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Report: Padgett likely treated workers poorly

Commissioner apologizes; county plans to adopt code of conduct

By By Deb Hurley Brobst and Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 15, 2025

Ouray County commissioners will develop a conduct policy for both elec...

Main, News...

An adventurer of ‘considerable abilities’

Whether he was testing his own athletic limits or mentoring others, avalanche victim Don Moden Jr. was passionate about the outdoors

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 15, 2025

It was a workout day for Don Moden Jr. For the 57-year-old Ridgway ath...

News

Niece handed board leadership over Padgett

Commissioners break tradition of taking turns, drawing objections from public

By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

January 15, 2025

A routine change in leadership roles on the Board of County Commission...

Main, News...

SADDLE UP AND RIDE

January 15, 2025

News

Ridgway deputy receives lifesaving award

Brannon Hasler pulled Ridgway resident from burning car after wreck

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 15, 2025

Sue Stern doesn't remember much about the day her life was saved. She and her husband, Burt, were on their way back home after a trip to Montrose. They had taken their dog, Spencer, to a grooming appo...

News

Avalanche training grounds open to public

Beacon park aimed at helping people hone rescue skills

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 15, 2025

Backcountry skiers, snowboarders and snowshoers can practice the safety skill of locating beacons buried beneath snowpack at Ouray Mountain Rescue Team’s Avalanche Beacon Training Park. The park opene...

News

NEWS BRIEFS

Mountain cabin to be removed

January 15, 2025

Cabin will be removed, timeline unclear Ouray County leaders affirmed they will require a cabin to be removed on Red Mountain Pass after determining that its owner misled the county when he obtained a...

Main, News...

Ridgway man killed in avalanche

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

A Ridgway man was killed Tuesday after being caught in an avalanche while backcountry skiing near Red Mountain Pass. Ouray County Coroner Glenn Boyd identified the victim as 57-year-old Donald Moden J...

Main, News...

Donors emerge in effort to save homes

Philanthropists commit $900K toward purchase of Ouray's Swiss Village

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

The people who climbed the stairs at the Ouray Community Center and filled the seats inside the City Council hearing room carried the heavy weight of worry and desperation with them. The mother of two...

News

Police chief finalists to visit Ouray

Public can meet Furstenfeld, Hoguet, Valerio Jan. 16

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

The search for Ouray's new police chief has yielded three finalists for the position — three career law enforcement officers with varying experiences, all living in the region. Community members will ...

News

Blasting project resumes above Ouray

New analysis finds no likely impact to ice park, but work will pause during festival

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

Blasting for a private homeowner’s garage project resumed Tuesday in the side of a mountain above Ouray, with operations paused for the upcoming Ouray Ice Festival due to safety concerns. The project ...

News

Governments playing waiting game for housing dollars

Voters approved Proposition 123 in 2022 to provide dedicated funding, but county entities still sorting through state's application standards

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

Ouray County’s local governments and developers are still working to draw from the state’s first stream of dedicated affordable housing dollars mainly by updating and aligning housing needs assessment...

Feature, Main...

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

January 8, 2025

In the shadows of the Uncompaghre Gorge, Sonya Wilson carefully swung her ice axe and kicked her crampons up a frosty pitch. Hooked into belayers watching from above, neighboring climbers treading up ...

Columns, Feature...

Volunteer Voices: Sue Young

By SUE HUSCH

January 8, 2025

I had a delightful conversation with Sue Young after the Second Chance Humane Society shelter manager let me know that she has been a star volunteer for years, walking dogs, helping at adoption events...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

CALENDAR & EVENTS

January 8, 2025

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 TALK: "Guiding the Heights: Inside Mt. Everest's Commercial Climbs" with Chad Peele, 6 - 8:30 p.m. at The Sherbino, 604 Clinton St., Ridgway. Tickets $10 in advance or $15 day of s...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

Jan. 2-14, 2025

January 1, 2025

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2 MEETING: Ouray County Republican Central Committee monthly meeting, 6 p.m., County Land Use building, 111 Mall Road, Ridgway. More information at ourayrepublicans.com. FRIDAY, JANU...

Feature

Season of Sharing 2024: George Gardner Scholarship Fund

By Plaindealer Staff

December 27, 2024

Editor’s note: The Ouray County Plaindealer started publishing profiles of nonprofits between Thanksgiving and New Year’s in 2020 as a community service. The purpose of these profiles is to highlight ...

Feature

SEASON OF SHARING

Season of Sharing 2024: Minerva West Theater Co.

December 25, 2024

Letters, Opinion...

Gratitude for mobile home park donors’ generosity

January 15, 2025

Dear Editor: I would like to express my gratitude for the remarkable act of kindness demonstrated by Jay and Jackie Lauderdale, and Cat and Barthold Lichtenbelt in making a nearly one-million-dollar d...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Chief candidates deserve questions

January 15, 2025

Dear Editor: I am writing to thank the Plaindealer for their article last week, "Police chief finalists to visit Ouray." The general public, although we have a tremendous stake in who leads our Police...

Looking Back

OURAY COUNTY

LOOKING BACK

40 YEARS AGO

January 15, 2025

January 17, 1975 – While it was a scramble earlier last week to clear slides from the Camp Bird Mine road, the State Highway Department saw little action on U.S. 550 (the Million Dollar Highway) until...

Obituaries

Donald L. Moden Jr.

January 15, 2025

April 15, 1967-January 7, 2025 On January 7, 2025, Don’s intrepid spirit forever joined the San Juan Mountains he cherished. Don was born in Salina, Kansas, and began his sports endeavors at an early ...

Obituaries

Robert Aubrey Conder

January 15, 2025

October 21, 1942-December 6, 2024 Robert Aubrey Conder, known to friends and family as “Bob,” passed away peacefully on December 6, 2024, in Montrose. Colorado. He was 82 years old and resided in Olat...

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