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News

Gunnison River anglers question feds’ plan to reduce Blue Mesa releases

As this year’s historic drought drags on, conflicts over how to share and manage water are bubbling over. Gunnison River anglers and boaters say feder...

September 9, 2026

Obituaries

Jean Sellers

Jean Sellers passed Monday morning, September 7th, 2026. She was 69 years old. No services are planned. Jean lived a full life, traveling the world wi...

September 9, 2026

Calendar & Events, Feature

Calendar & Events

Thursday, September 10 Youth Garden Club Harvest Day, for ages 8-18, 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 320 Charles St. Live music: Jolie H...

September 9, 2026

Main, News

Hickenlooper hopeful for fire disaster order

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper said Friday he was optimistic the Trump administration will declare the Gold Mountain Fire a federal disaster, arguing Con...

September 2, 2026

Main, News

County employees remain on paid leave

Ouray County has had two emergency-related employees on paid administrative leave since the early days of the Gold Mountain Fire. A third employee, Ro...

September 2, 2026

News

Businesses share struggles with senator

Ouray County business owners bent the ear of U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Friday, sharing stories of declining profits and mass cancellations in the...

September 2, 2026

News

Cleanup project at former mine site to take until 2028, Thorin says

A representative from Thorin Resources, the owner and operator of the Revenue-Virginius Mine, told Ouray County commissioners last week the company ex...

September 2, 2026

Letters, Opinion

Tree thinning vital to managing wildfire

Dear Editor: This letter pertains to an article by Chart Riggall in the Aug. 27 edition. I thought it was an excellent article on the history of fire ...

September 2, 2026

Letters, Opinion

Wind played major factor in Gold Mountain Fire

Dear Editor: It was the wind. I read with great interest the in-depth article by Chart Riggall in the Aug. 27 edition of the Ouray County Plaindealer....

September 2, 2026

News

County asks CDOT for help with noxious weeds

Ouray County would like the Colorado Department of Transportation to do more to take care of noxious weeds growing out of control along U.S. Highway 5...

September 2, 2026

Main, News...

A Monster celebration

October 7, 2026

Main, News...

City, county near pact on police services

Boards to vote this month on sheriff 's $1.1M annual proposal to police Ouray

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

October 7, 2026

Ouray County and the city of Ouray are hammering out the details of an agreement that would enlist the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office to provide full law enforcement services to the city for potentiall...

Main, News...

Reservoir transfer bill clears Senate

By Chart Riggall

October 7, 2026

Federal legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray cleared the U.S. Senate last week, sending the bill to the House of Representatives as the clock winds down for Cong...

News

SMPA plans Four Corners solar project

Utility: Array, battery storage could meet up to 40% of consumer power needs

By Chart Riggall

October 7, 2026

San Miguel Power Association has joined three other southwest Colorado electricity providers in throwing their weight behind a sprawling solar facility near Cortez that could meet up to 40% of their c...

News

Council not on board with transit funding next year

Ouray won't budget for in-town shuttle, Montrose bus

By James Hanlon

October 7, 2026

The Ouray City Council dropped funding from the proposed 2027 budget for the city’s free in-town shuttle and contributions to the OurWay bus that runs between Montrose and Ouray. The in-town Ouray shu...

tecnavia

Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines