By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

A consultant has recommended that Ridgway reimagine its marketing campaign to bring outdoor enthusiasts, history buffs and regional explorers to town. The idea is to shift tourists’ perception away fr...