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Local briefs: Trial set in retaliation case, active short-term rental rules temporarily waived due to fire

Ouray council won’t support mayor’s bid for municipal advocacy position The Ouray City Council declined on Monday to endorse Mayor Michael Underwood’s...

October 7, 2026

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Bear killed after entering Ridgway home, killing chickens

State wildlife officials killed a young, female bear that entered a Ridgway home on Saturday after days of conflicts and at least one incident with th...

August 17, 2026

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Crystal Reservoir transfer bill passes Senate committee

A bill to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray took another step forward last week. The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Na...

July 22, 2026

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Some evacuated areas will reopen to residents Wednesday

The Ouray County sheriff is allowing some residents to return to their homes in evacuated areas starting Wednesday morning. The sheriff's office appro...

July 7, 2026

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Water providers ask customers to conserve

Water managers are asking residents to avoid excessive water use and putting more demand on their distribution system. Ridgway Mayor John Clark announ...

July 2, 2026

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Reservoir to close due to aerial firefighting operation

Ridgway Reservoir will close to boaters as soon as planes dispatched to assist with the aerial attack on the Gold Mountain Fire arrive. It's hard to t...

July 2, 2026

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Animal shelter evacuating due to Gold Mountain Fire

UPDATE at 3 p.m. Wednesday – ALL THE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED Second Chance Humane Society is evacuating today due to the Gold Mountain Fire now bu...

July 1, 2026

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‘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 By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

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 ...

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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...

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Paramedic fired after three months’ leave

Commissioners pause refilling second EMS vacancy

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

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...

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County wraps up draft budget without layoffs

Initial plan leaves five positions vacant, reduces some departmental hours

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

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...

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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...

erin@ouraynews.com

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines