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Latest News
City curtails holiday events, keeps parade
Main, News...
City curtails holiday events, keeps parade
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
July 1, 2026
Fourth of July events in Ouray will be scaled back this year in respon...
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Blaze forces evacuations, destroys family cabin
News
Blaze forces evacuations, destroys family cabin
No word when owners will be able to return
By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
Rachel Nichols helped Russell McCrady when he needed emergency treatme...
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Fire crashes wedding party
News
Fire crashes wedding party
Forced to flee, Denver-area couple improvises, moves celebration
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
The navy blue suit was ready for James Lindaman to attach his great-gr...
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Fire surges into Cimarrons
Main, News...
Fire surges into Cimarrons
Evacuations expand, forest closes as forecast offers little relief
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
A wildfire that started as a wisp of smoke on a cliffside just north of Ouray last weekend exploded to more than 15,000 acres by Wednesday, driven by winds north to the Cimarron Range east of Ridgway. Just days after it started, the Gold Mountain Fire had raced up Baldy Mountain into the Cow Creek drainage and threatened to expand to Owl Creek Pass, forcing evacuations as far as Silver Jack Reserv...
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Looking Back
Feature
Looking Back
July 1, 2026
Compiled from the files of The Ouray County Herald, The Ridgway Sun, and The Ouray County Plaindealer 60 Years Ago July 7, 1966 Dynamite charges started Ouray’s Independence Day Celebration with a ban...
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News
In light of staff survey, commissioners vow to govern better, improve pay
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
July 1, 2026
Ouray County commissioners responded to the good, the bad and the ugly from the “2026 Employee Viewpoint Survey,” saying they were pleased county employees said they generally like their jobs, committ...
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News
News
Q & A: Gold Mountain Fire
By Plaindealer Staff Report Plaindealer@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
The emergency response to the Gold Mountain Fire has been sudden and information is changing from day to day. Here are some answers to questions we have received from readers you might find helpful. I...
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Animal shelter evacuating due to Gold Mountain Fire
News
Animal shelter evacuating due to Gold Mountain Fire
Emergency foster homes needed for animals
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 1, 2026
UPDATE at 3 p.m. Wednesday – ALL THE ANIMALS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED Second Chance Humane Society is evacuating today due to the Gold Mountain Fire now burning east of Ridgway. The shelter, located on Cou...
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July 4 water fights canceled, but parade decision in limbo
News
July 4 water fights canceled, but parade decision in limbo
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
July 1, 2026
Ouray businesses and residents will have to hold their collective breath awhile longer until city officials decide whether the Fourth of July parade will go on as usual. City officials will announce b...
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Evacuation area expanded east of Ridgway, Ouray to discuss July 4 plans
News
Evacuation area expanded east of Ridgway, Ouray to discuss July 4 plans
City to hold meeting today at 4 p.m.
By Mike Wiggins 
June 30, 2026
The city of Ouray is open but staff is not actively marketing to bring visitors to the area, City Administrator Michelle Metteer said this morning. “We are always looking to find a balance on what is ...
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Firefighters building, reinforcing lines, as high winds return today
News
Firefighters building, reinforcing lines, as high winds return today
By Mike 
June 30, 2026
Firefighters will focus their efforts today on building and reinforcing firelines in an effort to keep the Gold Mountain Fire from spreading south toward Ouray and west toward U.S. Highway 550. A tota...
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Emergency ballots available for primary election
News
Emergency ballots available for primary election
Voters can participate online, turn in ballots at secure ballot boxes before 7 p.m. deadline
By Erin McIntyre 
June 30, 2026
The polls and ballot boxes are open today and the Ouray County clerk wants you to know you have several ways you can vote, given the state of emergency and the Gold Mountain Fire. Ballots for the prim...
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Features coverage
Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
July 2-16, 2026
July 1, 2026
EDITOR'S NOTE: All events are subject to change, given the state of emergency and the Gold Mountain Fire. Thursday, July 2 Ridgway Concert Series: Levi Platero with opener Shelby Means, free concert i...
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New Ouray restaurant offers ‘elevated pub food’
Feature
New Ouray restaurant offers ‘elevated pub food’
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
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
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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Anniversaries a reminder of power of this place
Columns, Feature...
Anniversaries a reminder of power of this place
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
June 17, 2026
The "power of place" is the theory that physical locations shape our lives, identities and ultimate destinies. This concept suggests that a geographic location is never merely a dot on a map or a set ...
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Kris Batchelder’s art wanders the Wild West
Feature
SPOTLIGHT ON THE ARTS
Kris Batchelder’s art wanders the Wild West
By By Chloe Kiparsky Special to the Plaindealer 
June 17, 2026
About 10 years ago, Kris Batchelder discovered her passion for paper collage. It was at Christmas, when she sat down with her son to make holiday cards out of construction paper. “I guess I liked it,”...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
June 18-July 2, 2026
June 17, 2026
Thursday, June 18 Sweet Lizzy Project with opener Sara Jean Kelley, Mountain Air Music Series concert in Fellin Park in Ouray, from 6-10 p.m., free. Seventh annual Ouray International Film Festival, v...
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Persistent windy, dry weather hampers firefighters
Main, News...
Persistent windy, dry weather hampers firefighters
Feds to assume operational control today; Ouray Fourth of July celebration in doubt
By Mike 
June 29, 2026
UPDATE, 4:40 p.m.: Firefighters battling the 7,100-acre Gold Mountain Fire on the ground and in the air are focused on preventing the blaze from crossing County Road 14A. Fire crews consider that road...
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Evacuees in limbo as fire grows
Main, News...
Evacuees in limbo as fire grows
By Mike Wiggins and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com 
June 28, 2026
Dottie Miller hopped online on Friday, running over checklists of items to take with her in the event of an emergency. It’s practically an annual ritual for her, just to make sure she has everything s...
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Main, News...
Ouray cancels Fourth of July fireworks
By Mike 
June 28, 2026
The city of Ouray has canceled its Fourth of July fireworks display in light of dangerous fire conditions. Brooke Warren, a spokeswoman for the city, said this morning Fire Chief Adam Kunz made the de...
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Extreme fire danger persists
Main, News...
Extreme fire danger persists
Gold Mountain Fire burns as more firefighting resources expected to arrive
By Mike Wiggins And Erin Mcintyre 
June 28, 2026
Ouray County and southwestern Colorado are under a red flag warning until 10 p.m. today, as forecasters this morning warned gusty winds and low humidity will create dangerous fire weather conditions. ...
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Gold Mountain Fire grows, prompts evacuations north of Ouray
Main, News...
Gold Mountain Fire grows, prompts evacuations north of Ouray
By Mike 
June 27, 2026
Click here to read the NEW, UPDATED STORY POSTED AT 10:20 a.m. Sunday, June 28 here. UPDATE, 11:16 p.m.: A pre-evacuation notice has been issued for County Road 17 from Whispering Pines to Black Lake....
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Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

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