Signs of trouble in Ouray

The city of Ouray has paused plans to build and install more new wayfinding signs after the public, city councilors and city staff expressed concerns about the size and appearance of the new signs, several of which were installed on Main Street at the end of June. Photo by Erin McIntyre | Ouray County Plaindealer

Main, News

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com on July 9, 2025

City halts production after public backlash over size, appearance of wayfinding signs

Ouray business owners and residents threw up a symbolic stop sign in front of the city council on Monday, urging city leaders to pause or altogether abandon plans to install dozens of new wayfinding signs throughout the city.

News

Smoke blankets Ouray County as wildfires burn in region

By Mike Wiggins

July 11, 2025

Heavy smoke and haze choked Ouray County for a second straight day Friday as a series of wildfires churned through tinder-dry trees and brush in southwestern Colorado and southeastern Utah. The Colora...

Main, News...

Go Fourth and celebrate

July 9, 2025

The crowd cheers as a fire department tanker truck sprays the wet side of the street during the July 4 parade in Ouray. Ouray Tourism and Destination Marketing Director Kailey Rhoten said cellular dat...

Main, News...

County scrambles to pay for road repairs from rockfall

Leaders pull from multiple sources to cover $300,000 tab, look to replenish emergency fund

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

July 9, 2025

Ouray County is scraping together money to pay for emergency repairs on County Road 361 while looking for ways to replenish its emergency fund in anticipation of other disasters. During a work session...

News

Hot Springs moves forward with upgrades

Council OKs bathhouse design contract; pipeline replacement, heat exchange system on tap this fall

By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

July 9, 2025

A series of much-anticipated upgrades to the Ouray Hot Springs Pool is coming together, with the city beginning infrastructure replacements this fall and searching for ways to pay for building a new b...

News

Foyster named to Planning Commission

By Plaindealer Staff

July 9, 2025

Pam Foyster of Ridgway has been appointed to the Ouray County Planning Commission with her term ending April 30, 2028. Foyster, a semi-retired nurse, also serves on the Ridgway Planning Commission. Bo...

News

Woman rescued from Ouray Via Ferrata

By Plaindealer Staff

July 9, 2025

A 42-year-old Denver woman was rescued on July 3 after she fell and broke her leg while climbing in the Ouray Via Ferrata, according to the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team. The woman was climbing the upstr...

News

County pauses changes to event center fee schedule

By Plaindealer Staff

July 9, 2025

Fees to use the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds will not change for now. Ouray County commissioners decided Tuesday to hold off approving a new fee schedule until they better understand ...

News

Sex assault trial reset for January

By Plaindealer Staff

July 9, 2025

The trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 2023 has been rescheduled for January. Seventh Judicial Chief District Judge Cory Jackson scheduled an eight-day trial to begin ...

News

County OKs relocation of Log Hill mailboxes

By Plaindealer Staff

July 9, 2025

Ouray County commissioners unanimously approved a plan Tuesday to relocate a series of mailboxes for Fairway Pines subdivision residents on Log Hill Mesa. The board approved a memorandum of understand...

Columns, Opinion...

FROM THE PUBLISHER

A patriotic way to celebrate the Fourth

By Erin McIntyre

July 9, 2025

"Are you the newspaper? Are we gonna be in the paper?" These are questions I hear when people see me taking photos at parades. I usually shrug my shoulders and smile, because the truth is I don't know...

Letters

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Lucky to have newspaper

Lucky to have newspaper

By Dear Editor:

July 9, 2025

Thank you, Mike and Erin at the Plaindealer, for screening such an excellent documentary, “For the Record,” on June 28 at the Wright Opera House. The entire time we were watching the film, we were thi...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines