Author - News

News

Ouray County property owners waiting to get short-term rental permits may have to wait a little longer.Ouray County commissioners, at the request of t...

July 24, 2024

News

Proposed tax for child care won’t be on ballot this fall

Ouray County voters will not be asked this fall to create a lodging tax with proceeds helping to fund early child care. The parents’ group spearheadin...

July 17, 2024

News

Service calls, assistance for victims up in county

The Ouray County sheriff ’s yearly report to the commissioners yielded several tidbits of information about the department’s operations, including a r...

July 17, 2024

News

County doubles down on order to stop blasting

The project in Ouray where blasting has been occurring for more than two months is in hot water with Ouray County again. The county on Monday issued i...

July 10, 2024

News

Big changes in store for county vacation rental rules

Revised rules for short-term rentals will be coming to Ouray County soon, and there are some big changes. Ouray County commissioners on June 26 spent ...

July 3, 2024

News

Governments to hire housing administrator

Government officials across Ouray County want to create a one-stop shop for those seeking affordable housing.To do that, they have agreed to move forw...

June 26, 2024

News

County orders garage blasting to stop

Ouray County has issued a stop-work order at a private property where blasting into the side of a mountain has been going on for several weeks, but th...

June 26, 2024

News

County gives proposed grow facility more time

Cannaboo Farms will have until October to revise and submit a complete application to renew its marijuana cultivation license and change of ownership ...

June 19, 2024

News

Green Street Park options presented

Envision Ridgway’s Green Street Park with its current community garden and apiary plus trails, picnic areas and other family-friendly amenities — and ...

June 19, 2024

News

Ambitious project aims to reduce wildfire risk

Dozens of acres of dead, diseased trees ringing Ouray slated for removal next year Nearly 93 acres of land containing dead, diseased and dying trees e...

June 12, 2024

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...

Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines