Author - News

Columns, Opinion

After February warmup, what’s in store for March?

Two weeks ago, following the first of two meltingly wet 8-inch February snowstorms, the grape hyacinths, daffodils and tulips decided it was time to s...

February 26, 2025

Columns, Opinion

Frigid January follows one of hottest years on record

It’s been a bitter January for most of the Mountain West and eastern two-thirds of the country. The huge arctic airmass responsible for this outbreak ...

January 29, 2025

Columns

Will AI and Trump change weather forecasting?

Right on time for Christmas, the first in a series of snowstorms blew into western Colorado Monday with more snow predicted for Christmas Day and afte...

December 25, 2024

Columns, Opinion

White Thanksgiving rounds out cool, wet month

November is synonymous with Thanksgiving, a major family holiday for Americans. As most of us learned in elementary school, its storied beginnings dat...

November 27, 2024

Columns, Opinion

Unpredictable, warm weather spooking all

On Halloween, the spookiest day of the year, the latest developments in global weirding seem especially unsettling.Water Year 2024, which ended Sept. ...

October 30, 2024

Columns, Opinion

Bask in warm autumn days before winter’s chill

It’s raining on a late September Saturday afternoon and a cold 48 degrees as I begin this column. Pristine snow drapes the mountains above timberline....

September 25, 2024

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...

Karen Risch

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines