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Ouray School sailed through its first quarantine and all students and staff returned to school on Monday with no reports of illness. Superintendent To...

December 17, 2020

News

Panel pushes $15M elementary renovation

The Ridgway School District is forging ahead with plans for a $15 million overhaul of the elementary building despite not having clear direction that ...

December 17, 2020

News

Commissioners concerned about new events center impacts on CR1

Ouray County commissioners last week denied a request to sign a state highway access permit application that would help provide access to a proposed e...

December 17, 2020

News

County rejects retail marijuana store

Ouray County commissioners denied an application for a retail marijuana store in Colona on Tuesday after more than two hours of discussion and are now...

December 10, 2020

News

County adopts 2021 budget

Ouray County commissioners approved a nearly $15 million budget for 2021 on Tuesday, including funding for a full-time public information position to ...

December 10, 2020

Covid

Skijoring? Yes. Spectators? Neigh.

Ridgway’s popular winter competition combining snow sports with horseback riding will be allowed to happen in January, but like other sports during th...

December 10, 2020

News

County officials praise new rec trail

Ouray County will officially end years of fighting over recreational access to County Road 5 next week with a settlement agreement involving the newly...

December 3, 2020

News

School board: Time to move on from playground landscaping dispute

The Ouray School Board will not offer another settlement to a landscaper who claims she wasn’t fairly compensated for work on the new playground last ...

November 25, 2020

News

Agencies mull parking problems on Red Mountain

Ouray County is concerned about parking congestion on Red Mountain Pass, anticipating an even bigger demand from backcountry users this winter. Visito...

November 25, 2020

Covid

Community pleased with in-person learning

Ridgway parents, staff, and – to a lesser extent – students are satisfied with this year’s in-person learning and the health and safety protocols the ...

November 25, 2020

Main, News...

Several homes damaged, 17 people rescued from flooding

By Mike Wiggins

July 30, 2026

At least 17 people were rescued from flooding and debris flows in the Cutler Creek area between Ridgway and Ouray on Wednesday night, authorities said this morning. At least three homes in Ponderosa V...

Main, News...

Evacuations ordered near Cutler Creek as rain pummels burn scar

Oak Street closed due to mud, flooding

By Mike

July 29, 2026

UPDATE, 9:45 p.m. U.S. Highway 550 reopened between Ridgway and Ouray Wednesday night, authorities announced at 9:15 p.m. Emergency officials encouraged motorists to be cautions when driving through a...

Main, News...

Rain on burn scar triggers flooding, evacuation

Hydrologist: Above-average rain forecast through September

By Chart Riggall

July 29, 2026

Heavy rainfall over scorched soil sent flash floods raging down Cutler Creek on Sunday night, spilling mud down through Ponderosa Village and briefly shuttering U.S. Highway 550. The torrent of water ...

Main, News...

Fire scorches bottom lines

Reliant on summer tourism, reeling businesses running out of time to claw back lost revenue

By Mike Wiggins, Chart Riggall and Erin McIntyre

July 29, 2026

It didn’t take but a spark and a stiff breeze to turn Justin Mitchell’s summer upside down. During the first few hours of the Gold Mountain Fire, Mitchell — who runs a horseback guiding outfit in the ...

News

Governments team up on flood mitigation

City, nonprofits pitch in $165,000, while financially pinched county searches for more funding

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

July 29, 2026

Government agencies and nonprofit organizations have begun stepping up to help Ouray County pay to protect homes and roads from flooding and mudslides in the aftermath of the Gold Mountain Fire. The O...

Carolina Brown

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines