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News

County rejects private fireworks display

Unwilling to set precedent and uncomfortable with the tight deadline, Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday denied an application to conduct a private...

June 28, 2023

Feature

‘A RESPONSIBILITY TO EVERYONE’

Ridgway deputy marshal Rachel Esters’ days on-call typically begin with a carrot muffin and coffee, followed by a friendly staring contest with the co...

June 21, 2023

Columns, Opinion

Nice to meet you, Ouray County. Let’s get to work

June 21, 2023

News

Error mars Wetterhorn Homes lottery drawing

[tecnavia_gallery slug='error-mars-wetterhorn-homes-lottery-drawing-gallery' view='carousel']Erin Booth clasped her right hand to her forehead and cri...

June 21, 2023

Ridgway’s landmark U.S. flag

Editor's note: This is the first installment in our new, occasional feature called "burning questions." We thought this one would be a great one to st...

June 14, 2023

News

County OKs more housing funding

The Board of County Commissioners approved a $100,000 grant for the Home Trust of Ouray County on Tuesday. The funding came from the county's remainin...

June 14, 2023

News

Group honors Ouray Mountain Rescue Team with Citizen of the Year award

[tecnavia_gallery slug='group-honors-ouray-mountain-rescue-team-with-citizen-of-the-year-award-gallery' view='carousel']The Ridgway-Ouray Community Co...

June 14, 2023

News

Tours adapt to slow start to season

After above-average snowfall rendered some popular trails impassable, local off-road vehicle rental and Jeep tour companies now face a familiar realit...

June 7, 2023

News

Off-roading trail prep hits high gear

As Ty Barger lurched up the side of Yankee Boy Basin, the Jeep Gladiator’s engine whined. He advanced slowly, occasionally peeking his head out the wi...

June 7, 2023

News

Panel OKs exceptions for housing lottery

The Ridgway Workforce and Affordable Housing Committee approved on Tuesday three of the five exception requests to the lottery for the Wetterhorn Home...

June 7, 2023

News

Woman sentenced to probation in retaliation case

By Mike Wiggins

May 8, 2026

A former Ouray woman was ordered Thursday to spend two years on probation for retaliating against a woman who accused her son of sexual assault in 2023. Kristyn Trujillo must also perform 96 hours of ...

Main, News...

Beetle Mania

Drought conditions prime for insect infestation in county, experts warn

By LIA SALVATIERRA

May 6, 2026

In some parts of Ouray County it may look like popcorn grows on trees. The milky, honey-colored pocks on the trunks of ponderosa pines and other trees signal efforts to fend off their attackers: bark ...

Main

Wildfire building rules trigger mix of compliance, skepticism

By By Mike Wiggins, Lia Salvatierra and Erin McIntyre lia@ouraynews.com mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

A state mandate requiring local governments to adopt stricter building rules to protect new and remodeled homes against wildfire has sparked varying reactions from elected officials in Ouray County. T...

News

County policy would govern AI use

Manager: 'Folks want to feel we are doing our jobs, not delegating it to AI'

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

May 6, 2026

Ouray County commissioners want to regulate how employees use artificial intelligence when doing county work and limit cybercrime risk. Commissioners on April 29 looked at the first draft of an AI pol...

News

Town to pilot zero-waste rules at concerts

Following strong pushback from businesses, nonprofits, board devises more relaxed regulations

By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com

May 6, 2026

The town of Ridgway's Sustainability Advisory Board will pilot “zero-waste” rules at the town’s summer concert series, while it continues to craft a broader policy to implement for all events on town ...

Daniel Schmidt

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines