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City taps local businesses for additional park signs

Ouray city leaders insisted in May they wanted to hire local businesses to design, fabricate and install signs at the entrance to two city parks. They...

July 30, 2025

Feature

A new chapter for historic St. Elmo

It was a cold call that led Clay Bales to warm up to the San Juans. Five years ago, he picked up the phone and dialed the number for Jason Raible, the...

July 30, 2025

Main, News

Ceremony ushers in new Ouray police era

Five months ago, tension and resentment filled the meeting room inside the Ouray Community Center. Frustrated Ouray police officers lashed out at city...

July 23, 2025

News

Councilors, library clash over rooftop deck

Two Ouray City Council members and the Ouray Library District continue to clash over the location of a rooftop deck planned for the library’s expansio...

July 23, 2025

Main, News

Wildfires surge across region

Four lightning-sparked wildfires that had scorched more than 20,000 acres in southwestern Colorado as of Wednesday continue to churn through tinder-dr...

July 16, 2025

Main, News

Signs of trouble in Ouray

Ouray business owners and residents threw up a symbolic stop sign in front of the city council on Monday, urging city leaders to pause or altogether a...

July 9, 2025

Main, News

Sex assault trial moved to Montrose

A judge has ordered the trial of a man accused of sexually assaulting a 17-year-old girl in 2023 to be moved from Ouray to Montrose. Seventh Judicial ...

July 2, 2025

Feature

Celebrating the Fourth in Ouray? Load up on sunscreen, patience, courtesy

The sights and sounds of the Fourth of July in Ouray are ubiquitous. The powerful spray of fire hoses. The shrieks of kids racing through Fellin Park....

July 2, 2025

News

City to drop business registration program fee

The city of Ouray is expected to drop the $10 annual fee charged as part of its business registration program in an effort to get more businesses to s...

June 25, 2025

Main, News

Saving Swiss Village

It took an attorney willing to work for free and hop on a midnight phone call in the middle of her vacation. It took two couples who had never met bef...

June 23, 2025

Main, News...

Ridgway to grow capacity to fight wildland fires

Additional staff, engine can enhance skills, create more revenue

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 3, 2025

Ridgway’s wildland firefighters have mopped up hotspots in Nevada, fought wildfire on the front lines in California and protected structures at home in Colorado. Since the Ridgway Fire Protection Dist...

Main, News...

County chops event center operations to aid budget

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

December 3, 2025

Ouray County is performing triage on its 2026 budget as 2025 revenues are coming in lower than expected, placing even more pressure on the county’s general fund savings. County leaders have been worki...

News

New council’s first task: Fill vacancies

After soliciting applications, councilors to interview, pick appointments Jan. 5

December 3, 2025

Ouray city leaders swore in a new mayor and city councilor Monday night, then turned their attention to the council’s most pressing issue: Finding and appointing two more councilors to fill out the ra...

News

Slow start to snow season

Wave of storms helps, but snowpack in San Juans well below normal

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

December 3, 2025

A series of post-Thanksgiving storms delivered desperately needed snow to the moisture-starved San Juans, but snowpack at the start of December remains well below average in Ouray County and the surro...

News

SEASON OF SHARING

Ridgway Ouray Community Council

December 3, 2025

Editor's note: The Ouray County Plaindealer is continuing its tradition of featuring nonprofit organizations based in Ouray County, serving Ouray County in a series of profiles called Season of Sharin...

Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines