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County begins pricy rockfall mitigation
This screenshot of drone footage of County Road 361 shows the magnitude of the rockslide that damaged and closed County Road 361 on Feb. 25. Ouray County commissioners have declared an emergency disaster that will extend at least through April 22. Image courtesy Ouray County
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By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com on March 19, 2025
County begins pricy rockfall mitigation

Ouray County plans to spend $114,000 to mitigate additional rockfall on County Road 361 after large boulders crashed onto the road earlier this month, closing it indefinitely and causing county officials to issue an emergency disaster order.

County staff are finalizing an agreement with contractor Access in Motion to remove remaining overhanging, fractured rock in the rockfall area, a process that may include blasting, said Ouray County Attorney Leo Caselli. This is the first step of a few the co...

News
Padgett asks county to pay legal fees
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
March 24, 2025
Ouray County Commissioner Lynn Padgett is asking the county to pay nearly $11,000 for the attorney she hired after the county road and bridge superintendent filed a harassment complaint against her la...
City pays $120K to settle lawsuit
Main, News...
City pays $120K to settle lawsuit
Fired police chief Wood agrees to drop claim; Ouray denies wrongdoing
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 20, 2025
The city of Ouray and its insurer paid former Police Chief Jeff Wood $120,000 to settle the wrongful termination and defamation lawsuit he filed against the city last year. City officials agreed to th...
Reimagining school lunch
Feature
Reimagining school lunch
Forget the box cutter and microwave — Denean Colby insists on cooking from scratch in the school kitchen. And Ridgway students are eating it up
March 19, 2025
By Ariel Hessler, Special to the Plaindealer Denean Colby arrives for work at Ridgway Secondary School at 6 in the morning, long before other staff members begin to trickle in. She makes the bread fir...
Man takes plea deal in sex assault
Main, News...
Man takes plea deal in sex assault
Scranton pleads guilty to reduced charges, will receive prison
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
March 19, 2025
A Ridgway man has pleaded guilty to reduced charges in a sex assault case in exchange for a sentence of one to six years in prison. Brian Scranton, 49, waived his right to a jury trial and will be con...
Prairie dog control plan renews concerns
News
Prairie dog control plan renews concerns
Residents object asTop of the Pines seeks county permission to use lethal fumigation
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
March 19, 2025
Editor’s note: This story has been edited to correctly spell Scott Layton's name.  Top of the Pines leadership asked for permission from Ouray County on Tuesday to use lethal fumigation to reduce its ...
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DA elevates charges in sex assault case
Grand jury indicts two men on more serious felony counts
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
March 19, 2025
Prosecutors have elevated the charges for two men in an alleged sexual assault case, after presenting a case in front of a grand jury. The indictment filed in district court shows higher- level felony...
News
Vote to spend more on signs postponed
City wants explanation from firm who left $3,600 item out of $300K bid
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
March 19, 2025
A frustrated Ouray City Council tabled a decision Monday night whether to give a Minneapolis company another $3,600 to make a prototype base for the $300,833 worth of signs the city purchased last yea...
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