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Colorado is on track for its warmest year ever. Source flows are diminishing or at historic lows. So why has only one water provider in Ouray County ordered cutbacks this summer?

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

September 9, 2026

In the early days of summer, it remained a matter of some debate where...

Main

Trump declares disaster for fire

By By Chart Riggall chart@ouraynews.com

September 9, 2026

Move frees up federal relief money President Donald Trump approved a m...

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 al...

Main

A barrel of fun on Labor Day

September 9, 2026

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...

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...

News

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Disaster relief tax an investment in resilience

By tecnavia

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 ...

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...

News

Local Briefs

Commissioners renew, reduce staff positions

September 9, 2026

Ouray County commissioners on Tuesday approved rehiring two vacant staff positions while reducing a third position to part time. The two full-time positions are for mechanics in the Road and Bridge De...

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...

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...

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...

Columns, Feature...

Colorado’s rocky road to statehood

By Carolyn Snowbarger

September 9, 2026

Last month Colorado celebrated its 150th anniversary of statehood. Many of us assume that statehood was inevitable for this place we love. However, the 17-year quest was met with significant resistanc...

Fall sports gear up at Ouray, Ridgway schools

Columns, Feature...

PREP ROUNDUP

Fall sports gear up at Ouray, Ridgway schools

By By Bernie Pearce Special to the Plaindealer

September 9, 2026

Fall is in the air, and so are volleyballs arcing over the net for remarkable rallies and soccer balls rocketing into the net for breath-taking goals. Fleet feet are crisply hitting the street to conq...

Feature

2026 Labor Day parade and rodeo

September 9, 2026

Calendar & Events, Feature...

Calendar & Events

Sept. 10-24, 2026

September 9, 2026

Thursday, September 10 Youth Garden Club Harvest Day, for ages 8-18, 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 320 Charles St. Live music: Jolie Holland, showtime is 7 p.m. at the Sherbino Theater...

Feature

New principal brings international experience

Michael Flaim named interim leader of Ouray preK-8 students

By James Hanlon

August 26, 2026

Michael Flaim, an educator who taught economics and social studies at international schools for nearly 20 years, has started as Ouray School’s interim preK-8 principal for the 2026-2027 school year. T...

Columns, Feature...

Monsoon flooding as old as Ouray itself

By Karen Risch

August 26, 2026

Situated on debris fans created by Portland and Cascade creeks, Ouray lies in a 5,000-foot deep rock bowl drained by five major creeks emptying into the Uncompahgre River. It’s not surprising that for...

Columns, Opinion...

Grateful to tell stories here, ink stains and all

By James Hanlon

September 9, 2026

Sometimes, I journal to process major life events. I’ve lived in a lot of places worth journaling about and my latest move is no exception. I’ve been in Ouray for six weeks now and I’m struck by the s...

Obituaries

Jean Sellers

September 9, 2026

Jean Sellers passed Monday morning, September 7th, 2026. She was 69 years old. No services are planned. Jean lived a full life, traveling the world with her husband, making friends in remote places an...

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...

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...

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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