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News
Commissioners: Serious about not overspending
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
May 6, 2026
Ouray County commissioners are serious about ensuring county departments don’t overspend this year. They spent 90 minutes on April 29 reviewing the types of budget spreadsheets they can access to help...
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Fish out of water
News
Fish out of water
Historic drought leaves little water for endangered species in critical stretch of river
By By Heather Sackett Aspen Journalism 
May 6, 2026
With drought and high temperatures putting unprecedented pressure on water users throughout Colorado, from cities to agriculture, there’s one segment that can be affected first — and maybe worst — whe...
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Evacuation drill an exercise not in futility
Main, News...
Evacuation drill an exercise not in futility
County's first full-scale training May 15 meant to 'test where our holes are'
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
Sirens will wail and residents will likely see emergency vehicles headed through Ridgway, up County Road 5 on May 15. Traffic will filter back into town, with residents headed to an evacuation center....
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Mine owner proposes water treatment
Main, News...
Mine owner proposes water treatment
Unable to reduce heavy metals in Red Mountain Creek, Newmont exploring building plant atop pass
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
The company that owns the Idarado Mine is exploring the idea of building a treatment plant on Red Mountain Pass to remove heavy metals from water flowing into Red Mountain Creek. Representatives from ...
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News
Town mulls affordable housing mandate
Ridgway may require 10% of units to be deed restricted
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
The town of Ridgway will consider requiring developers to reserve 10% of units within market-rate residential projects as affordable housing for local workers and retirees. The proposed “community hou...
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County raises 4-H use fees
News
County raises 4-H use fees
Commissioners approve first facility rate increase since 2015
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
Fees for using the Ouray County 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds are going up for the first time in more than a decade, with the aim of making the facility’s operations self-sustaining. It’s the large...
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News
County appoints new planning commissioner
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
April 29, 2026
Ouray County commissioners unanimously appointed Danika Gilbert to the county Planning Commission on Tuesday. Gilbert will take the seat of Jennifer Cram, who resigned from the seven-person board afte...
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News
County holds firm on road access
Commissioners issue notice of violation to high alpine property owners, seek removal of gates
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
Ouray County may sue the owners of properties north of Red Mountain Pass if they don’t agree to remove two gates and restore public access to a road owned by the county and the U.S. Forest Service. Co...
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News
CORRECTION
April 29, 2026
A news brief on Page 3 in the April 16-22 edition about a faulty culvert mischaracterized comments made by Ouray County Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger. Barger did not say the culvert was ins...
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News
City to spend $25K on alternative July 4 entertainment
By Mike Wiggins 
April 29, 2026
The city of Ouray will spend $25,000 on additional entertainment for the Fourth of July, in case the traditional nighttime fireworks display is curtailed or canceled due to high fire danger. City coun...
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News
Plaindealer earns 11 awards in four-state contest
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
April 29, 2026
The Ouray County Plaindealer took home 11 awards last weekend from the four-state Society of Professional Journalists' Top of the Rockies' Excellence in Journalism competition for the newspaper's work...
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News
City of Ouray, Rural Homes reach settlement in ditch dispute
Settlement reached in ditch dispute
April 29, 2026
The city of Ouray and the developer of the Waterview Homes affordable housing development have settled a lawsuit against the owner of a ditch that crosses the property. City councilors on April 20 vot...
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City takes plunge on hot springs repairs
Main, News...
City takes plunge on hot springs repairs
Council approves $286,568 contract to resurface, replace tiles in overlook pools in September
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
The city of Ouray will spend more than $280,000 to resurface the hottest soaking areas at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool this fall, a repair pool managers say is vital to maintaining one of the city’s mos...
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News
County leaders campaign for merger
Commissioner claims benefits to combined fire, EMS; Log Hill Fire District concerned about structure, cost
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
Ouray County leaders last week campaigned for a combined countywide fire and emergency services authority at a Log Hill Mesa Fire Protection District meeting, while the district’s board of directors a...
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News
City keeps status quo on Via Ferrata operations — for now
Climbing course to open soon under new municipal management, as users seek changes to guide fees, weight restrictions
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
April 22, 2026
The Ouray Via Ferrata is scheduled to open May 1 under a new municipal management structure, even as city leaders and commercial guides debate whether to tweak key details like guide fees and weight r...
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News
Federal officer charged with assault over confrontation at Durango ICE protest
By By Chase Woodruff Colorado Newsline 
April 22, 2026
A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer is facing charges of assault and criminal mischief in Colorado state court after an investigation into an October 2025 incident in Durango in which he seiz...
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Blue Lakes trail won’t require permit this year
News
Blue Lakes trail won’t require permit this year
No permits needed at Blue Lakes this year
By By Lia Salvatierra 
April 22, 2026
Hikers and campers won’t need a permit to hike the famed Blue Lakes trail until at least 2027, though there are other new rules for using the area this summer. The anticipated permit system was part o...
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News
Mine owners to address cleanup efforts at meeting
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
April 22, 2026
For the first time in eight years, the owner of the Idarado Mine is joining the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership for a public update on its cleanup efforts in Ouray County. The “Local Water Quality &...
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News
4-H, fairgrounds to restart operations with new manager
April 22, 2026
Ouray County will restart events at the 4-H Event Center and Fairgrounds on May 1, now that it has hired a new manager for the facility. Operations at the facility have been largely on hold since mid-...
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News
Dry winter sparks more interest in cloud seeding
State weather modification program manager: Technology could be critical to boosting water supply
By By Ryan Spencer Vail Daily 
April 22, 2026
Colorado’s weather modification program is seeing an increased interest in cloud-seeding technology after the record-low snowpack this past winter. In the past couple of weeks, Weather Modification Pr...
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Editor Picks
News
No-idling ordinance stalls after months of debate
By LIA SALVATIERRA 
May 14, 2026
“Idle-Free Ridgway” remains a motto, rather than a rule after the town council voted down final approval for an anti-idling ordinance that drew zealous support and opposition over the past five months...
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Ouray childcare model a blueprint for others
Main, News...
Ouray childcare model a blueprint for others
A year after two daycares opened within affordable housing development, builder looks to replicate template in three other cities
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
May 13, 2026
The solution to the statewide childcare shortage might be here in Ouray County, where a blueprint for building childcare-ready affordable homes was drafted. It’s been a little more than a year since t...
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Main, News...
County tests: No mold problem in meeting rooms
After commissioner claims 'toxicity,' manager says 4-H, courthouse spaces safe to use
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
May 13, 2026
Ouray County commissioner meeting rooms don’t have a mold problem, according to testing ordered after Commissioner Lynn Padgett said the facilities caused her to feel sick and used it as justification...
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Beefed-up alpine ranger program returns
News
Beefed-up alpine ranger program returns
State grant allows county to add sixth ranger to patrol backcountry, focus on safety, education
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
May 13, 2026
Ouray County’s alpine ranger program is back and bigger this year with the help of a state grant. The public will see alpine rangers patrolling areas including Yankee Boy Basin, Imogene Pass and the A...
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Two candidates vie for seat on San Miguel Power board
News
Two candidates vie for seat on San Miguel Power board
Election to represent Ridgway, Log Hill contested for first time since 2014
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
May 13, 2026
For the first time in more than a decade, there’s a contested election for the District 6 seat on the San Miguel Power Association board of directors, representing all of Ridgway, much of Log Hill and...
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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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195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

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