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Chart Riggall

News
County widens search for more disaster aid
Ouray County officials must renew their search for additional disaster aid after the federal government dashed their hopes for another significant pot...
September 23, 2026
News
Mining proposal faces unanimous scrutiny
Kris Peterson and Alex Klemt said it was an algorithm that led them west from Colorado Springs, up a rough dirt road past the Camp Bird Mine, and into...
September 2, 2026
Pilot’s death ruled an accident
News
Pilot’s death ruled an accident
The death of a pilot whose firefighting helicopter crashed into Silver Jack Reservoir last month has been ruled an accident by a Grand Junction medica...
August 25, 2026
‘Pinched on every front’
Main, News
‘Pinched on every front’
One breezy afternoon in mid-July, Mike Potter's phone started making all kinds of noise. “It goes, beep, beep, beep, beep!” shouted the Ridgway ranche...
August 12, 2026
Flood work could begin within week
Main, News
Flood work could begin within week
Ouray County officials said Tuesday that flood mitigation work below the Gold Mountain Fire’s burn scar could begin as soon as next week, while warnin...
August 12, 2026
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Editor Picks
‘This is the challenge that I needed in my life’
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 ...
Police department dissolved
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
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...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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