ICE IN THEIR VEINS

Climbers scale the ice above the lower bridge in the Ouray Ice Park during the festival on Saturday. Photo by Bella Biondini/Gunnison Country Times

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By Kylea Henseler, on January 25, 2023

ICE IN THEIR VEINS

Climbers scale the ice above the lower bridge in the Ouray Ice Park during the festival on Saturday. Photo by Bella Biondini/Gunnison Country Times

Bill Whitt didn’t expect people to gather around the fire pit on Sunday to hear how the Ouray Ice Park came to be.

He thought it was just a story, sometimes entangled with tall tales, that everyone in town already knew. But locals and visitors alike nevertheless came to listen to him and Bill MacTiernan tell the story of the grassroots effort that t...

Main, News...

LICENSED TO CARE

In-home child care centers open in Ouray, meeting big county need

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 5, 2025

It’s been nearly a year full of licensing classes, childproofing and dreaming up business plans. Ouray County’s much-awaited inhome child care providers are officially cutting the ribbon on their full...

Main, News...

City alters police overtime policy

Officers can now earn extra pay more quickly, as administrator seeks interim chief relief

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 5, 2025

The city took its first step Monday night toward helping Ouray police officers who have complained they’re overworked and underpaid, approving a policy change that will allow officers to earn overtime...

News

Ouray joins effort to preserve housing

City offers Home Trust $100K to help buy triplex, add units

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 5, 2025

The city of Ouray will give $100,000 to the Home Trust of Ouray County to help it purchase a triplex and maintain it as affordable housing. City councilors unanimously approved a letter of intent on M...

News

County to buy elections transparency tool

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 5, 2025

Ouray County plans to purchase a new elections transparency tool that will allow people to review images of anonymous cast ballots online, so they can count them by hand and verify those votes. Ouray ...

News

Developer pitches Ridgway mixed-use project

Board skeptical of proposal for 110-room hotel, rooftop restaurant, 30 townhomes east of highway

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

March 5, 2025

A developer’s proposal for nine acres of vacant land neighboring the RE/MAX building in Ridgway turned into a Planning Commission discussion on the best use for the parcel. Adam Waldbaum, who is worki...

News

County joins city in Swiss Village assist

Commissioners commit to minimum $50K subsidy to keep mobile home park in residents' hands

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 5, 2025

Ouray County plans to contribute at least $50,000 to support the residents of Swiss Village Mobile Home Park in the $2.5 million deal to purchase the land their homes sit on. During a work session on ...

News

County leaders work toward conduct policy

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 5, 2025

Ouray County leaders took their first stab at drafting a “leadership and governance” policy last week, but will bring it back to a second work session and create a separate policy for public meetings....

Feature

GETTING A GRIP

March 5, 2025

News

NEWS BRIEFS

March 5, 2025

Ridgway school district hires interim principal for permanent job Ridgway Elementary School will keep Perri Gipner as principal permanently, after selecting the interim principal for the long-term pos...

News

Rockfall closes road

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 5, 2025

County Road 361 southwest of Ouray is indefinitely closed after several large boulders tumbled onto the road last week, leading county officials to issue an emergency disaster order. County commission...

Opinion

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Commissioner, attorney should apologize

March 5, 2025

Dear Editor: Thank you for reporting on the Ouray County commissioners' public hearing regarding Red Mountain Alpine Lodge’s Special Use Permit renewal. County staff and Commissioner Michelle Nauer no...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines