Probe ongoing into wildfire in popular camping area

Ouray Volunteer Fire Department firefighters and Bureau of Land Management employees battle a fire off County Road 14A, roughly 2 ½ miles north of Ouray, on Sept. 21. An uncontrolled campfire is believed to have caused the blaze. Daniel Schmidt — Ouray County Plaindealer

News

By Gabrielle Porter / Special to the Plaindealer, on September 27, 2023

An investigation is ongoing into a human-started fire that charred a quarter- acre of federal land last week in an area north of Lake Lenore that’s frequently used by campers, according to a Bureau of Land Management Southwest District spokeswoman.

Main, News...

A PLUCKY VENTURE

As bird flu drives up egg prices, the Lancasters find growing their flock is, in fact, all it's cracked up to be

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Roosted on the stoop of their honor-code farm stand, Julie and Timothy Lancaster described how they accidentally became one of Ouray County’s largest commercially licensed egg farms. It all began with...

Main, News...

Ouray hires interim police chief

Previous city administrator finalist Daric Harvey to lead department

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Four months ago, Michelle Metteer and Daric Harvey were vying to lead Ouray’s city government. Now they are working together to stabilize and restore public trust in the Ouray Police Department. Mette...

News

Ouray aims to rein in costs for permanent stage at Fellin Park

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

The city of Ouray is working to lower the price of building a permanent stage in Fellin Park, with a goal of creating a venue for free or low-cost community events.. After reviewing a $3.5 million cos...

News

Options sought to manage possible gym project

Ouray School Board cool to superintendent's proposal to hire another administrator

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

March 12, 2025

Ouray School Board members don’t like an idea to hire another principal, instead asking for other options to help Superintendent Tod Lokey get the work done as the district embarks on a mission to bui...

Feature

Bringing lyrics to life: ‘Stolen Seasons’ musical debuts

Local author partners with musicians to create 'Stolen Seasons' album

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Joan Shapiro poured a lifetime of experiences — unsuccessful love matches, mistakes made, lessons learned — into 251 pages when she published “Stolen Seasons: Observations, Poems, Lyrics and Rants” tw...

News

Hurd backs federal workers during telephone town hall

Freshman congressman: Bureaucrats need trimming, not boots-on-ground employees

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd pledged support for rehiring fired federal workers, bringing the Bureau of Land Management back to the Western Slope and aid for Ukraine during a telephone town hall T...

News

Uncompahgre River restoration project begins

Work aims to improve river health, irrigation, habitat

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Drivers headed from Ridgway to Ouray might see something odd this week – a bulldozer in the river. Don't worry, it's supposed to be there. And – fair warning – there's going to be a lot of constructio...

News

River district hosts ‘state of the river’ meeting

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Community members will get a preview of how Ouray County's snow globe might shake out this summer, as far as water supply and hydrology of the Uncompahgre River is concerned, at next week’s State of t...

News

Rights of Nature remain standstill symbol

Four years after approving resolution, Ridgway has yet to appoint advocate for enforcement

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Four years after adopting a resolution declaring nature has rights, the town of Ridgway has yet to appoint an advocate to enforce those rights or create supporting policies with legal implications. It...

News

County eyes digital mental health hub

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 12, 2025

Ouray County Public Health hopes to create an online hub with mental health resources in partnership with neighboring counties, if it's able to obtain money from an opioid settlement grant. During a M...

Columns, Feature...

Ranch hand to outlaw: The making of Butch Cassidy

By Carolyn Snowbarger

March 12, 2025

The legend of Butch Cassidy, one of the West's most enduring outlaws, has roots firmly planted in the rugged terrain of Colorado's Western Slope. Before he became a notorious bank robber and leader of...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines