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Ouray eyes affordable housing incentives

Ouray city officials are considering adding incentives to the city’s land use code to encourage the development of more affordable housing.Community D...

July 24, 2024

News

Sales tax inches up in May

Ouray began the busy summer tourism season just as it has each year in the wake of the pandemic — on very solid financial footing.The city pulled in $...

July 24, 2024

News

City administrator resigns

Ouray City Administrator Silas Clarke will leave his position sometime in the coming weeks, bringing an end to a tenure in which he spearheaded the in...

July 17, 2024

News

Ouray OKs affordable apartment complex

The Ouray City Council gave the green light Monday night to a proposal to build a 13-unit affordable housing apartment complex, despite misgivings fro...

July 17, 2024

News

Audit: Ouray police in ‘crisis’

Concluding the Ouray Police Department is in a “crisis situation,” a consultant recommends investing in additional police employees to help carry the ...

July 10, 2024

News

Big changes emerged from last police audit

Ouray city leaders are just beginning to digest the results of a top-to-bottom audit of the Ouray Police Department and its management, so it remains ...

July 10, 2024

News

Ouray launches search for next police chief

The search for Ouray’s next police chief is under way. One week after Police Chief Jeff Wood was fired, the City Council unanimously agreed Monday nig...

July 3, 2024

News

Lawyers negotiating possible plea in assault case

Attorneys are engaged in plea negotiations in the case of a Ridgway man accused of sexually assaulting a woman nearly six years after he was acquitted...

June 26, 2024

Feature

Coffee shop, tavern invite you to sip and stay

When Eliot Vancil is on the road, there are a few things he’s looking for at his hotel. He wants a place where he can wrap his hands around a cup of c...

June 26, 2024

News

Sales tax revenue flat in April

Revenue from sales tax activity in Ouray in April was flat compared to last year, as the city remains on solid financial footing heading into the busi...

June 26, 2024

Main, News...

Firefighters gain ground

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

Fire pushes stressed wildlife into urban areas

By By James Hanlon Special to the Plaindealer

July 8, 2026

Wildlife escaping the Gold Mountain Fire are moving closer to town, prompting state wildlife officials to advise the public on how they can simultaneously help and give animals the space they need. Wi...

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...

Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines