Local briefs: Trial set in retaliation case, active short-term rental rules temporarily waived due to fire

News

By erin@ouraynews.com on October 7, 2026

Ouray council won’t support mayor’s bid for municipal advocacy position

The Ouray City Council declined on Monday to endorse Mayor Michael Underwood’s application to be appointed to the Colorado Municipal League’s Executive Board, citing concerns it would place too many demands on his time given his responsibilities as mayor.

After hearing those concerns, Underwood joined Mayor Pro Tem Kevin Schiffer and councilors Jenny Hart and Peggy Lindsey Scott in opposing the endorsement. Councilor D...

Main, News...

A Monster celebration

October 7, 2026

Main, News...

City, county near pact on police services

Boards to vote this month on sheriff 's $1.1M annual proposal to police Ouray

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

October 7, 2026

Ouray County and the city of Ouray are hammering out the details of an agreement that would enlist the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office to provide full law enforcement services to the city for potentiall...

Main, News...

Reservoir transfer bill clears Senate

By Chart Riggall

October 7, 2026

Federal legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray cleared the U.S. Senate last week, sending the bill to the House of Representatives as the clock winds down for Cong...

News

SMPA plans Four Corners solar project

Utility: Array, battery storage could meet up to 40% of consumer power needs

By Chart Riggall

October 7, 2026

San Miguel Power Association has joined three other southwest Colorado electricity providers in throwing their weight behind a sprawling solar facility near Cortez that could meet up to 40% of their c...

News

Council not on board with transit funding next year

Ouray won't budget for in-town shuttle, Montrose bus

By James Hanlon

October 7, 2026

The Ouray City Council dropped funding from the proposed 2027 budget for the city’s free in-town shuttle and contributions to the OurWay bus that runs between Montrose and Ouray. The in-town Ouray shu...

News

Ouray proposes flat budget in 2027

Plan calls for no staff pay raises, funding for future public works building, Fellin Park safety upgrades

By James Hanlon, Deb Hurley Brobst

October 7, 2026

The Ouray City Council got its first glimpse of the draft 2027 budget last week, a plan that projects little or no growth in city revenue. The budget doesn’t include pay raises for staff, paving proje...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Oppose road to nowhere

October 7, 2026

Dear Editor: The town planning commission just approved a road to one house to be built in the river overlay district, an area next to the Uncompahgre River. They approved widening the driveway that g...

Letters, Opinion...

County’s short-term rental policy ineffective

By John Tucker

October 7, 2026

Dear Editor: I wanted to express my appreciation for Ouray County land use planner Dan Hughes. Dan has been been tireless in helping me navigate the Ouray County short-term rental computer issues. We ...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Perhaps the MTN Lodge should paint it pink

By John Kuijvenhoven

October 7, 2026

Dear Editor: There is an old saying that you can’t fight City Hall. In Ouray County, history suggests another option: If you can’t fight City Hall, close the hotel and paint it pink. In the mid-1960s,...

News

Looking Back

October 7, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago October 6, 1966 Five young Denver toughs appeared in court Monday in Ouray. The boys,...

Columns, Opinion...

Our fabulous, fleeting fall gold rush

By Carolyn Snowbarger

October 7, 2026

Our high-country autumn in the San Juans gives us a precious few weeks to savor and revel in the glorious gold accenting our yards, lining our town streets and blanketing our towering mountain slopes....

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines