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Options sought to manage possible gym project

Ouray School Board members don’t like an idea to hire another principal, instead asking for other options to help Superintendent Tod Lokey get the wor...

March 12, 2025

News

Developer pitches Ridgway mixed-use project

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Ouray County Regional Service Authority no longer pays for the software used by the m...

March 5, 2025

News

Commissioners shift focus to new manager

Ouray County commissioners either will hire an interim county manager or a consultant to help run the county when County Manager Connie Hunt leaves he...

February 19, 2025

News

Commissioners pledge help for cash-poor cemetery

Cedar Hill Cemetery needs lots of TLC, and board members hope Ouray County will provide a pathway to help revitalize the nearly 150-year-old cemetery....

February 19, 2025

Main, News

County manager resigns

Ouray County Manager Connie Hunt resigned from her position after meeting with commissioners for more than three hours Tuesday to discuss her performa...

February 12, 2025

Main, News

Manager faces criticism

Ouray County commissioners spent more than an hour Wednesday criticizing County Manager Connie Hunt’s job performance in the last year, saying they fe...

February 5, 2025

News

County OKs water plant near Colona

A water treatment plant proposed for U.S. Highway 550 near Colona is a step closer to being built after the Ouray County commissioners voted 2-1 Tuesd...

December 18, 2024

Main, News

County OKs new rental rules

Ouray County commissioners unanimously adopted a new short-term rental ordinance Tuesday despite an outpouring of concern from some current permit hol...

October 2, 2024

News

Planning commissioners debate Ridgway’s land-use needs

The Ridgway Planning Commission is envisioning what the town should look like in the future.The commission is looking at the economic implications of ...

September 4, 2024

News

Ridgway may loosen regs for accessory units

Regulations for accessory dwelling units in Ridgway may become looser after the Planning Commission recommended changes to the town’s ordinance.If the...

September 4, 2024

Main, News...

‘Pinched on every front’

Historic drought, wildfires, high feed prices strain local ranchers

By Chart Riggall

August 12, 2026

One breezy afternoon in mid-July, Mike Potter's phone started making all kinds of noise. “It goes, beep, beep, beep, beep!” shouted the Ridgway rancher, brandishing his flip phone from the pocket of h...

Main, News...

Flood work could begin within week

By Chart Riggall

August 12, 2026

Ouray County officials said Tuesday that flood mitigation work below the Gold Mountain Fire’s burn scar could begin as soon as next week, while warning that storms in the coming days could trigger fur...

News

Firefighter base moves to Gunnison

Fairgrounds empty as focus shifts to Elk Fire

By James Hanlon

August 12, 2026

The incident command post for the Gold Mountain Fire relocated to the Gunnison County Fairgrounds Saturday as Rocky Mountain Complex Incident Management Team 2 took over for Team 1 and combined effort...

Feature

County fair carries on

Fire doesn't stop 4-H kids from showing their animals this week

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 12, 2026

The night the Gold Mountain Fire started, the Cornell family anxiously watched the fire spreading toward their fenced livestock, the billowing smoke filling the canyon. They decided to load up their h...

Letters, Opinion...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

We need to stand firm to preserve alpine tundra

By Dianne Eschman

August 12, 2026

Dear Editor: The July 23 guest column by Sue Dreamweaver Spielman was excellent and brings up so many issues that we regular backcountry users experience. I have been recreating in this area since 197...

Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines