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News

By Olivia Exstrum, Special to the Plaindealer oliviaexstrum@gmail.com One summer a couple years ago, Leslie Chang let out a huge sigh of relief. Chang...

August 21, 2019

Meet new staff at Ridgway schools

Meet the new staffers at Ridgway School District! Christine Freed Paraprofessional Years in education: Brand new Lived in Ouray County: Two years What...

August 21, 2019

Say hello to new teachers from Ouray School

[tecnavia_gallery slug='say-hello-to-new-teachers-from-ouray-school-gallery' view='carousel']Name: Kasey Chertack Third grade teacher Years in educati...

August 21, 2019

Chamber music fest hits high notes

[tecnavia_gallery slug='chamber-music-fest-hits-high-notes-gallery' view='carousel']

August 21, 2019

Columns

LOOKING BACK

From the Ouray County Herald and Ouray County Plaindealer: 50 Years Ago August 21, 1969 - If owners do not remove their junk cars and/or trailers left...

August 21, 2019

Columns

Welcome back to school in Ridgway

By Susan Lacy, Ridgway School District Superintendent The Ridgway School District begins the year with exciting elementary campus improvements. The fr...

August 21, 2019

Columns

Want to help cool the warming Earth? Plant a tree

Planet Earth, the only home most of us and our descendants will ever know, needs our help. July 2019 was the hottest month in recorded history. “July ...

August 21, 2019

Columns

Welcome back to school in Ouray

Welcome back to another exciting year at Ouray School District! Upon your return one of the first things you will notice is our newly renovated play...

August 21, 2019

Letters

More equitable ways to raise road dollars

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, The Ouray County BOCC is proposing a massive property tax increase (up to 3.7+ mils) *and* up to a 3.5% "use fee" o...

August 21, 2019

Letters

Global warming data demands action now

Dear Editor, I have seen lots of stories about how global warming will impact coastal areas of the world. That got me to wondering if we here in Ouray...

August 21, 2019

Main, News...

OURAY COUNTY'S 'THIRD PLACES'

OURAY’S LIVING ROOM

More than a bouldering gym for the adventurous, Basecamp Ouray proves to be rock that supports, strengthens and builds community

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

Penny Price curled up on a couch at the foot of a climbing wall, plotting out how she’d try and get to the top. The 8-year-old’s parents and other surrounding climbers toyed with a smartphone app that...

Main

Outfitter settles wildfire claims

Firm pays $500K to Forest Service but denies liability

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

A San Miguel County hunting outfitter will pay the U.S. Forest Service $500,000 to resolve allegations it was liable for a 2019 wildfire east of Ridgway. The settlement agreement, announced last week ...

News

Commissioners shift focus to new manager

Board to hire interim leader or consultant to help deputy manager run county

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

February 19, 2025

Ouray County commissioners either will hire an interim county manager or a consultant to help run the county when County Manager Connie Hunt leaves her position March 31. It's the first time the count...

News

In Ouray, the thin blue line could narrow even further

Officer may jump to sheriff's office as council, police to meet next week

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

The ranks of the Ouray Police Department, frayed by a delay in hiring a new police chief and an inability to find another police officer, appear to be on the verge of thinning further. Interim Police ...

News

Engineer tapped for water repairs

Ridgway aims to finish $8M reconstruction of diversion system by end of year

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 19, 2025

The town of Ridgway selected an engineer to design a portion of the town’s pricey repairs to its water system, which was destroyed by record monsoonal events last summer. The goal is to finish constru...

News Staff

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines