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By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com on March 19, 2025
Draft agreement to combine fire, EMS services unveiled
Basic details on staffing, funding still to be hammered out

The Ridgway Fire Protection District board of directors and Ouray City Council took a first look Monday night at a document outlining how five entities could combine into one overarching fire and emergency medical services authority, in hopes of lowering response times and combining training efforts.

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
By By Ariel Hessler Special to the Plaindealer 
March 19, 2025
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 first. While it is baking, she prepares the main...
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
Top of the Pines leadership asked for permission from Ouray County on Tuesday to use lethal fumigation to reduce its prairie dog population, despite adopting a management plan that says leaving the an...
News
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...
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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...
Forecasts mixed at State of River meeting
News
Forecasts mixed at State of River meeting
Ridgway Reservoir expected to fill this year, but experts caution about growing water demands
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
March 19, 2025
Ridgway Reservoir is predicted to fill this year and current forecasts show the Uncompahgre River Basin is in better shape for water supply than some other watersheds in the Gunnison River Basin and e...
LOOKING BACK
Looking Back
OURAY COUNTY
LOOKING BACK
40 YEARS AGO
March 19, 2025
March 20, 1975 – Richard Tisdel, the Ouray City Council's attorney, has gone through all the records concerning the various suits and legal actions against the city of Ouray pertaining to the city's w...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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