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News

Ouray utility rates to climb 9% in 2024

The average Ouray resident will pay 9% more for water, sewer, trash and recycling services next year under a rate plan approved by the Ouray City Coun...

November 15, 2023

News

Ridgway students outperform peers on state standardized tests

Ridgway School District students outperformed their peers on every grade level and in every subject tested on state standardized tests last spring.The...

November 15, 2023

News

In Ouray council races, voters pick incumbent, challenger

Ouray voters chose to keep City Councilor Peggy Lindsey but pushed out City Councilor John Wood in favor of Michael Underwood, ensuring the council wi...

November 8, 2023

Feature

‘Darkly funny, soulful’ Ridgway film fest returns

Ninth-annual event expands to four days, features 26 short films Arielle Bielak wants you to trust her. The director of the Ridgway Independent Film F...

November 8, 2023

News

Ouray sales tax climbs again in August

The last full month of summer proved to be another big revenue generator for the city of Ouray.Receipts from August sales activity totaled $419,806, a...

October 25, 2023

News

SMPA to start power line rebuild in June

The next phase of an ambitious, multi-year plan to rebuild 16 miles worth of power lines on Red Mountain Pass will begin next summer.The San Miguel Po...

October 25, 2023

News

Airport reaches new heights

Propelled by record passenger numbers, Montrose Regional unveils $38M expansion From a practical standpoint, there’s a lot to like about the $38 milli...

October 25, 2023

News

Ouray to offer virtual tours of popular sites

Visitors who want to know how steep the Perimeter Trail is or how bumpy it gets on the road leading to Yankee Boy Basin will soon be able to get a ver...

October 25, 2023

News

Council candidates differ on issues at Ouray forum

While School Board candidates generally agreed, council hopefuls Wood, Underwood contrast on public transit, other topicsOuray City Councilor John Woo...

October 25, 2023

News

SMPA board approves rate hike

Co-op dealing with rising power costs, will seek time-of-use rate systemThe San Miguel Power Association board of directors on Tuesday approved a $2-a...

October 25, 2023

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...

Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines