Stories of the year No. 10: School bond passes in Ridgway

Sadie McCracken, an 8-year-old third-grader at Ridgway Elementary School, holds a sign supporting Ballot Issues 4A and 4B and yells at traffic driving by on Sherman Street on Oct. 22. About 50 people encouraged motorists to honk and waved signs favoring the measures that would create more funding for the Ridgway School District. The election is Nov. 2, and as of Wednesday morning, 841 ballots had been turned in. Mike Wiggins â Ouray County Plaindealer

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By Carolina Brown, on December 24, 2021

Voters overwhelmingly supported proposals to renovate the Ridgway School District’s oldest building and to increase taxes in support of retaining staffers and providing more services to students in the 2021 election.

A $17.6 million upgrade to the Ridgway Elementary School building is set to begin as soon as school lets out for the summer. Final design plans are expected by the end of May.

Asbestos abatement will begin first at the elementary building, with actual construction starting midwa...

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OURAY COUNTY'S 'THIRD PLACES'

OURAY’S LIVING ROOM

More than a bouldering gym for the adventurous, Basecamp Ouray proves to be rock that supports, strengthens and builds community

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

Penny Price curled up on a couch at the foot of a climbing wall, plotting out how she’d try and get to the top. The 8-year-old’s parents and other surrounding climbers toyed with a smartphone app that...

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Outfitter settles wildfire claims

Firm pays $500K to Forest Service but denies liability

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

A San Miguel County hunting outfitter will pay the U.S. Forest Service $500,000 to resolve allegations it was liable for a 2019 wildfire east of Ridgway. The settlement agreement, announced last week ...

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Commissioners shift focus to new manager

Board to hire interim leader or consultant to help deputy manager run county

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

February 19, 2025

Ouray County commissioners either will hire an interim county manager or a consultant to help run the county when County Manager Connie Hunt leaves her position March 31. It's the first time the count...

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In Ouray, the thin blue line could narrow even further

Officer may jump to sheriff's office as council, police to meet next week

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

The ranks of the Ouray Police Department, frayed by a delay in hiring a new police chief and an inability to find another police officer, appear to be on the verge of thinning further. Interim Police ...

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Engineer tapped for water repairs

Ridgway aims to finish $8M reconstruction of diversion system by end of year

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

The town of Ridgway selected an engineer to design a portion of the town’s pricey repairs to its water system, which was destroyed by record monsoonal events last summer. The goal is to finish constru...

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Town retains chamber services — for now

Ridgway renews group's one-year contract for tourism marketing but will seek other options next year

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

Ridgway town councilors have decided to keep the Ridgway Area Chamber of Commerce as the town’s contracted provider for tourism marketing this year, but put chamber leaders on notice they plan to open...

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Ridgway agrees to film festival changes

Council agrees to shift administration, funding to Sherbino

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

The Sherbino Theater may take over the Ridgway Film Festival to help manage the prospering event and build its long-term finances. During a Feb. 12 council meeting, town leaders gave their blessing to...

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Commissioners pledge help for cash-poor cemetery

County commits to gravel for roads as board weighs property tax question

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

February 19, 2025

Cedar Hill Cemetery needs lots of TLC, and board members hope Ouray County will provide a pathway to help revitalize the nearly 150-year-old cemetery. At a Feb. 5 work session, county commissioners sa...

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New bus service launches

Montrose-Ridgway-Telluride transit to run five days a week

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

A new busing option is now available for commuters looking for workweek transit between Montrose, Ridgway and Telluride. The 40-passenger bus paid for by San Miguel Authority for Regional Transportati...

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Volunteer Voices: Amber Cornell

February 19, 2025

I recently had a delightful conversation with Amber Cornell, the new-ish senior coordinator for Neighbor to Neighbor. The nonprofit has a volunteer-based program that has been serving seniors, people ...

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Judge: Teen to be tried as adult due to severity, impact of alleged sex assault

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

A judge who ruled that a teenager will stand trial as an adult for alleged sex assault at the former Ouray police chief nearly two years ago largely based his decision on the severity of the alleged c...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines