Author - News

Covid

Ouray County businesses received more than $8 million through the Paycheck Protection Program this spring, according to data released last week by the...

July 15, 2020

Covid

Love in the time of coronavirus

[tecnavia_gallery slug='love-in-the-time-of-coronavirus-gallery' view='carousel']When they envisioned their wedding, Nyssa Moore and Rand Hillyer knew...

July 15, 2020

Covid

Tracking positive visitor cases proves tricky

As tourists flock to Ouray County, including many from states where coronavirus cases continue to climb, officials worry visitors could be carrying an...

July 8, 2020

Covid

County gets more COVID test kits after receiving defective ones

After waiting more than two months to receive coronavirus tests this spring, the Ouray County Public Health Agency received 300 kits in May, only to f...

July 8, 2020

Festivities go fourth

The crowds were smaller, the parades shorter, and no water fights or fireworks marked Independence Day in Ouray, but locals were determined to find wa...

July 8, 2020

Opinion

Iâm here, and I’m ready to tell your stories

I spent most of my first week in Ouray County walking around wide-eyed, overwhelmed by how stunning it is, unable to believe I could somehow, actually...

July 8, 2020

Covid

Health officials: Don’t use antibody tests for workplace decisions

Some Ouray County employers have asked workers to get coronavirus antibody tests in order to return to work, against the advice of medical experts who...

June 25, 2020

Covid

(Almost) everybody back in the pool

[tecnavia_gallery slug='almost-everybody-back-in-the-pool-gallery' view='carousel']The Ouray Hot Springs Pool reopened Monday with limited guests and ...

June 25, 2020

Covid

Churches celebrate rebirth as restrictions ease

One by one, masked congregants walked up to a small altar at the United Church of the San Juans, weaving carefully between sets of chairs arranged 6 f...

June 17, 2020

News

Protesters hit streets again

[tecnavia_gallery slug='protesters-hit-streets-again-gallery' view='carousel']Editor's Note: To watch a video about the Ouray and Ridgway protests, cl...

June 17, 2020

Main, News...

Pilot dies in reservoir crash

Accident under investigation; man honored with procession

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

An experienced firefighting pilot who was pulling water from Silver Jack Reservoir to battle the Gold Mountain Fire died Sunday when his helicopter plunged into the reservoir northeast of Ridgway. Nic...

Main, News...

Heights, heat add to firefighters’ strain

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

Hotshot Jesse Eaves calls it “The Great Race.” At the small tent city along U.S. Highway 550, Eaves starts each day with a 5 a.m. wakeup call. Thus begins an eight-minute sprint for him and his Califo...

News

County approves hiring fire recovery manager — if it can find funding

By Mike Wiggins and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

Ouray County intends to hire an employee who can help lead the county’s efforts to recover from the Gold Mountain Fire — assuming it can find funding. County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously agree...

News

Trust, county close to conserving open space park

Grants, donations put nonprofit on brink of acquiring Silver Mountain Mine property

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

July 15, 2026

Ouray County is much closer to getting a new open space park on the Silver Mountain Mine property. The Trust for Land Restoration has received a $180,000 Great Outdoors Colorado grant. Couple that wit...

News

Man gets probation, community service in sex assault case

One of three defendants, Whittington admits to giving alcohol to minor

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

July 15, 2026

A former Ouray County man was sentenced Monday to one year of unsupervised probation for providing alcohol to a then-17-year-old girl who said she was sexually assaulted by two others at the former Ou...

Liz Teitz

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines