POLICE LOG - News

News

By News Staff, on July 13, 2022

POLICE LOG

The following is an excerpt of cases handled by the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office from July 4-10:

JULY 4

Deputy responded to an animal bite in the 200 block of County Road 23.

Deputy conducted four traffic stops on Highway 550 at MM 91.

Deputy responded to the Angel Creek campground for a report of an overdue party.

Deputy assisted the Ridgway Marshal’s Office in the 100 block of Highway 550 for an alarm.

Deputy responded to a vicious animal in the 300 block of Marmot Drive.

Deputy conducted a ...

Main, News...

Pilot dies in reservoir crash

Accident under investigation; man honored with procession

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

An experienced firefighting pilot who was pulling water from Silver Jack Reservoir to battle the Gold Mountain Fire died Sunday when his helicopter plunged into the reservoir northeast of Ridgway. Nic...

Main, News...

Heights, heat add to firefighters’ strain

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

Hotshot Jesse Eaves calls it “The Great Race.” At the small tent city along U.S. Highway 550, Eaves starts each day with a 5 a.m. wakeup call. Thus begins an eight-minute sprint for him and his Califo...

News

County approves hiring fire recovery manager — if it can find funding

By Mike Wiggins and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

Ouray County intends to hire an employee who can help lead the county’s efforts to recover from the Gold Mountain Fire — assuming it can find funding. County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agree...

News

Trust, county close to conserving open space park

Grants, donations put nonprofit on brink of acquiring Silver Mountain Mine property

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

July 15, 2026

Ouray County is much closer to getting a new open space park on the Silver Mountain Mine property. The Trust for Land Restoration has received a $180,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant. Couple that wit...

News

Man gets probation, community service in sex assault case

One of three defendants, Whittington admits to giving alcohol to minor

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

A former Ouray County man was sentenced Monday to one year of unsupervised probation for providing alcohol to a then-17-year-old girl who said she was sexually assaulted by two others at the former Ou...

Letters, Opinion...

Thank you, helpers

By Dave Conrad

July 15, 2026

Dear Editor: A word of gratitude: These last days since the Gold Mountain Fire started on June 27 have been hard for us, individually and as a community. During times of strife and difficulty a wise m...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thank you, firefighters

By Kathy Hall

July 15, 2026

Dear Editor: Thank you is a simple phrase most of us use every day. However, now "thank you" just doesn’t seem adequate for our firefighters and first responders. Thank you for saving our town, our ho...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dead trees need removal

By Thomas Lang

July 15, 2026

Dear Editor: On the evening of June 27 my wife, Lori, and I evacuated our home in unincorporated Ouray County and drove to Montrose due to the Gold Mountain Fire. All afternoon we watched from my fron...

Letters, Opinion...

City has known issues with gym for years

By Kitty Calhoun

July 15, 2026

Dear Editor: I would like to clarify some points made in the Plaindealer's article, “Following outcry, Ouray seeks gym solutions," from the July 9 edition. First, it was “acknowledged that the city di...

Columns, Feature...

Chimney Rock stands as sentinel in smoke

By Carolyn Snowbarger

July 15, 2026

If you look east from Ridgway, the view of the Cimarron Range is usually a masterpiece of sharp, clear angles. At the center of it all stands the unmistakable spire of Chimney Rock. Together with its ...

Feature

Looking Back

July 15, 2026

Compiled from the files of: The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago July 14, 1966 Reports early this week on the results of four days of mosquito sprayi...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines