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News

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a comment from Jeff Wood's attorney. The city of Ouray fired its police chief today, citing a li...

June 24, 2024

News

Climber dies after rescue in Ice Park

A 27-year-old Fort Collins man who was found unconscious in the Ouray Ice Park on Feb. 24 died as a result of asphyxiation. A group of climbers found ...

March 8, 2023

News

Man dies while fleeing police

A suspected intoxicated driver who died during a police pursuit after falling into Dexter Creek Canyon had two prior drunken-driving convictions as we...

May 26, 2021

News

âOuray just wonât be the same without himâ

He’s still here, in some ways. In the shot glass poured with a drink for him on the bar at the Ouray Elks Lodge. In the bottles of the lavender oil he...

March 11, 2021

Opinion

We mean what we say

[tecnavia_gallery slug='we-mean-what-we-say-gallery' view='carousel']Yes, we mean it. We have a letters policy and we’re sticking to it. Even during e...

October 7, 2020

Covid

Mass virus testing attracts more than 600

Ouray County's first mass testing event for COVID-19 attracted so many participants that twice as many tests were performed in two days as had been co...

September 3, 2020

Covid

State sinks pool variance request

[tecnavia_gallery slug='state-sinks-pool-variance-request-gallery' view='carousel']More than a month after Ouray County asked the state for permission...

July 29, 2020

Covid

Pandemic handcuffs sheriff candidate campaigns

[tecnavia_gallery slug='pandemic-handcuffs-sheriff-candidate-campaigns-gallery' view='carousel']Justin Perry sits alone at a picnic table, scrolling t...

June 11, 2020

Covid

New state order allows pools to reopen

Pool operators are asking Ouray County to pursue a variance to allow more swimmers than a statewide limitation, to make opening more financially viabl...

June 4, 2020

Covid

Dining options on municipalitiesâ table

Local municipalities are troubleshooting how they can safely accommodate outdoor dining and allow restaurants to have more outside capacity, in antici...

May 21, 2020

Main, News...

Firefighters gain ground on Gold Mountain Fire

Sheriff allows some evacuees to return home; blaze shifts away from populated areas

By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

Residents forced to flee the Gold Mountain Fire north of Ouray nearly two weeks ago returned to charred landscapes but fully intact homes Wednesday, an indication that authorities believe the threat h...

Main, News...

Despite fire, downsized Fourth celebration marches on

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

A scaled-back Fourth of July celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States and 150th birthday of Ouray attracted thousands to the city, despite the cancellation of fireworks, water fights and...

News

First fire, then floods? Leaders start planning for next potential emergency

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

July 8, 2026

Even though the Gold Mountain Fire is still burning, Ouray County officials are already thinking about flash flood risks in the burn scar as Colorado moves into monsoon season. “This is a predictable ...

News

Water providers ask customers to pull back

Ridgway enacts mandatory irrigation restrictions

By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com

July 8, 2026

Water managers in Ouray County are asking residents to curtail water use and avoid putting more demand on their distribution systems in light of the Gold Mountain Fire and ongoing tinder-dry condition...

News

Looking Back

50 Years Ago

July 8, 2026

July 7, 1966 Charges have been filed in Ouray County Court against three Ouray youths for violation of state statutes in climbing over a fence at the municipal swimming pool last Friday and breaking b...

Erin Mcintyre And Mike Wiggins

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines