the first quarter of 2025, the Ouray Police Department underwent a complete tear down and transition under an interim police chi...

Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: SWISS VILLAGE SAVED

Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

As the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025, things looked bleak for the residents of Swiss Village Mobile Home Park in Ouray. They had rallied to form a cooperative in the wake of learning the park was...

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: ATHLETIC COMPLEX FINISHED

Field of dreams realized in Ridgway

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Ridgway Secondary School athletes were tired. Tired of running on hard surfaces that were tough on their bodies and practicing in school hallways and backyards. Tired of carpooling to Olathe in order ...

‘I want to see them get to the most terrifying part of the climb … and see them complete it’

Columns, Feature...

PREP ROUNDUP

‘I want to see them get to the most terrifying part of the climb … and see them complete it’

By By Matt Meyer Special to the Plaindealer

December 31, 2025

Ridgway coach Jonny Zaugg dedicated to helping young c limbers of all skill levels When Jonny Zaugg returned to Ridgway several years ago, he saw an opportunity to give back to the community and be th...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

Jan. 1-14, 2026

December 31, 2025

THURSDAY JANUARY 1 Polar Bear plunge at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool, 1 p.m. SATURDAY JANUARY 3 Trivia Night. Free to attend. 7 p.m. at the Wright Opera House, 472 Main St. in Ouray. WEDNESDAY JANUARY 7...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Second Chance Humane Society

December 24, 2025

Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...

Feature

Home Trust of Ouray County

December 24, 2025

Year established as a nonprofit: 2018 What does your organization do for Ouray County? Affordable housing remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Ouray County, where the median price for a ...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Sherbino Theater/ Ridgway Chautauqua

December 24, 2025

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership

December 24, 2025

Obituaries

Robert Kendall Zanett

January 7, 2026

July 15, 1941 – January 20, 2024 An obituary was never written for my husband, Bob, because he still lives on in my life (Claudia Sue Zanett); the lives of our two sons — Robert Gordon Zanett (wife Kr...

Obituaries

John Edward Peters

January 7, 2026

February 26, 1959 – October 30, 2025 We are deeply saddened to share that John Edward Peters passed away on October 30, 2025. His unexpected death has left a profound void in the hearts of those who k...

Looking Back, Opinion...

Looking Back

By Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer

December 31, 2025

60 Years Ago December 30, 1965 What can we expect to happen to our pocketbook in 1966? Here are some clues gleaned from the 43rd Annual National Agricultural Outlook Conference held in Washington D.C....

Legislators seek to transfer reservoir to city

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: CRYSTAL RESERVOIR BILLS INTRODUCED

Legislators seek to transfer reservoir to city

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Bipartisan members of Congress representing Ouray County co-sponsored bills introduced in 2025 to transfer Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray, nearly a year after the ...

Town builds public trail after judge allows land buy

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: RIDGWAY WINS CONDEMNATION CASE

Town builds public trail after judge allows land buy

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

The town of Ridgway won its case to condemn private property to build a public trail from the River Park subdivision to Ridgway Secondary School, after attempts to purchase a slice of property from th...

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