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Crews working to plug old water well
News
Crews working to plug old water well
Operation part of state program to reclaim abandoned sites
By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com 
September 9, 2026
It’s not what you think. A towering steel drill that’s been perched along the side of U.S. Highway 550 in recent weeks isn’t probing for gas, or oil, or even a route to the Far East. The operation is ...
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News
Parking enforcement nixes popular highway camping spot
By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com 
September 9, 2026
Officials cite concerns about safety, health at Tuffy's Corner A highway pullout popular for overnight camper parking north of Ouray has been empty in recent weeks since ‘no camping’ signs were instal...
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News
Fourteen measures to appear on statewide ballot
Graduated income tax, right to hunt and fish, anti-trans measures set to go before Colorado voters in November
By By Chase Woodruff Colorado Newsline 
September 9, 2026
The Colorado secretary of state’s office on Friday certified the list of ballot measures going before voters in November 2026 — and once again, the list is a long one. A total of 14 measures will be d...
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News
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Disaster relief tax an investment in resilience
By Bruce Ward 
September 9, 2026
Dear Editor: I am writing to express my strong support for a dedicated Ouray County tax to provide funding for disaster relief, emergency preparedness, and community recovery. Those of us who live in ...
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Looking Back
News
Looking Back
September 9, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago September 8, 1966 The Colorado Board of Public Health has ordered Ouray to appear bef...
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News
Local Briefs: Fire transferred to local control, county and Ridgway Fire to draft agreement to consolidate
Commissioners renew, reduce staff positions
September 9, 2026
Commissioners renew, reduce staff positions Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday approved rehiring two vacant staff positions while reducing a third position to part time. The two full-time positions...
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Gunnison River anglers question feds’ plan to reduce Blue Mesa releases
News
Gunnison River anglers question feds’ plan to reduce Blue Mesa releases
Flows in Gunnison Gorge could drop as low as 200 cfs in effort to maintain hydropower, rebuild storage
By By Heather Sackett Aspen Journalism 
September 9, 2026
As this year’s historic drought drags on, conflicts over how to share and manage water are bubbling over. Gunnison River anglers and boaters say federal water-management decisions are causing increase...
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Crews working to fill 1950s-era well along U.S. 550
News
Crews working to fill 1950s-era well along U.S. 550
Reclamation part of orphaned and abandoned well program
By Chart Riggall 
September 4, 2026
It’s not what you think. A towering steel drill rig that’s been perched along the side of U.S. Highway 550 in recent weeks isn’t probing for gas, or oil, or even a route to the Far East. The operation...
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Trump declares disaster for Gold Mountain, Aspen Acres fires
Main, News...
Trump declares disaster for Gold Mountain, Aspen Acres fires
By Chart Riggall 
September 4, 2026
President Donald Trump has signed off on a major disaster declaration for the Gold Mountain and Aspen Acres fires that unlocks millions of dollars in Federal Emergency Management Agency relief funds f...
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Hickenlooper hopeful for fire disaster order
Main, News...
Hickenlooper hopeful for fire disaster order
Senator tours flood-damaged areas, surveys planned fire mitigation efforts
By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com 
September 2, 2026
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper said Friday he was optimistic the Trump administration will declare the Gold Mountain Fire a federal disaster, arguing Congress “wouldn’t settle for” the White House withho...
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Main, News...
County employees remain on paid leave
EMS paramedic, deputy emergency manager sent home days after fire started
By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com 
September 2, 2026
Ouray County has had two emergency-related employees on paid administrative leave since the early days of the Gold Mountain Fire. A third employee, Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger, was placed...
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News
Businesses share struggles with senator
'You guys are in crisis,' Hickenlooper tells proprietors wrestling with aftermath of Gold Mountain Fire
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
September 2, 2026
Ouray County business owners bent the ear of U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Friday, sharing stories of declining profits and mass cancellations in the wake of the Gold Mountain Fire in the hopes the D...
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News
Cleanup project at former mine site to take until 2028, Thorin says
By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com 
September 2, 2026
A representative from Thorin Resources, the owner and operator of the Revenue-Virginius Mine, told Ouray County commissioners last week the company expects to complete a federally supervised cleanup p...
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News
Mining proposal faces unanimous scrutiny
Finance managers get cool reception from commissioners in bid for $110M federal grant to revive gold and silver mine in Governor Basin
By Chart Riggall 
September 2, 2026
Kris Peterson and Alex Klemt said it was an algorithm that led them west from Colorado Springs, up a rough dirt road past the Camp Bird Mine, and into the lofty tundra of Governor Basin. With the help...
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News
County asks CDOT for help with noxious weeds
By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com 
September 2, 2026
Ouray County would like the Colorado Department of Transportation to do more to take care of noxious weeds growing out of control along U.S. Highway 550 and Colorado Highway 62. County commissioners s...
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News
Fire restrictions downgraded to Stage 1
Stage 2 fire ban rescinded
September 2, 2026
Ouray County and the town of Ridgway have rescinded Stage 2 fire restrictions and dropping down to less-restrictive Stage 1 restrictions, citing recent moisture that has helped reduce fire danger. The...
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New, familiar events mark return of rodeo
News
New, familiar events mark return of rodeo
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
September 2, 2026
It's time to kick up a little dust, hoot n' holler and watch cowboys and cowgirls show off their skills at the rodeo. This year's rodeo features the traditional events — bull and bronc riding, team ro...
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News
Graduated income tax proposal qualifies for ballot
By By Chase Woodruff Colorado Newsline 
September 2, 2026
Coloradans will vote this November on a ballot measure that would raise income taxes on the top 3% of earners and slightly cut them for everyone else. Backers of Proposed Initiative 195 submitted a su...
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Calendar & Events
News
Calendar & Events
September 2, 2026
Thursday, September 3 Ouray County Republican Central Committee monthly meeting, 6 p.m., Ridgway Public Library meeting room, 300 Charles St. "Rocky Horror Picture Show" shadow cast edition auditions,...
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Tax districts approved for proposed project
News
Tax districts approved for proposed project
Metro districts would fund improvements for possible 19-acre mixed-use Ridgway development
By James Hanlon 
August 26, 2026
The Ridgway Town Council approved creating four metropolitan districts at its Aug. 12 meeting for a proposed residential and commercial development on 19 acres in north Ridgway. The development, Alpen...
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Editor Picks
A Monster celebration
Main, News...
A Monster celebration
October 7, 2026
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City, county near pact on police services
Main, News...
City, county near pact on police services
Boards to vote this month on sheriff 's $1.1M annual proposal to police Ouray
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
October 7, 2026
Ouray County and the city of Ouray are hammering out the details of an agreement that would enlist the Ouray County Sheriff’s Office to provide full law enforcement services to the city for potentiall...
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Reservoir transfer bill clears Senate
Main, News...
Reservoir transfer bill clears Senate
By Chart Riggall 
October 7, 2026
Federal legislation to transfer ownership of Crystal Reservoir to the city of Ouray cleared the U.S. Senate last week, sending the bill to the House of Representatives as the clock winds down for Cong...
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News
SMPA plans Four Corners solar project
Utility: Array, battery storage could meet up to 40% of consumer power needs
By Chart Riggall 
October 7, 2026
San Miguel Power Association has joined three other southwest Colorado electricity providers in throwing their weight behind a sprawling solar facility near Cortez that could meet up to 40% of their c...
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News
Council not on board with transit funding next year
Ouray won't budget for in-town shuttle, Montrose bus
By James Hanlon 
October 7, 2026
The Ouray City Council dropped funding from the proposed 2027 budget for the city’s free in-town shuttle and contributions to the OurWay bus that runs between Montrose and Ouray. The in-town Ouray shu...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
Office address:

195 S Lena St. Unit D
Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

Mailing address:
PO Box 529
Ridgway CO 81432

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