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Latest News
County backs down on road closure
Main
County backs down on road closure
Rather than block access to upper Yankee Boy Basin, commissioners focus on managing, restoring
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
Ouray County has decided against closing the upper section of Yankee B...
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News
County leaders campaign for merger
Commissioner claims benefits to combined fire, EMS; Log Hill Fire District concerned about structure, cost
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
Ouray County leaders last week campaigned for a combined countywide fi...
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News
City keeps status quo on Via Ferrata operations — for now
Climbing course to open soon under new municipal management, as users seek changes to guide fees, weight restrictions
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
The Ouray Via Ferrata is scheduled to open May 1 under a new municipal...
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City takes plunge on hot springs repairs
Main, News...
City takes plunge on hot springs repairs
Council approves $286,568 contract to resurface, replace tiles in overlook pools in September
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
The city of Ouray will spend more than $280,000 to resurface the hottest soaking areas at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool this fall, a repair pool managers say is vital to maintaining one of the city’s most important economic drivers. City councilors on Monday unanimously approved a $286,568 contract with Missouri-based Mid-America Pool Renovation, Inc. to resurface, repair and refill the overlook pool...
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News
Federal officer charged with assault over confrontation at Durango ICE protest
By By Chase Woodruff Colorado Newsline 
April 22, 2026
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer is facing charges of assault and criminal mischief in Colorado state court after an investigation into an October 2025 incident in Durango in which he seiz...
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Blue Lakes trail won’t require permit this year
News
Blue Lakes trail won’t require permit this year
No permits needed at Blue Lakes this year
By By Lia Salvatierra 
April 22, 2026
Hikers and campers won’t need a permit to hike the famed Blue Lakes trail until at least 2027, though there are other new rules for using the area this summer. The anticipated permit system was part o...
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News
News
Mine owners to address cleanup efforts at meeting
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
April 22, 2026
For the first time in eight years, the owner of the Idarado Mine is joining the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership for a public update on its cleanup efforts in Ouray County. The “Local Water Quality &...
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News
4-H, fairgrounds to restart operations with new manager
April 22, 2026
Ouray County will restart events at the 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds on May 1, now that it has hired a new manager for the facility. Operations at the facility have been largely on hold since mid-...
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News
Dry winter sparks more interest in cloud seeding
State weather modification program manager: Technology could be critical to boosting water supply
By By Ryan Spencer Vail Daily 
April 22, 2026
Colorado’s weather modification program is seeing an increased interest in cloud-seeding technology after the record-low snowpack this past winter. In the past couple of weeks, Weather Modification Pr...
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News
Town seeks millions in federal money for sewer plant
By Plaindealer Staff 
April 22, 2026
Ridgway is asking for $2.25 million in congressionally directed spending to rebuild part of its sewer plant to comply with state standards. The funding request, approved during an April 8 meeting, is ...
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News
Man arrested at Ridgway restaurant
By Plaindealer Staff 
April 22, 2026
A Montrose man was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Ridgway after the Montrose Police Department asked the Ridgway Marshal’s Office for assistance in detaining him. Vicente Gonzales, 33, was arrested by ...
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Administrator sought info backing chief decision
Main, News...
Administrator sought info backing chief decision
Records: Officers concerned about training
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 15, 2026
Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer sought input from neighboring law enforcement agencies about how they conduct background checks — after she decided not to hire Daric Harvey as the permanent ...
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Features coverage
Ridgway soccer continues hot streak
Feature
Ridgway soccer continues hot streak
April 22, 2026
Ridgway's Reya Lawler (8) clashes with Bayfield's Aubree Tideman (4) for possession during nonleague action on April 18 at Bayfield High School. The Class 2A Demons sewed up a five-match away stretch ...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
April 23-May 7, 2026
April 22, 2026
Thursday, April 23 Live music: Big Richard, 7:30 p.m. at the Sherbino Theater, 604 Clinton St. in Ridgway. Advance tickets $28 at sherbino.org or $32 day of show. After-school storytime for elementary...
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After hiatus, a rally for high school baseball in Ridgway
Feature, Main...
After hiatus, a rally for high school baseball in Ridgway
Sporting nearly 30-year-old jerseys, pilot junior varsity team takes field, aims for long-term viability through fundraising
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 15, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect when Ridgway School District last had a baseball team, given updated information provided by Ouray County Baseball after the story was published. ...
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Track and field returns to Grand Junction
Feature
Track and field returns to Grand Junction
April 15, 2026
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Ridgway senior a study in honesty, leadership
Feature
PREP ROUNDUP
Ridgway senior a study in honesty, leadership
By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer 
April 15, 2026
Sancho Panza, in Miguel de Cervantes’ classic “Don Quijote,” often uttered, “Honesty is the best policy.” If that mantra was true for the late 1500s and also popularized by Benjamin Franklin in the la...
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Good for you!
Feature
Good for you!
Ridgway Knowledge Bowl team wins second place at state competition
April 15, 2026
The Ridgway Secondary School Knowledge Bowl team placed second in the 2A state competition, held at Aims Community College in Greeley on March 16-17, a two-day competition with 11 rounds of questions....
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Zero-waste policy draws public fire
Council tables proposal for compostable, recyclable materials over concerns from business owners, community groups
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 15, 2026
Ridgway town councilors tabled a draft “zero-waste” policy for events on town property after public backlash about how the rules would impact business owners and community groups. The proposal discuss...
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News
County renews water lease for fourth year
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
April 15, 2026
Ouray County commissioners signed off on an agreement Tuesday to lease and help pay for backup water to support the county’s irrigators for a fourth year. The lease secures a 2021 no-call agreement be...
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News
Ditch users, county at impasse about culvert
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
April 15, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to more precisely reflect the condition of the culvert the ditch owners want replaced. A group of ranchers from the West Arm Ditch Company is refusing Oura...
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News
Sex assault trial delayed for third time
By Mike Wiggins 
April 15, 2026
The trial for a man charged with sexually assaulting a then-17-year-old girl in Ouray County in 2023 has been postponed for a third time. Nate Dieffenderfer is now scheduled for an eight-day trial sta...
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News
Planned EV chargers move to Visitor Center
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
April 15, 2026
During an April 8 meeting, the Ridgway Town Council agreed to move a charging station planned for the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds to town property next to the Ridgway Visitor Center....
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Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

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Ridgway CO 81432

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