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Ouray residents and business owners will see their utility bills rise by 6% next year, as the city seeks additional revenue to meet the requirements o...

November 5, 2025

News

Council nixes alcohol at hot springs

The Ouray City Council rejected a proposal Monday to sell alcohol at three special events at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool next year, concluding the cost...

October 29, 2025

News

Mayoral hopefuls make pitches to voters

Ouray's mayoral candidates agreed last week the biggest challenge facing the city is a breakdown in communication and understanding between the city c...

October 29, 2025

News

Residents praise interim police chief

Mark Rozich and Karen Risch were happy to duck inside Cassidy’s Cafe & Antiques on a rainy evening last week and share their opinions about Ouray’...

October 29, 2025

News

Ouray to hire full-time fire chief in ’26

The city of Ouray plans to bring aboard a full-time, salaried fire chief next year, a change that will shift the responsibility for hiring, firing and...

October 29, 2025

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Gulde touts experience, years of service

Tamara Gulde didn’t intend to assemble campaign flyers and put up yard signs this fall. After four years as a Ouray city councilor, she was ready to s...

October 15, 2025

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Underwood sees gap between council, public

When he looks out at the audience at a Ouray City Council meeting or walks Main Street, Michael Underwood said he sees and hears people who are discon...

October 15, 2025

Main, News

Fire chief vows to clean up fireworks trash found by visitors

Michal Nowicki was looking for a panoramic view above Ouray when he hiked near the "Switzerland of America" sign last week. He found it — along with a...

October 8, 2025

Main, News...

Ridgway sues MTN Lodge

Town seeks payment of sales, lodging taxes; hotel calls lawsuit 'misguided'

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The town of Ridgway is suing the owners of MTN Lodge over their plans to use the hotel as workforce housing for the next several years, aiming to suspend operations and demanding they pay lodging and ...

Main, News...

Board rebukes commissioner

Niece, Nauer censure Padgett for secretly recording closed-door meeting

By By Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

Two Ouray County commissioners publicly reprimanded their fellow commissioner after discovering she secretly recorded an executive session last week. Portions of the audio from that executive session ...

Main, News...

Proposed merger could make fire chief highest paid official

Latest draft bases members' voting power on financial contributions

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

The current proposal to combine fire and emergency medical services entities in Ouray County could eventually make the new fire chief the highest-paid public official in the county and may base partic...

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Jury convicts mother in retaliation case

By Erin McIntyre and Mike Wiggins erin@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com

April 1, 2026

A jury has convicted a former Ouray woman of retaliating against another woman who accused her son of sexual assault in 2023. Jurors deliberated for about an hour on March 26 before finding Kristyn Tr...

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EMS moves overnight quarters with help from chamber grant

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

April 1, 2026

Ouray County Emergency Medical Services is moving its sleeping quarters for on-call staff in Ouray into the former Public Health office location, with donations providing rent assistance. An EMT will ...

Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines