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Fire scorches bottom lines
Participants in Ouray's annual Fourth of July parade express their gratitude for crews battling the Gold Mountain Fire. Data gathered by Placer Labs shows about 6,400 people traveled more than 25 miles and stayed more than an hour in Ouray on the holiday — less than half the 14,000 who came to town for the Fourth of July each of the previous three years. Photo by Erin McIntyre | Ouray County Plaindealer
Main, News
By By Mike Wiggins, Chart Riggall and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com chart@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com, on July 29, 2026
Fire scorches bottom lines
Reliant on summer tourism, reeling businesses running out of time to claw back lost revenue

It didn’t take but a spark and a stiff breeze to turn Justin Mitchell’s summer upside down.

‘Big box’ tightens on Gold Mountain Fire
Main, News...
‘Big box’ tightens on Gold Mountain Fire
Aided by cooler temps, rain, firefighters increase containment to 24%
By Chart Riggall 
July 22, 2026
Surveying a sprawling map of the northern San Juans last week, Mike Smith was deep in a geometry of fire. Fingers tracing fire lines and ridges, Smith – the current incident commander over Gold Mounta...
County eyes recovery funds
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County eyes recovery funds
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 22, 2026
Federal program could offer nearly $3 million — if cash-poor leaders can find matching dollars Ouray County could receive nearly $3 million in federal funding to protect homes, roads and other infrast...
Spring targeted for tree-thinning effort
News
Spring targeted for tree-thinning effort
Without additional funding, original scope for Ouray-area project may reduced
By Chart Riggall 
July 22, 2026
A joint wildfire mitigation effort to remove dead or diseased trees from the city of Ouray’s perimeter is expected to move forward next spring, though with a potentially more limited scope. Officials ...
News
City reorganizes planning department
Administrator ditches director post, divides duties among consultant, staff
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 22, 2026
Ouray City Administrator Michelle Metteer is overhauling the city’s community development department, dividing responsibilities among a third-party consultant and two city employees rather than consol...
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Ouray County Fair still scheduled for Aug. 13-15
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Ouray County Fair still scheduled for Aug. 13-15
July 22, 2026
The 109th annual Ouray County Fair is scheduled to proceed as planned, even if the fairgrounds remain the headquarters for the Gold Mountain Fire operations. The fair is scheduled from Aug. 13-15 at t...
Good For You!
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Good For You!
July 22, 2026
Proud parents Katie and Willem Geyer of Ouray welcomed their son Willem “Liam” Pieter Geyer to the world at 5:52 p.m. on July 14, weighing 6 lbs. 8 oz. Liam, also known by his nickname "Pork Chop," wa...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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