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Bear activity ramping up

Second bruin killed in a week after several conflicts, entering home

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

State wildlife officials killed a young, female bear that entered a Ri...

Main

Police admin assistant resigns, blasts city

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

The Ouray Police Department's administrative assistant has resigned, l...

News

Disaster relief tax moves closer to ballot

Ouray, Ridgway councils negotiate for larger share of revenue; use tax for roads all but ruled out

By By Mike Wiggins and James Hanlon mike@ouraynews.com james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

A proposed countywide sales tax to address fires, floods and other nat...

Main

Best feathers forward

August 19, 2026

News

County road superintendent arrested on suspicion of DUI

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

Ouray County Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger was placed on paid administrative leave Monday following a driving under the influence arrest in Montrose Aug. 14. Crew Chief Don Castle has been ...

News

Ouray won’t join fire authority

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

Council cites unanswered questions, concerns about consolidation A proposal to consolidate all of Ouray County’s fire departments and its emergency medical services into one organization absorbed anot...

News

Looking Back

August 19, 2026

Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago August 18, 1966 In the background is the sound of classical Chinese music, gaily ligh...

News

Chamber music fest returns to San Juans

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

43rd annual weeklong event features familiar favorites, new violist World-renowned concert pianist Max Levinson and the Ulysses String Quartet return to Ouray County next week for the Ouray County Per...

News

Ouray County Fair 2026

August 19, 2026

News

County OKs flood construction contract

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

Ouray County commissioners awarded Haynes Excavation Inc. the contract for the Emergency Watershed Protection project at a special meeting Monday for certain areas below the Gold Mountain Fire burn sc...

News

Ridgway student proposes ‘free box’ for donations

By By James Hanlon james@ouraynews.com

August 19, 2026

A presentation about an idea for a “free box” by a Ridgway National Honor Society student at the Ridgway Town Council meeting Aug. 12 led to lengthy discussion and a $750 contribution to the project, ...

News

Ouray County Pride 2026

August 19, 2026

Feature

County fair carries on

Fire doesn't stop 4-H kids from showing their animals this week

By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com

August 12, 2026

The night the Gold Mountain Fire started, the Cornell family anxiously watched the fire spreading toward their fenced livestock, the billowing smoke filling the canyon. They decided to load up their h...

Feature

‘She has taught me so much about bravery’

'Edie,' a one-woman show about a gay civil rights activist, plays in Ouray Friday

By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com

August 12, 2026

The way Jessica Toltzis sees it, Edie Windsor chose bravery: A gay civil rights campaigner who sued the United States government in her 80s for the right to allow same-sex marriage — and won. If Winds...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

Aug. 13-27, 2026

August 12, 2026

Thursday, August 13 Ouray County Republican Women meeting, 6 p.m. at 6085 County Road 23 in Ridgway. Contact Patty Blackford at 970-318-8891 for details. Friday, August 14 Ouray County Fair at the Our...

Feature

Good For You!

August 5, 2026

Send us your celebrations! The “Good For You!” page is a place for reader-submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Want to submit a photo for publication? Here are some guidelin...

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

Aug. 6-19, 2026

August 5, 2026

Thursday, August 6 Ridgway Farmers Market, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. in Hartwell Park – on Thursday this week due to Ridgway Rendezvous. Youth Garden Club for ages 8-18, "Other Undergrounders" root vegetables, f...

Feature

Ridgway-area homes featured on Home Trust tour

By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com

July 29, 2026

An eclectic mix of Ridgway-area houses are on the Home Trust of Ouray County's tour this weekend, with homeowners opening their homes to participants to help raise funds for affordable housing. This y...

News

Ouray County Pride 2026

August 19, 2026

Obituaries

Debra Lynn Todd

August 19, 2026

November 5, 1953 – August 15, 2026 Debra Lynn Todd, 72, of Ouray, Colorado, passed away on August 15, 2026. She was born November 5, 1953, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She was the daughter of Chester and Ka...

Calendar & Events

August 19, 2026

Thursday, August 20 Community book club, noon-1 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library. Bring lunch and discuss "Whistler" by Ann Patchett. Friday, August 21 Historic True Grit Walking Tour, 3 p.m., free....

News

Ridgway town council asks county for 15% of proposed disaster recovery sales tax

By James Hanlon

August 17, 2026

The Ridgway Town Council asked Ouray County to consider a slightly higher distribution of funds from a proposed disaster recovery sales tax fund, while requesting more clarification on a possible cons...

News

Bear killed after entering Ridgway home, killing chickens

By erin@ouraynews.com

August 17, 2026

State wildlife officials killed a young, female bear that entered a Ridgway home on Saturday after days of conflicts and at least one incident with the bear killing chickens. Colorado Parks and Wildli...

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