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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

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

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

News

Fire crews aim to draw ‘big box’ around blaze

By Chart Riggall

July 17, 2026

Surveying a sprawling map of the northern San Juans on Wednesday, Mike Smith was deep in a geometry of fire. Fingers tracing fire lines and ridges, Smith – who assumed the role of incident commander o...

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Pilot dies in reservoir crash

Accident under investigation; man honored with procession

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

An experienced firefighting pilot who was pulling water from Silver Jack Reservoir to battle the Gold Mountain Fire died Sunday when his helicopter plunged into the reservoir northeast of Ridgway. Nic...

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Heights, heat add to firefighters’ strain

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

Hotshot Jesse Eaves calls it “The Great Race.” At the small tent city along U.S. Highway 550, Eaves starts each day with a 5 a.m. wakeup call. Thus begins an eight-minute sprint for him and his Califo...

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County approves hiring fire recovery manager — if it can find funding

By Mike Wiggins and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

Ouray County intends to hire an employee who can help lead the county’s efforts to recover from the Gold Mountain Fire — assuming it can find funding. County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agree...

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Trust, county close to conserving open space park

Grants, donations put nonprofit on brink of acquiring Silver Mountain Mine property

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

July 15, 2026

Ouray County is much closer to getting a new open space park on the Silver Mountain Mine property. The Trust for Land Restoration has received a $180,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant. Couple that wit...

Carolina Brown

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines