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An economist and finance strategist has been hired as Ouray County's chief financial officer. Ouray County announced this week it has hired Jason Schr...

June 10, 2026

News

Primary ballots mailed to voters

Ouray County voters should begin receiving ballots in the mail this week in advance of the June 30 primary election. Most of the competition for the p...

June 10, 2026

News

Town seeks millions in federal money for sewer plant

Ridgway is asking for $2.25 million in congressionally directed spending to rebuild part of its sewer plant to comply with state standards. The fundin...

April 22, 2026

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Man arrested at Ridgway restaurant

A Montrose man was arrested Tuesday afternoon in Ridgway after the Montrose Police Department asked the Ridgway Marshal’s Office for assistance in det...

April 22, 2026

News

Ridgway municipal election results

Ridgway will keep its long-time mayor and add a new face to its town council. According to initial election results from the town released late Tuesda...

April 8, 2026

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Ouray man killed in accident

A 34-year-old Ouray man died in a two-vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 550 south of Ridgway last night, which is still under investigation. Alixzander...

April 7, 2026

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Fatal accident under investigation

UPDATED STORY HERE: Ouray man dies in accident A fatal crash involving a Dodge Caravan and a Ford F-350 truck hauling a trailer on U.S. Highway 550 so...

April 6, 2026

Main, News...

Fire surges into Cimarrons

Evacuations expand, forest closes as forecast offers little relief

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

July 1, 2026

A wildfire that started as a wisp of smoke on a cliffside just north of Ouray last weekend exploded to more than 15,000 acres by Wednesday, driven by winds north to the Cimarron Range east of Ridgway....

Main, News...

City curtails holiday events

By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer

July 1, 2026

Fourth of July events in Ouray will be scaled back this year in response to the Gold Mountain Fire, with the July 3 fire department benefit concert and the Independence Day parade and kids’ games a go...

News

Blaze forces evacuations, destroys family cabin

No word when owners will be able to return

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

July 1, 2026

Rachel Nichols helped Russell McCrady when he needed emergency treatment for his dog. Little did she know he would return the favor when she and her husband encountered their own emergency, after they...

News

Fire crashes wedding party

Forced to flee, Denver-area couple improvises, moves celebration

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

July 1, 2026

The navy blue suit was ready for James Lindaman to attach his great-grandfather’s Air Force airman’s pin to the lapel. Michelle Lindaman spent months arranging every detail of her wedding, from the fl...

News

Looking Back

July 1, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago July 7, 1966 Dynamite charges started Ouray’s Independence Day Celebration with a ban...

Plaindealer Staff

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines