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Board rebukes commissioner

Niece, Nauer censure Padgett for secretly recording closed-door meeting

By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

Two Ouray County commissioners publicly reprimanded their fellow commi...

Main, News...

Proposed merger could make fire chief highest paid official

Latest draft bases members' voting power on financial contributions

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The current proposal to combine fire and emergency medical services en...

News

Jury convicts mother in retaliation case

By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

A jury has convicted a former Ouray woman of retaliating against anoth...

Main, News...

Ridgway sues MTN Lodge

Town seeks payment of sales, lodging taxes; hotel calls lawsuit 'misguided'

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge over their plans to use the hotel as workforce housing for the next several years, aiming to suspend operations and demanding they pay lodging and sales taxes. Nicholas Poppe, the attorney the town hired to handle the conflict, filed the lawsuit on March 27 after town councilors unanimously voted to sue MTN Lodge owners at a special meeting on M...

News

EMS moves overnight quarters with help from chamber grant

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

April 1, 2026

Ouray County Emergency Medical Services is moving its sleeping quarters for on-call staff in Ouray into the former Public Health office location, with donations providing rent assistance. An EMT will ...

News

DA ordered again to turn over report in sexual assault case

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

Prosecutors have again been ordered to turn over to defense attorneys a report detailing some of the contents of a cellphone belonging to a woman who accused three men of sexually assaulting her in Ou...

News

Looking Back

April 1, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago April 7, 1966 There is a possibility that Ouray County may build a Jeep road to conne...

News

Judge allows access to civil case filed nearly a year ago

Woman's lawsuit alleges former Ouray police chief had duty to protect

By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

A district court judge has opened public access to court records for a civil case against the former Ouray police chief, after it proceeded for almost 10 months in secret. The woman who told investiga...

Main, News...

Town to sue MTN Lodge owners

Council votes unanimously to pursue legal action over enforcing land use code, long-term housing at hotel

By LIA SALVATIERRA

March 27, 2026

The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge, demanding they continue to pay lodging taxes while using their hotel as workforce housing over the next four years. The lawsuit comes after months...

Main, News...

Ridgway council candidates discuss issues at forum

Mihelarakis, Clark focus on sustainability, economy

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 25, 2026

Seasoned insights squared off with fresh perspective during an election forum last week as both of Ridgway’s mayoral candidates answered questions centered on their approaches to sustainability and fo...

Main, News...

Sergeant slams city leaders

Troxell claims council, administrator mishandled police department; sheriff offers to hire, train officers

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 25, 2026

The lone remaining sworn officer in the Ouray Police Department criticized city leaders Tuesday for their management of the latest round of turmoil within the department, claiming City Administrator M...

Main, News...

Views vary on electric building code, other issues

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 25, 2026

Ridgway Town Council candidates split last week over whether they support the potential adoption of an all-electric building code for new development in town, one of several hot topics at a candidate ...

Feature

Track teams hit the road to Grand Junction

April 1, 2026

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

April 1, 2026

Thursday, April 2 Community conversation on sexual assaults and prosecution, 6-8 p.m. at the Ouray County 4-H Event Center, 22739 U.S. Highway 550, Ridgway. Will include guest speakers from the Sevent...

Inaugural home meet sets stage for course records

Columns, Feature...

PREP ROUNDUP

Inaugural home meet sets stage for course records

By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer

March 25, 2026

It’s not uncommon for track athletes to break in a new pair of shoes at the dawn of a new season. But it is exceedingly rare for all of them to have the chance to set a new course record, which is exa...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

March 26-April 8, 2026

March 25, 2026

Thursday, March 26 After-school storytime for elementary aged children, 4 p.m. at the Ouray Public Library, 320 Sixth Ave. Coffee and conversation with Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry, 9-10 a.m., Ar...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

March 19-April 2, 2026

March 18, 2026

Thursday, March 19 Ridgway Candidates' Forum with the Woman's Club of Ouray County, 6 p.m. at the Ridgway Community Center, 201 N. Railroad St. Nonpartisan forum for Ridgway Town Council candidates an...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

March 12-20, 2026

March 11, 2026

Thursday, March 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. "Mountains of the Moon: A Chris Benchetler Film Expe...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Time for Hurd to take climate change gravely

April 1, 2026

Editor’s note: The Plaindealer mistakenly published a previous letter to the editor from Ellie Kehmeier in last week’s edition. We are publishing the letter she most recently submitted in this week’s ...

Between a rack and a hard place: What to do about single copy sales?

Columns, Opinion...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Between a rack and a hard place: What to do about single copy sales?

By Erin McIntyre

April 1, 2026

This week marks our seventh anniversary of owning the Plaindealer. I always remember the date because of April Fool's Day. We were careful to avoid April 1 as our closing date for purchasing the paper...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Public concern led to inquiry into gated road

April 1, 2026

Dear Editor: I appreciate the Plaindealer’s coverage and article on the Board of County Commissioners' meeting about the blocked access to the Greyhound Road. The article correctly stated that there w...

Obituaries

Ann Massard

April 1, 2026

August 24, 1926 – November 26, 2025 Our dear mother, Ann Massard, of Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. She was the loving wife of Robert L...

News

City’s cost for police services climbing

County OKs amendment boosting reimbursement rate

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

March 25, 2026

The city of Ouray's tab for having Ouray County provide law enforcement services is growing. Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday approved an amendment to an intergovernmental agreement that will rai...

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