State halts Highway 550 closure

News

By Mike Wiggins, on August 4, 2021

The project that was on, then off, then on, is now off — again.

Flooded with concerns from local and state elected officials, appointed leaders and business owners, the Colorado Department of Transportation declined to issue the permit San Miguel Power Association needed to close U.S. Highway 550 over Red Mountain Pass starting on Aug. 9.

CDOT spokeswoman Lisa Schwantes confirmed to the Plaindealer Tuesday afternoon the state agency will not sign off on SMPA closing a 2 1/2-mile stretch of the h...

Main, News...

Pop rock

March 11, 2026

Main, News...

Ouray housing project scores federal funding

Nearly $1.5M coming to Waterview, but type of homes in second phase unclear

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 11, 2026

The Waterview Homes affordable housing project will receive $1.46 million in federal funding to begin a second phase of development, but it's unclear what that next phase will look like. The Ouray Cit...

Main, News...

County venue to hire manager

Commissioners agree to pick leader for 4-H Center, fairgrounds, could reopen space in late spring

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 11, 2026

Ouray County commissioners will hire a salaried manager for the 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds, rather than an incentive-based position as previously discussed. During a meeting Tuesday, commissione...

News

Survey to gauge health care needs, barriers

Assessment, listening sessions to help create community paramedic program

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

March 11, 2026

Community members can help reshape how health care works in Ouray County by completing a new survey focused on what’s working and what could be done better. This spring, residents can participate in l...

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County Road 5 to open in early April

March 11, 2026

County Road 5 will open to the public earlier than usual this spring to allow a contractor access to the town of Ridgway’s Beaver Creek diversion system. Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday agreed t...

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Commissioners back watershed rehab

March 11, 2026

Ouray County commissioners have pledged to provide letters of support to the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership as it looks for funding to rehabilitate drought and mining impacts at the headwaters of t...

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Seasonal dozer operator to help clear high country snow

March 11, 2026

Ouray County’s Road and Bridge Department will hire a seasonal dozer operator to work in April and May to help clear high-country roads of snow. The new person will be trained by Rich Williams, the co...

News

Colorado’s dust-free snow a bright spot in otherwise meager winter

By Shannon Mullane The Colorado Sun

March 11, 2026

An otherwise dismal snow year in Colorado has one clear upside: At least the snow that has fallen on the state isn’t dusty. Each year, storms pick up dust from across the Southwest and drop it on Colo...

Letters, Opinion...

Burn pit would be useful for wildfire mitigation

March 11, 2026

Dear Editor: Not only is a burn pit a good idea, it is a necessity, but not in the way described. Times and codes are changing. The new fire and construction codes will require more area to be cleared...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Burn pit an idea that should go up in smoke

March 11, 2026

Dear Editor: Today is a rare day. Snow capped mountains with a cloudless sky are not rare, but when the air is also clear, that is rare, because too often smoke fills the Ouray and Ridgway valleys. Th...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

New pool house should include solar array

March 11, 2026

Dear Editor: In none of the large, taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects in the city over the past years — the school, the courthouse complex, the pool, the water plant and the sewer treatment plant...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines