Author - News

News

Ridgway Fire District budget features wage hikes, new equipment purchases

After multiple meetings, the Ridgway Fire Protection District has adopted its 2024 budget, including staff wage increases, new equipment purchases and...

December 13, 2023

News

More than books: Library mulls lending other items

The Ridgway Public Library could soon offer more than books, music and videos after the district’s Board of Trustees on Dec. 8 discussed creating a “l...

December 13, 2023

News

Bill angers vacation home owners

Legislation proposes to tax some short-term rentals as commercial propertiesOuray County short-term rental owners could be required to pay thousands m...

December 13, 2023

News

State prepares to reintroduce wolves

Ouray County could see apex predators in first year, depending on release location More than three years after Coloradans narrowly voted to reintroduc...

December 6, 2023

News

Business leaders discuss Ouray’s future

Roundtable: Prepare for changing tourism industryOuray business leaders gathered at an Ouray Economic Development Committee roundtable last week to de...

December 6, 2023

News

County OKs pact with mine owners to maintain roads

A split Ouray County Commission on Tuesday agreed to enter a winter road maintenance agreement with Thorin Resources, paving the way for the mining co...

December 6, 2023

Feature

Honoring the ‘heart and soul’ of Ridgway basketball

Court named after legendary hoops coach Steve Hill As Steve Hill sat surrounded by friends and family on Ridgway Secondary School’s bleachers Saturday...

December 6, 2023

News

Canine respiratory illness hits county

State recommends owners update vaccines, limit commingling Luke’s symptoms began innocuously in early October with a runny nose and cough, two weeks a...

November 29, 2023

Feature

Rent increase leads consignment shop to close

When Lynne Stovicek opened Lucky Find Consignments after working at The Market grocery store in Ridgway, she felt a sense of fear. It was December 201...

November 29, 2023

News

Public bus ready to roll soon

Long-awaited shuttle service from Montrose to Ouray to start in Feb. Nearly six months after it was originally supposed to launch, All Points Transit’...

November 22, 2023

Main, News...

Firefighters gain ground on Gold Mountain Fire

Sheriff allows some evacuees to return home; blaze shifts away from populated areas

By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

Residents forced to flee the Gold Mountain Fire north of Ouray nearly two weeks ago returned to charred landscapes but fully intact homes Wednesday, an indication that authorities believe the threat h...

Main, News...

Despite fire, downsized Fourth celebration marches on

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

A scaled-back Fourth of July celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States and 150th birthday of Ouray attracted thousands to the city, despite the cancellation of fireworks, water fights and...

News

First fire, then floods? Leaders start planning for next potential emergency

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

July 8, 2026

Even though the Gold Mountain Fire is still burning, Ouray County officials are already thinking about flash flood risks in the burn scar as Colorado moves into monsoon season. “This is a predictable ...

News

Water providers ask customers to pull back

Ridgway enacts mandatory irrigation restrictions

By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

Water managers in Ouray County are asking residents to curtail water use and avoid putting more demand on their distribution systems in light of the Gold Mountain Fire and ongoing tinder-dry condition...

News

Looking Back

50 Years Ago

July 8, 2026

July 7, 1966 Charges have been filed in Ouray County Court against three Ouray youths for violation of state statutes in climbing over a fence at the municipal swimming pool last Friday and breaking b...

Daniel Schmidt daniel@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines