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Thomas N. Hollenbeck
Thomas N. Hollenbeck
Obituaries
By News Staff, on April 21, 2022
Thomas N. Hollenbeck

Thomas Neal Hollenbeck was born on May 26, 1957 to Neal and Winnie Hollenbeck in Pocatello, Idaho. The family moved several times due to Neal’s employment with Mountain Bell, but eventually settled in Salt Lake City, Utah, where Tom graduated from East High School. Tom was an avid skier and outdoorsman and worked for several years at The Village Sporthaus. Later he worked Mountain Bell, and eventually joined the Utah National Guard where he flew AH-1 Cobra and AH-64 Apache Helicopters. Tom served his nation honorably in Desert Storm.

Tom married Colleen Kendig in 1982 and had two children, Harley and Hannah. The family moved to Ouray, Colorado in 1992, where Tom built a home and started a small helicopter business. Tom worked a variety of jobs as a pilot, including for numerous Ouray Mountain Rescue missions, Telluride Ski Resort and for what became Telluride Helitrax. After an injury that ended Tom’s pilot career, he found long-term employment with Ouray Schools as the Facilities Manager and as a math tutor. Many students remember Tom’s sarcastic wit and practical teaching methods. Tom was a skilled woodworker and loved making toys for his children and nieces and nephews. Tom also enjoyed wrenching on cars.

Tom moved back to Salt Lake City in 2012 and spent many cherished years with his mother and her partner Richard Brown, sister Teresa, and brother-in-law Brian. Tom returned to college in his late 50s at Westminster College, pursuing an Aviation Management certification.

Tom is survived by his son Harley (Ann) Hollenbeck and their daughter Fay, of Renton, WA; Hannah Hollenbeck of Ouray, CO; mother Winnie Hollenbeck of Salt Lake City, UT; sister Teresa (Brian) Garrett and her family of Salt Lake City, UT.

Forest closure expands as fire makes another big run
Main, News...
Forest closure expands as fire makes another big run
By Mike 
July 2, 2026
The U.S. Forest Service this afternoon expanded the closure area in the Uncompahgre National Forest east of Ridgway, as the Gold Mountain Fire makes another big run. The original closure largely encom...
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News
Water providers ask customers to conserve
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 2, 2026
Water managers are asking residents to avoid excessive water use and putting more demand on their distribution system. Ridgway Mayor John Clark announced during a Ouray County Board of County Commissi...
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Reservoir to close due to aerial firefighting operation
News
Reservoir to close due to aerial firefighting operation
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 2, 2026
Ridgway Reservoir will close to boaters as soon as planes dispatched to assist with the aerial attack on the Gold Mountain Fire arrive. It's hard to tell exactly when that will be, but Colorado Parks ...
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Fire surges into Cimarrons
Main, News...
Fire surges into Cimarrons
Evacuations expand, forest closes as forecast offers little relief
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
A wildfire that started as a wisp of smoke on a cliffside just north of Ouray last weekend exploded to more than 15,000 acres by Wednesday, driven by winds north to the Cimarron Range east of Ridgway....
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City curtails holiday events, keeps parade
Main, News...
City curtails holiday events, keeps parade
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
July 1, 2026
Fourth of July events in Ouray will be scaled back this year in response to the Gold Mountain Fire, with the July 3 fire department benefit concert and the Independence Day parade and kids’ games a go...
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Blaze forces evacuations, destroys family cabin
News
Blaze forces evacuations, destroys family cabin
No word when owners will be able to return
By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
Rachel Nichols helped Russell McCrady when he needed emergency treatment for his dog. Little did she know he would return the favor when she and her husband encountered their own emergency, after they...
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Fire crashes wedding party
News
Fire crashes wedding party
Forced to flee, Denver-area couple improvises, moves celebration
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
The navy blue suit was ready for James Lindaman to attach his great-grandfather’s Air Force airman’s pin to the lapel. Michelle Lindaman spent months arranging every detail of her wedding, from the fl...
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Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
July 1, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago July 7, 1966 Dynamite charges started Ouray’s Independence Day Celebration with a ban...
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News
In light of staff survey, commissioners vow to govern better, improve pay
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
July 1, 2026
Ouray County commissioners responded to the good, the bad and the ugly from the “2026 Employee Viewpoint Survey,” saying they were pleased county employees said they generally like their jobs, committ...
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News
Q&A: Gold Mountain Fire
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
The emergency response to the Gold Mountain Fire has been sudden and information is changing from day to day. Here are some answers to questions we have received from readers you might find helpful. P...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
July 2-16, 2026
July 1, 2026
EDITOR'S NOTE: All events are subject to change, given the state of emergency and the Gold Mountain Fire. Thursday, July 2 Ridgway Concert Series: Levi Platero with opener Shelby Means, free concert i...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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