Home - News

Main, News...

CREATING SPACES FOR OTHERS

Ouray's new parks director seeks public collaboration to make most of city's jewels

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

February 5, 2025

Long after the early winter sun dipped behind Twin Peaks, after he fil...

Main, News...

Manager faces criticism

Hunt 'crushed' after commissioners insist on improvement

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

February 5, 2025

Ouray County commissioners spent more than an hour Wednesday criticizi...

Main, News...

Cop rips city over hiring process

Officer says department needs new chief, other help now, suggests he may resign

By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

February 5, 2025

A Ouray police officer criticized city leaders Monday night for restar...

News

Single-car rollover follows head-on collision that killed one on Wednesday

Fatal accident closes highway

By Plaindealer Staff

February 6, 2025

U.S. Highway 550 is closed at mile marker 101 after a fatal accident was reported at 4:18 p.m. Few details were available Thursday night about this accident, and it was unclear when the highway would reopen. Traffic is being diverted around the crash site along County Road 3A. The single-vehicle rollover was the second fatal vehicle accident here in Ouray County in less than 24 hours. Another fat...

News

Ridgway bike trails to remain fee-free

BLM holds off on charging vehicles to park at RAT trails, will proceed with campground fees

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 5, 2025

Mountain bikers will continue to ride freely and free of charge on Ouray County’s Ridgway Area Trails, now that proposed day-use fees are off the table this season. The Bureau of Land Management’s Unc...

News

Cabin owner sues county over demolition order

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 5, 2025

The owner of a cabin on Red Mountain Pass is suing Ouray County and several county officials in an attempt to reverse an order requiring demolition and removal of the structure. The lawsuit, filed Jan...

News

Sheriff, marshal: Not involved in immigration enforcement

Agency leaders say if they know about federal activity, they'll notify public

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

February 5, 2025

As federal immigration enforcement picks up nationally and across Colorado, the Ouray County Sheriff 's Office and the Ridgway Marshal's Office are pledging transparency and said immigration matters f...

News

Resources available for immigrants as threat of mass deportations looms

By Lindsey Toomer Colorado Newsline

February 5, 2025

Various advocacy organizations are offering resources to help immigrant families in Colorado as fears of mass deportations grow under the new Trump administration. President Donald Trump was sworn int...

News

Veterans services to expand in Ouray County

County expands services for veterans

By By Lia Salvatierra lia @ouraynews. com

February 5, 2025

Ouray County’s veterans will receive expanded help with claiming federal benefits and other resources through a new arrangement with San Miguel County. During a Tuesday work session with county commis...

Main, News...

‘I want to build something really cool’

New chief takes helm as county emergency medical services grows, modernizes

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 29, 2025

Nathan McCullough's new desk is stickered all over with pink Post-it notes about supply orders, grants, paying volunteers and reminders about determination, positivity and faith. For the past six mont...

Main, News...

Search for police chief starts over

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 29, 2025

If the city of Ouray’s search for a new police chief mirrored the career arc of a law enforcement officer, it would be back at the training academy. Seven months after firing Police Chief Jeff Wood an...

Main, News...

Mobile home park deal inked

Swiss Village residents set to close on land in May for $2.5M

By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

January 29, 2025

Residents of Swiss Village Mobile Home Park are under contract to purchase the land their homes sit upon, a crucial step toward ensuring the park between the Uncompahgre River and the steep cliffs on ...

Feature

Ice climbing’s next generation ascends to Ouray this weekend

Eight countries appear at first U.S.-based World Youth Championships

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

February 5, 2025

For the first time, the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation Ice Climbing World Youth Championships will be held in the United States this week. Not only that, but these young ice clim...

Feature

Students earn recognition at fair

By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com

February 5, 2025

Local students were recognized at the Uncompahgre STEAM Fair last week for their projects in science, technology, engineering, math and art. The fair included students from Ouray, Ridgway, Telluride, ...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

CALENDAR & EVENTS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6

CALENDAR & EVENTS

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 7

February 5, 2025

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 6 SEWING CLASS: Free basic sewing class from 1-3 p.m. with available sewing machines at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Sign up required, call 970-626-5252 or visit front...

Feature

Students to showcase work at fair

By By Chloe Kiparsky Plaindealer intern

January 29, 2025

The public will be able to view a showcase of student inventions, science experiments, art projects and beyond at the second annual Uncompahgre STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathema...

Feature

Ouray metal shop hits new heights

Skol Studio can tackle biggest fabrication projects with 34-foot-tall building

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 29, 2025

Jeff Skoloda’s towering metal warehouse mirrors its inner workings: a fabrication shop large enough to fit specially designed 100-foot-long metalwork and drive in a full semi truck to load those proje...

Feature

CRAFTING A COMMUNITY IN OURAY

Ceramicists, artists can share resources, time together at studio

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 29, 2025

Ninazuma Pottery owner Becca Doll-Tyler opened Ouray Clay & Co. for local ceramicists and artists to create a community while working on their craft. She wanted to detach her personal pottery brand, w...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Drug affordability at risk

February 5, 2025

Dear Editor: In his first day in office President Trump revoked former President Biden’s Executive Order No. 14087, which was designed to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare and Medicaid enroll...

Columns, Opinion...

FROM THE PUBLISHERS

Have opinions about the Plaindealer? We want to hear them

February 5, 2025

Who wants to come have lunch and tell us what you think of the Plaindealer? Yep, we're looking for some of our readers to share their opinions. Sounds like fun, right? We're inviting readers to apply ...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Wild horses managed improperly

February 5, 2025

Dear Editor: I have been involved in the wild horse and burro issue for over 40 years. The best researched facts I have found are Craig Downer’s 2012 book, "The Wild Horse Conspiracy," and James Klein...

Obituaries

Caroline Stevens

February 5, 2025

July 12, 1947-January 25, 2025 “Peaceful death is really an essential right… There is no greater gift of charity you can give than helping a person to die well.” — Soygal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of...

News

Ouray schools pledge $100K to athletic field

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 29, 2025

The Ouray School District will contribute $100,000 toward the Cimarron Athletic Field project after extensive discussion and a 4-1 vote. Organizers approached the board almost nine months ago and gave...

Best of

Business and Real Estate

Summer Guide

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines