CORRECTION - News

News

April 29, 2026

CORRECTION

A news brief on Page 3 in the April 16-22 edition about a faulty culvert mischaracterized comments made by Ouray County Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger. Barger did not say the culvert was installed improperly.

He said the culvert was installed after the previous culvert running under the road caved in. The culvert was installed at the current depth due to a pre-existing gas line under the culvert.

News

Woman sentenced to probation in retaliation case

By Mike Wiggins

May 8, 2026

A former Ouray woman was ordered Thursday to spend two years on probation for retaliating against a woman who accused her son of sexual assault in 2023. Kristyn Trujillo must also perform 96 hours of ...

Main, News...

Beetle Mania

Drought conditions prime for insect infestation in county, experts warn

By LIA SALVATIERRA

May 6, 2026

In some parts of Ouray County it may look like popcorn grows on trees. The milky, honey-colored pocks on the trunks of ponderosa pines and other trees signal efforts to fend off their attackers: bark ...

Main

Wildfire building rules trigger mix of compliance, skepticism

By By Mike Wiggins, Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

A state mandate requiring local governments to adopt stricter building rules to protect new and remodeled homes against wildfire has sparked varying reactions from elected officials in Ouray County. T...

News

County policy would govern AI use

Manager: 'Folks want to feel we are doing our jobs, not delegating it to AI'

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

May 6, 2026

Ouray County commissioners want to regulate how employees use artificial intelligence when doing county work and limit cybercrime risk. Commissioners on April 29 looked at the first draft of an AI pol...

News

Town to pilot zero-waste rules at concerts

Following strong pushback from businesses, nonprofits, board devises more relaxed regulations

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

The town of Ridgway's Sustainability Advisory Board will pilot “zero-waste” rules at the town’s summer concert series, while it continues to craft a broader policy to implement for all events on town ...

News

Governor Basin cleanup project faces delays

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

A collaborative restoration project to clean up mine waste in Governor Basin dating back to 2018 remains on hold, while project partners continue to work out final agreements and how the project will ...

News

Looking Back

May 6, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago May 5, 1966 At Monday’s meeting of the Ouray City Council, Julius Sonza was hired as ...

News

County to tighten rules for agriculture exemption permits

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

May 6, 2026

The rules will be tightened for those wanting to obtain Ouray County’s agriculture exemption permits. Ouray County commissioners authorized the Land Use and Planning Department to add three requiremen...

News

City to examine pool house funding options

By Mike Wiggins

May 6, 2026

The city of Ouray is taking the first step toward potentially drumming up funding to repair or replace the bathhouse at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. The city council on Monday unanimously signed off on...

News

City retains employment law attorney

By Mike Wiggins

May 6, 2026

The Ouray City Council unanimously agreed Monday to retain an attorney who specializes in employment law. The city is enlisting the services of Denver law firm Ruegsegger Simons & Stern, LLC to provid...

News

Commissioners: Serious about not overspending

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

May 6, 2026

Ouray County commissioners are serious about ensuring county departments don’t overspend this year. They spent 90 minutes on April 29 reviewing the types of budget spreadsheets they can access to help...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines