Author - News

Columns, Opinion

Our high-country autumn in the San Juans gives us a precious few weeks to savor and revel in the glorious gold accenting our yards, lining our town st...

October 7, 2026

Columns, Feature

Colorado’s rocky road to statehood

Last month Colorado celebrated its 150th anniversary of statehood. Many of us assume that statehood was inevitable for this place we love. However, th...

September 9, 2026

Columns, Feature

Chimney Rock stands as sentinel in smoke

If you look east from Ridgway, the view of the Cimarron Range is usually a masterpiece of sharp, clear angles. At the center of it all stands the unmi...

July 15, 2026

Columns, Feature

Anniversaries a reminder of power of this place

The "power of place" is the theory that physical locations shape our lives, identities and ultimate destinies. This concept suggests that a geographic...

June 17, 2026

Columns, Opinion

War to peace: rebranding the San Juans

For decades, the San Juans were valued primarily for what could be pulled out of them. These mountains were a brutal, dangerous locale defined by the ...

May 13, 2026

Main, News...

‘This is the challenge that I needed in my life’

Ouray Ice Park's new executive director trims staff, seeks more buy-in from recreational climbers amid financial crunch

By Chart Riggall

October 21, 2026

In the waning weeks of the 2019 ice climbing season, a 27-year-old Tres Barbatelli stood at the bottom of the Uncompahgre Gorge wondering what he’d just done. Minutes before, he’d rappelled down into ...

Main, News...

Police department dissolved

Council turns over services to sheriff; remaining employee laid off

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

October 21, 2026

The city of Ouray terminated the sole employee of its police department and turned over its police services to the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, officially dissolving a stand-alone law enf...

News

Paramedic fired after three months’ leave

Commissioners pause refilling second EMS vacancy

By James Hanlon

October 21, 2026

A paramedic for Ouray County Emergency Medical Services, who has been on administrative leave since the Gold Mountain Fire, was fired last week after a meeting with county administration went awry. Jo...

News

County wraps up draft budget without layoffs

Initial plan leaves five positions vacant, reduces some departmental hours

By James Hanlon

October 21, 2026

Ouray County’s draft budget for next year proposes five staff reductions from general fund departments – all of which are currently vacant positions. The positions are from administration, the assesso...

News

Veteran transport program approved

October 21, 2026

After resolving concerns about an intergovernmental agreement with San Miguel County, Ouray County commissioners approved a new partnership last week that will transport veterans to medical appointmen...

Carolyn Snowbarger

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines