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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Unaffiliated county candidates announce election campaigns

First-timers Todd, Oakland seek clerk, treasurer posts

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to specify that Glenn Boyd volunteers for the county EMS department. A group of unaffiliated political candidates joined together this week to announce the...

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Mild temps leave Ice Park high, dry

Without key ingredient — ice — and no estimated opening date, officials forced to reimagine festivals

By By Lia Salvatierra and Mike Wiggins lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

The half-bare walls of the Uncompahgre Gorge tell a story Peter O’Neil wanted no part of — one of 50-degree December days and out-of-work rangers and ice farmers scrambling to find other sources of in...

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Schiffer, Doherty picked for council

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

Ouray Planning Commissioner Kevin Schiffer and former city building inspector Dave Doherty were selected Monday to fill the two vacancies on the Ouray City Council, restoring a full slate of elected o...

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Sheriff steps in again to help police

Residents back former interim chief as meeting scheduled to discuss future of policing in Ouray

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

The city of Ouray is once again leaning on the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office to fill gaps in police officer patrol shifts, after City Administrator Michelle Metteer decided not to hire Interim Police ...

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Skijoring marks anniversary with expanded competition

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

January 7, 2026

The organizers of the San Juan Skijoring event learned a long time ago they couldn't count on Mother Nature to provide the materials for their competition. Last year, they invested $54,000 in their ow...

Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines