Ouray County Pride 2026

Phyllis Harvey gives a hug to Easton Romanova, who performed drag as Gold’n’Boi during the sixth annual Ouray County Pride celebration on Saturday in Ridgway. Harvey and her husband, Mark, have been chosen grandparents for Romanova, who graduated from Ridgway Secondary School in 2015. They came to Pride to show their support. Photo by Erin McIntyre | Ouray County Plaindealer

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August 19, 2026

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Best feathers forward

August 19, 2026

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Bear activity ramping up

Second bruin killed in a week after several conflicts, entering home

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

State wildlife officials killed a young, female bear that entered a Ridgway home last weekend after days of conflicts and at least one incident with the bear killing chickens. Colorado Parks and Wildl...

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Police admin assistant resigns, blasts city

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

The Ouray Police Department's administrative assistant has resigned, leaving the office with one remaining employee assigned to desk duty. The resignation comes just after the city's response to a civ...

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Disaster relief tax moves closer to ballot

Ouray, Ridgway councils negotiate for larger share of revenue; use tax for roads all but ruled out

By By Mike Wiggins and James Hanlon mike@ouraynews.com james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

A proposed countywide sales tax to address fires, floods and other natural disasters appears to have a clear path to the November ballot, while a potential use tax on construction materials to raise m...

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County road superintendent arrested on suspicion of DUI

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

Ouray County Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger was placed on paid administrative leave Monday following a driving under the influence arrest in Montrose Aug. 14. Crew Chief Don Castle has been ...

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Ouray won’t join fire authority

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

Council cites unanswered questions, concerns about consolidation A proposal to consolidate all of Ouray County’s fire departments and its emergency medical services into one organization absorbed anot...

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Looking Back

August 19, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago August 18, 1966 In the background is the sound of classical Chinese music, gaily ligh...

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Chamber music fest returns to San Juans

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

43rd annual weeklong event features familiar favorites, new violist World-renowned concert pianist Max Levinson and the Ulysses String Quartet return to Ouray County next week for the Ouray County Per...

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Ouray County Fair 2026

August 19, 2026

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County OKs flood construction contract

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

Ouray County commissioners awarded Haynes Excavation Inc. the contract for the Emergency Watershed Protection project at a special meeting Monday for certain areas below the Gold Mountain Fire burn sc...

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Ridgway student proposes ‘free box’ for donations

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

A presentation about an idea for a “free box” by a Ridgway National Honor Society student at the Ridgway Town Council meeting Aug. 12 led to lengthy discussion and a $750 contribution to the project, ...

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines