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News

Emergency ballots available for primary election

The polls and ballot boxes are open today and the Ouray County clerk wants you to know you have several ways you can vote, given the state of emergenc...

June 30, 2026

Columns, Opinion

We’re keeping the racks, but bring more quarters

When I called to inquire about purchasing refurbished newspaper racks, the gal seemed a bit surprised. "We don't sell many newspaper racks," she said....

June 17, 2026

Main, News

Inmon sentenced to prison in sex assault case

A Ridgway man convicted of sexual assault by a Ouray County jury will spend at least four years in prison. Jeffrey Michael Inmon, 48, was convicted in...

June 5, 2026

Columns, Opinion

A Plaindealer promise: to be human-powered

We used to be able to say, “Seeing is believing.” Now we’re learning to be more discerning about images and videos we see posted online. We’re countin...

June 3, 2026

Columns, Opinion

Between a rack and a hard place: What to do about single copy sales?

This week marks our seventh anniversary of owning the Plaindealer. I always remember the date because of April Fool's Day. We were careful to avoid Ap...

April 1, 2026

Main

Factors behind the fire: What drove its spread?

Experts: Age-old forests, climate change, extreme drought created prime conditions for Gold Mountain Fire

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

August 26, 2026

In the summer of 1879, the largest wildfire in Colorado history at the time tore through 26,000 acres of rugged forest about eight miles south of Silverton and presaged a vast shift in its landscape. ...

News

Tax districts approved for proposed project

Metro districts would fund improvements for possible 19-acre mixed-use Ridgway development

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 26, 2026

The Ridgway Town Council approved creating four metropolitan districts at its Aug. 12 meeting for a proposed residential and commercial development on 19 acres in north Ridgway. The development, Alpen...

News

Officials push Trump for disaster declaration

Polis: Federal funding needed to help pay for $17M in damages from Gold Mountain, Aspen Acres fires

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

August 26, 2026

Federal, state and local officials pushed this week for President Donald Trump to issue a disaster declaration for the Gold Mountain and Aspen Acres fires that would open the door to additional federa...

Feature

New principal brings international experience

Michael Flaim named interim leader of Ouray preK-8 students

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 26, 2026

Michael Flaim, an educator who taught economics and social studies at international schools for nearly 20 years, has started as Ouray School’s interim preK-8 principal for the 2026-2027 school year. T...

News

Construction to control flooding begins

Work focuses on removing debris, building berms, barriers; project set to finish by Sept. 20

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 26, 2026

Crews from Haynes Excavation began work last week to repair and protect areas prone to flooding and debris flows beneath the Gold Mountain Fire burn scar. The $2.8 million Emergency Watershed Protect ...

Erin McIntyre

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines