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The owners of a storage unit business between Ridgway and Ouray will get another chance to make their case for expansion to county commissioners. Re...

August 15, 2019

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Audience receptive to proposed regulations

OURAY COUNTY Ouray County residents who attended a town hall meeting on proposed wildfire mitigation rules were receptive to those regulations. The me...

August 15, 2019

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Census: Rural areas âhard to countâ

Ouray County’s rural population will be harder to count in next year’s Census than areas with home mail delivery, U.S. Census Bureau representatives...

August 15, 2019

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Ouray to share public health director with San Miguel County

Ouray County’s new health department director will split her time with San Miguel County, in an agreement where the two governments will share costs t...

July 31, 2019

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Commissioners seek beefed-up forest patrol

Ouray County commissioners want the U.S. Forest Service to station more rangers to patrol the high country and prevent damage caused by visitors, am...

July 31, 2019

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New undersheriff eager to serve community

With over 35 years of law enforcement behind him – and nearly 20 of those years in Ouray - Ted Wolfe is willing to serve his community as long as he...

July 31, 2019

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Planning Commission hosts film screenings

OURAY COUNTY The Ouray County Planning Commission is showing the documentary film “The Era of Megafires” at three locations across the county in the c...

July 24, 2019

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Storage units expansion denial could set precedent

A storage unit business that expanded without approval shouldn’t receive a special use permit, according to a joint planning organization from Ridgw...

July 24, 2019

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Residentsâ complaints persist about speeding

The Board of County Commissioners heard more complaints about speeding on County Road 24 from residents at their meeting on Tuesday. This time the f...

July 24, 2019

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Speed bumps planned for some county roads

A speed tracker captured speeds of up to 55 miles per hour on pothole- and washboard-riddled County Road 24 and its subsections, prompting Ouray Count...

July 17, 2019

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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...

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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...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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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