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News
Governor Basin cleanup project faces delays
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
May 6, 2026
A collaborative restoration project to clean up mine waste in Governor Basin dating back to 2018 remains on hold, while project partners continue to work out final agreements and how the project will ...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
May 6, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago May 5, 1966 At Monday’s meeting of the Ouray City Council, Julius Sonza was hired as ...
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News
County to tighten rules for agriculture exemption permits
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
May 6, 2026
The rules will be tightened for those wanting to obtain Ouray County’s agriculture exemption permits. Ouray County commissioners authorized the Land Use and Planning Department to add three requiremen...
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News
City to examine pool house funding options
By Mike Wiggins 
May 6, 2026
The city of Ouray is taking the first step toward potentially drumming up funding to repair or replace the bathhouse at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. The city council on Monday unanimously signed off on...
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News
City retains employment law attorney
By Mike Wiggins 
May 6, 2026
The Ouray City Council unanimously agreed Monday to retain an attorney who specializes in employment law. The city is enlisting the services of Denver law firm Ruegsegger Simons & Stern, LLC to provid...
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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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Editor Picks
Second Chance adopts new challenge in expansion
Main, News...
Second Chance adopts new challenge in expansion
Humane society takes over Delta shelter, seeks to rehome more animals
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 3, 2026
Second Chance Humane Society is adopting a new beast: another Western Slope animal shelter in Delta. The Ridgway-based nonprofit organization officially took the reins of the Delta Animal Shelter on M...
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Main, News...
Staff criticizes commissioners
Survey: Workers satisfied with bosses
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 3, 2026
Ouray County’s employees are largely happy with their direct supervisors and department heads and dissatisfied with the Board of County Commissioners, according to a recent anonymous staff survey. Som...
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Main, News...
City reverses, will stick with sheriff for now
Council concerned about budget impacts from rebuilding police department
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 3, 2026
The Ouray City Council is reversing course on rebuilding an independent police department, agreeing Monday to instead continue to rely on the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services...
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Board: Ice Park at ‘inflection point’
News
Board: Ice Park at ‘inflection point’
Seeking help from city, nonprofit claims funding sources drying up as operational costs climb
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
June 3, 2026
The nonprofit organization that runs the Ouray Ice Park cautioned Monday that it has reached a crossroads, saying its operational costs continue to climb even as its funding sources are saturated. In ...
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News
Crystal bill passes House
Legislation to transfer reservoir to city moves on to Senate committee
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
June 3, 2026
A bill to transfer Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray is another step closer to becoming law after the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed it on Tuesday. The legislation now awaits ap...
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Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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