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State Supreme Court declines to hear appeal, upholding limited wintertime access The Colorado Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal over winter...

August 30, 2023

Feature

Saddle up to Ridgway’s newest hotel

Hotel Palomino blends ranching heritage with modern amenities Siblings Merlyn Ellis and Zack Young are no stranger to the hospitality industry. Their ...

August 30, 2023

News

Council OKs Wetterhorn exception request

Telluride lodge employee allowed to purchase one of three remaining affordable units in RidgwayBreaking with precedent, the Ridgway Town Council on Mo...

August 30, 2023

News

Owners of burned clubhouse issued notice of violation

County pursues cleanup of Log Hill facility destroyed by fireFed up with inaction by property owners, Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday approved a...

August 30, 2023

News

Sheriff’s posse prepares to ride

Volunteers recruited to help cover gaps in coverageFacing coverage challenges and a growing number of service calls, the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office...

August 30, 2023

News

Ridgway fire district hires paid staff

Last year's voted-approved property tax increase to fund _ive full-time employees With hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional yearly funding s...

August 23, 2023

News

School board elections may be canceled

With Sept. 1 application deadline looming, more seats available in Ridgway, Ouray than current candidatesThe Ridgway and Ouray school boards may not h...

August 23, 2023

News

City councilor, county clash on road access

Ouray City Councilor John Wood and Ouray County officials are locked in a dispute over access to the upper portion of County Road 14 after Wood instal...

August 23, 2023

News

Ridgway OKs overtime pay plan for deputies

Change intended to comply with federal labor laws The town of Ridgway plans to hire a new deputy marshal and reclassify existing deputies to become el...

August 16, 2023

News

County shutters cannabis facility

After hours of testimony, board denies license for MS Support cultivation After years of conflict, Ouray County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously...

August 16, 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