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Evacuation area expanded east of Ridgway, Ouray to discuss July 4 plans
News
Evacuation area expanded east of Ridgway, Ouray to discuss July 4 plans
City to hold meeting today at 4 p.m.
By Mike Wiggins 
June 30, 2026
The city of Ouray is open but staff is not actively marketing to bring visitors to the area, City Administrator Michelle Metteer said this morning. “We are always looking to find a balance on what is ...
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Firefighters building, reinforcing lines, as high winds return today
News
Firefighters building, reinforcing lines, as high winds return today
By Mike 
June 30, 2026
Firefighters will focus their efforts today on building and reinforcing firelines in an effort to keep the Gold Mountain Fire from spreading south toward Ouray and west toward U.S. Highway 550. A tota...
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Emergency ballots available for primary election
News
Emergency ballots available for primary election
Voters can participate online, turn in ballots at secure ballot boxes before 7 p.m. deadline
By Erin McIntyre 
June 30, 2026
The polls and ballot boxes are open today and the Ouray County clerk wants you to know you have several ways you can vote, given the state of emergency and the Gold Mountain Fire. Ballots for the prim...
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Persistent windy, dry weather hampers firefighters
Main, News...
Persistent windy, dry weather hampers firefighters
Feds to assume operational control today; Ouray Fourth of July celebration in doubt
By Mike 
June 29, 2026
UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: Firefighters battling the 7,100-acre Gold Mountain Fire on the ground and in the air are focused on preventing the blaze from crossing County Road 14A. Fire crews consider that road...
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Evacuees in limbo as fire grows
Main, News...
Evacuees in limbo as fire grows
By Mike Wiggins and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com 
June 28, 2026
Dottie Miller hopped online on Friday, running over checklists of items to take with her in the event of an emergency. It’s practically an annual ritual for her, just to make sure she has everything s...
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Main, News...
Ouray cancels Fourth of July fireworks
By Mike 
June 28, 2026
The city of Ouray has canceled its Fourth of July fireworks display in light of dangerous fire conditions. Brooke Warren, a spokeswoman for the city, said this morning Fire Chief Adam Kunz made the de...
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Extreme fire danger persists
Main, News...
Extreme fire danger persists
Gold Mountain Fire burns as more firefighting resources expected to arrive
By Mike Wiggins And Erin Mcintyre 
June 28, 2026
Ouray County and southwestern Colorado are under a red flag warning until 10 p.m. today, as forecasters this morning warned gusty winds and low humidity will create dangerous fire weather conditions. ...
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Gold Mountain Fire grows, prompts evacuations north of Ouray
Main, News...
Gold Mountain Fire grows, prompts evacuations north of Ouray
By Mike 
June 27, 2026
Click here to read the NEW, UPDATED STORY POSTED AT 10:20 a.m. Sunday, June 28 here. UPDATE, 11:16 p.m.: A pre-evacuation notice has been issued for County Road 17 from Whispering Pines to Black Lake....
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Sweet sounds of summer
Main, News...
Sweet sounds of summer
June 24, 2026
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Main, News...
County to pursue use tax
Likely ballot measure would raise money for roads, EMS
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
June 24, 2026
Ouray County voters likely will be asked this fall to approve a use tax on both new vehicle purchases and construction material purchases, with most of the tax dollars going to the county’s Road and B...
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Main, News...
Will fire authority ease insurance woes?
Experts say consolidation may not help homeowners gain, keep coverage
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 24, 2026
Home insurance experts say the proposed consolidation of fire and emergency services in Ouray County may not necessarily help homeowners gain and keep insurance coverage. Leaders of the possible conso...
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News
Celebration honors past, looks to future
Ranch History Museum marks 20th birthday Saturday with expansion preview
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 24, 2026
The Ouray County Ranch History Museum is celebrating its 20th birthday with a preview of what it wants to be when it grows up. During a celebration from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 27, survey stakes and...
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News
Ridgway council seeks more efficient meetings
After recent heated tone, councilors emphasize preserving casual culture
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 24, 2026
Ridgway town councilors want to run meetings more efficiently while preserving the council’s casual culture. After trying out informal strategies to shorten the length of meetings, the council may con...
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Film shows Ouray’s rich, layered history
News
Film shows Ouray’s rich, layered history
'Ouray: Echoes in the Canyon' debuts Friday at the Wright
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
June 24, 2026
The story of Ouray is rich, nuanced and full of interesting people and events. That's the surface-level message the audience could take away from the commissioned documentary for the city's 150th anni...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
June 24, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago June 30, 1966 Dale Peirdson broke an arm and injured his hip June 24 while working at...
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News
Local Briefs
National forests impose fire ban
June 24, 2026
The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests are joining Ouray County’s three local governments and other agencies in the region in imposing stage 1 fire restrictions. The U.S. Forest Ser...
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News
Financial picture mixed in Ouray
Sales taxes strong, but lodging, short-term rental revenues slipping
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 24, 2026
Ouray’s primary sources of revenue have delivered mixed results so far this year, with sales tax receipts on the rise but proceeds from lodging and vacation rental taxes declining. The city pulled in ...
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News
Report: Ridgway could take $1.5M hit from loss of MTN Lodge rooms
Consultant cites limited lodging capacity as biggest barrier to improving tourism, offers suggestions
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 24, 2026
Ridgway may see a $1.5 million loss ripple throughout the local economy each year MTN Lodge is used as workforce housing instead of lodging for visitors, according to a new report from the state. The ...
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News
Travels influence food truck flavors
By By Chloe Kiparsky Special to the Plaindealer 
June 24, 2026
From Greece to the Caribbean, menu runs gamut at The Sweet Tea Syndicate A new, bright red food truck has rolled into town, and with it come flavors of Greece, Poland, the Caribbean and the southern U...
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County turns attention to prairie dogs at 4-H Center
Main, News...
County turns attention to prairie dogs at 4-H Center
County manager insists on controlling rodents despite pushback from commissioner
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 17, 2026
Ouray County will control the prairie dog population at the 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds. Ouray County Manager Antonio Mendez said he has yet to decide on a method, but that the end goal is contro...
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Editor Picks
Letters, Opinion...
Prairie dog problem bigger than fairgrounds
June 24, 2026
Dear Editor: While I appreciate the prairie dog problem at the Ouray County Fairgrounds getting attention, it’s a short-sighted view. There are plenty more prairie dogs that will migrate and repopulat...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Ouray should rethink Fourth of July fireworks
By Tamra Evangelista 
June 24, 2026
Dear Editor: I recently wrote to the Ouray City Council asking them to consider an alternative to our traditional Fourth of July fireworks display this year given the significant wildfire risk we are ...
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Drought persists, but relief may be en route
Columns, Opinion...
Drought persists, but relief may be en route
By Karen Risch 
June 24, 2026
Ouray County remains in serious drought, as it was last month. Most of Colorado’s mountains are in extreme/ exceptional drought; the northern San Juans remain in the severe category. (U.S. Drought Mon...
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New Ouray restaurant offers ‘elevated pub food’
Feature
New Ouray restaurant offers ‘elevated pub food’
The Tavern opens in space formerly occupied by Full Tilt, O'Brien's
By By Chloe Kiparsky Special to the Plaindealer 
June 24, 2026
When Nancy Feeser and her husband, Mike, bought the building at 726 Main St. in Ouray in February, it was painted green with bright yellow letters announcing O’Brien’s Pub, which had been closed for y...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
June 24, 2026
Thursday, June 25 Cruz Contreras & The Black Lillies with opener Griffin William Sherry, Mountain Air Music Series concert in Fellin Park in Ouray, from 6-10 p.m., free. Tech Thursday – Get help with ...
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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
970-325-4412

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Ridgway CO 81432

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