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Pilot dies in reservoir crash
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...
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Heights, heat add to firefighters’ strain
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...
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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...
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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...
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Man gets probation, community service in sex assault case
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...
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UPDATE: Pilot in fatal crash identified as Canadian man
Main, News...
UPDATE: Pilot in fatal crash identified as Canadian man
Investigation underway to determine cause of crash at Silver Jack Reservoir
By Mike 
July 13, 2026
Editor's note: This story has been changed to correctly indicate the change in the team overseeing the fire response. The pilot who died when his aircraft went down in Silver Jack Reservoir Sunday was...
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News
Firefighting aircraft goes down in Silver Jack
Body of pilot recovered from crash scene by dive team late Sunday
By Plaindealer Staff 
July 12, 2026
An aircraft fighting the Gold Mountain Fire went down in Silver Jack Reservoir in southwestern Gunnison County on Sunday night and the body of the pilot has been recovered from the crash. One person w...
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Firefighters gain ground on Gold Mountain Fire
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...
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Despite fire, downsized Fourth celebration marches on
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...
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First fire, then floods? Leaders start planning for next potential emergency
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 ...
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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...
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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...
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News
Following outcry, Ouray seeks gym solutions
City may move fitness center to empty building, assess bathhouse for possible remodel
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 8, 2026
The city of Ouray is thinking about moving the fitness center from inside the historic bathhouse at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool to an empty building across the street from the Ouray Community Center. C...
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A foam-filled Fourth
News
A foam-filled Fourth
July 8, 2026
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Some evacuated areas will reopen to residents Wednesday
News
Some evacuated areas will reopen to residents Wednesday
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 7, 2026
The Ouray County sheriff is allowing some residents to return to their homes in evacuated areas starting Wednesday morning. The sheriff's office approved re-entry for credentialed residents who live i...
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Wildlife displaced by fire, residents can help by providing water for animals
News
Wildlife displaced by fire, residents can help by providing water for animals
Commissioners to discuss emergency plans for flooding
By James Hanlon, Special to the Plaindealer 
July 7, 2026
Wildlife escaping the Gold Mountain Fire are moving closer to town, prompting state wildlife officials to advise the public on how they can simultaneously help animals and give them the space they nee...
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Evacuees can obtain credentials for re-entry of fire zone
News
Evacuees can obtain credentials for re-entry of fire zone
Timeline unclear for return to homes in evacuated area
By Deb Hurley Brobst 
July 6, 2026
Evacuees of the Gold Mountain Fire — who have been displaced for more than a week — hope they will return to their homes soon, are thankful for the firefighters working tirelessly to quell the flames ...
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Forest closure expands as fire makes another big run
Main, News...
Forest closure expands as fire makes another big run
By Mike 
July 2, 2026
The U.S. Forest Service this afternoon expanded the closure area in the Uncompahgre National Forest east of Ridgway, as the Gold Mountain Fire makes another big run. The original closure largely encom...
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News
Water providers ask customers to conserve
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 2, 2026
Water managers are asking residents to avoid excessive water use and putting more demand on their distribution system. Ridgway Mayor John Clark announced during a Ouray County Board of County Commissi...
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Reservoir to close due to aerial firefighting operation
News
Reservoir to close due to aerial firefighting operation
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 2, 2026
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 tell exactly when that will be, but Colorado Parks ...
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Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
Thank you, helpers
By Dave Conrad 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: A word of gratitude: These last days since the Gold Mountain Fire started on June 27 have been hard for us, individually and as a community. During times of strife and difficulty a wise m...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Thank you, firefighters
By Kathy Hall 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: Thank you is a simple phrase most of us use every day. However, now "thank you" just doesn’t seem adequate for our firefighters and first responders. Thank you for saving our town, our ho...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dead trees need removal
By Thomas Lang 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: On the evening of June 27 my wife, Lori, and I evacuated our home in unincorporated Ouray County and drove to Montrose due to the Gold Mountain Fire. All afternoon we watched from my fron...
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Letters, Opinion...
City has known issues with gym for years
By Kitty Calhoun 
July 15, 2026
Dear Editor: I would like to clarify some points made in the Plaindealer's article, “Following outcry, Ouray seeks gym solutions," from the July 9 edition. First, it was “acknowledged that the city di...
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Chimney Rock stands as sentinel in smoke
Columns, Feature...
Chimney Rock stands as sentinel in smoke
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
July 15, 2026
If you look east from Ridgway, the view of the Cimarron Range is usually a masterpiece of sharp, clear angles. At the center of it all stands the unmistakable spire of Chimney Rock. Together with its ...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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