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City reroutes funds to pay for pedestrian crosswalk project

Ouray city councilors voted last week to redirect funds originally designated for wayfinding signs to build two crosswalks on either side of town, whi...

February 25, 2026

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Bills to give reservoir to Ouray debut in Congress

U.S. House and Senate bills to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir from the U.S. Forest Service to the city of Ouray made it to subcommittee heari...

February 18, 2026

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County spurns prairie dog control request

Ouray County leaders last week snuffed a resident’s request to require property owners to control prairie dogs, citing a legal inability and unwilling...

February 18, 2026

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Incentives may factor into 4-H Center hire

Ouray County commissioners may hire a 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds manager who would be paid based on how many events are held at the venue.Commis...

February 18, 2026

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EMS plans to shift staff, save costs

Ouray County Emergency Medical Services wants to implement a new staffing structure this spring to save costs and prepare for a combined fire and emer...

February 11, 2026

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Formerly a cash cow, bloom wilts on cannabis

Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that Michael Cox is the former general manager for Dalwhinnie Group, the landlord for Dalwhinn...

February 11, 2026

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New county manager seeks to lead with heart

Ouray County is unlike most places Antonio Mendez has lived or worked before, and Mendez brings experience unlike the county has seen in two decades, ...

February 4, 2026

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County considers asking voters for tax hike in November

Ouray County leaders want to research and poll the public’s appetite for asking voters for more tax revenue, to raise additional money for the county’...

February 4, 2026

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Ridgway gets initial OK for $1.34M grant

Ridgway has received initial approval for a $1.34 million grant to help it explore an all-electric building code for new construction and help electri...

February 4, 2026

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County eyes budget cuts

Manager: Looking for ways to avoid cutting employeesOuray County leaders have loosely settled on wanting to cut $500,000 from the county’s 2026 budget...

January 28, 2026

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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...

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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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...

Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines