Main, News...
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...
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
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
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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News
'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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News
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
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
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
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
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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Main, News...
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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Main, News...
City cites structural issues, will pursue short-term fix
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 17, 2026
The sudden removal of most of the free weights from the fitness center at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool has angered members who say the city eliminated one of the primary reasons they work out there. Cit...
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News
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 17, 2026
The Ridgway Town Council has decided it’s willing to take a chance on a grant-funded public process in pursuit of an all-electric building code for new construction. Councilors unanimously voted on Ju...
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News
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 17, 2026
Ridgway town councilors voted last week to fly the pride flag at Ridgway Town Hall for the remainder of Pride Month, after deciding not to last year. At a June 10 meeting, Councilor Polly Kroger reque...
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News
State agency says local buy-in will improve chances of grant; council to consider funding request during fall budget talks
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 17, 2026
The Ouray Library District has asked the city of Ouray to contribute $100,000 toward its expansion, hoping to pair it with other funding from local and state governments. In a June 2 letter, which als...
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News
50 Years Ago
June 17, 2026
June 16, 1966 Ray Scoggins has purchased from Oscar Thurman a refreshment stand at the Ouray municipal pool. It has been renamed the Poolside Patio and will be managed by Mr. and Mrs. R.M. Scoggins, p...
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News
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 17, 2026
Ouray County leaders plan to charge a fee for special event permit applications and formalize the permit process. County leaders are still deciding how much they plan to charge for applications, which...
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News
June 17, 2026
Mariah Olin, pictured here with her husband, Brendon, and daughter, Wynnie, graduated from the University of Colorado in Greeley with a specialized master's degree in school psychology. Both Mariah an...
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News
By Plaindealer Staff Report 
June 15, 2026
Montrose resident Bret Brachman-Goldstein has been identified as the man who was found deceased on Mt. Sneffels on June 11, according to Ouray County Coroner Glenn Boyd. Investigators believe Brachman...
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Letters, Opinion...
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
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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Columns, Opinion...
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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Feature
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, Feature...
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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