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Wildfire panel focuses on insurance issues

Wildfires are one natural disaster communities can exercise some control over.And the hope is that soon homeowners will not only have control over mit...

October 15, 2025

News

In budget crunch, county may revive hiring policy

Ouray County leaders plan to revive a policy that would allow county commissioners to reconsider hiring new employees to fill vacant roles, as alarm o...

October 15, 2025

Main, News

Hiring freeze, no pay raises for county

Ouray County plans to enact a hiring freeze and eliminate raises, including cost-of-living adjustments, to help balance its 2026 budget. After a nearl...

October 8, 2025

News

Ridgway bans artificial turf for most new projects

The Ridgway Town Council has approved new landscaping rules that ban artificial turf for non-recreational uses, including residential properties.The r...

October 8, 2025

Main, News

State to speed up some safety upgrades on Highway 550

The Colorado Department of Transportation will expedite a shoulder-widening project on U.S. Highway 550 and potential interim safety measures along th...

October 1, 2025

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New to wildfire science, nonprofit director boasts experience in leadership, planning

Tim Pinnow's resume might not immediately lead someone to think about forestry or fire mitigation. But what you will find is evidence of a career spen...

October 1, 2025

News

District attorney seeks 35% hike in budget, mostly for payroll

Just a year after the Seventh Judicial District Attorney’s Office asked Ouray County for a 13% budget increase, the office is seeking to nearly triple...

October 1, 2025

Main, News

Hurd mum on reservoir transfer

U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd is remaining mum on whether he will support a bill that would transfer Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city ...

September 24, 2025

Main, News

Prairie dog mitigation to proceed

Top of the Pines will hire a contractor to lethally fumigate a portion of its prairie dog population, despite adopting a management plan prioritizing ...

September 24, 2025

News

Postal Service probing locked boxes in Ridgway

The U.S. Postal Service is addressing complaints from Ridgway residents who had their post office boxes at the Ridgway Post Office locked without noti...

September 24, 2025

Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: BRIAN SCRANTON CONVICTED OF SEX ASSAULT

Years after acquittal, man gets prison in second case

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Editor’s note: This story contains details about a sex assault case. Ten years after he was first arrested for alleged sex assault in Ouray County, a Ridgway man was convicted in another sex assault c...

County endures year of resignations, infighting

News

TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: TUMULT WITHIN TOP RANKS OF COUNTY

County endures year of resignations, infighting

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

Ouray County government weathered a year of turmoil and transition in 2025, and ended the year hopeful that its new top leader would bring a fresh perspective and stability. County commissioners ended...

After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: POLICE TURMOIL CONTINUES

After tear down and rebuild, agency again faces upheaval

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

After more than a year of turmoil that consumed 2024 and bled over into the first quarter of 2025, the Ouray Police Department underwent a complete tear down and transition under an interim police chi...

Looking Back, Opinion...

Looking Back

By Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer

December 31, 2025

60 Years Ago December 30, 1965 What can we expect to happen to our pocketbook in 1966? Here are some clues gleaned from the 43rd Annual National Agricultural Outlook Conference held in Washington D.C....

Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress

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TOP STORIES OF THE YEAR: SWISS VILLAGE SAVED

Mobile home park preservation highlights housing progress

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 31, 2025

As the calendar flipped from 2024 to 2025, things looked bleak for the residents of Swiss Village Mobile Home Park in Ouray. They had rallied to form a cooperative in the wake of learning the park was...

Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines