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Latest News
Despite fire, downsized Fourth celebration marches on
Main, News...
Despite fire, downsized Fourth celebration marches on
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
July 8, 2026
A scaled-back Fourth of July celebration of the 250th birthday of the ...
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First fire, then floods? Leaders start planning for next potential emergency
News
First fire, then floods? Leaders start planning for next potential emergency
By Deb Hurley Brobst Special to the Plaindealer 
July 8, 2026
Even though the Gold Mountain Fire is still burning, Ouray County offi...
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News
Fire pushes stressed wildlife into urban areas
By By James Hanlon Special to the Plaindealer 
July 8, 2026
Wildlife escaping the Gold Mountain Fire are moving closer to town, pr...
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Firefighters gain ground
Main, News...
Firefighters gain ground
Sheriff allows some evacuees to return home; blaze shifts away from populated areas
By By Mike Wiggins, Erin McIntyre and Deb Hurley Brobst mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 8, 2026
Residents forced to flee the Gold Mountain Fire north of Ouray nearly two weeks ago returned to charred landscapes but fully intact homes Wednesday, an indication that authorities believe the threat has subsided in the areas closest to where the fire ignited. Ouray County Sheriff Justin Perry lifted the mandatory evacuation order for more than 130 homes in two evacuation zones along the U.S. Highw...
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News
Water providers ask customers to pull back
Ridgway enacts mandatory irrigation restrictions
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 8, 2026
Water managers in Ouray County are asking residents to curtail water use and avoid putting more demand on their distribution systems in light of the Gold Mountain Fire and ongoing tinder-dry condition...
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News
Looking Back
50 Years Ago
July 8, 2026
July 7, 1966 Charges have been filed in Ouray County Court against three Ouray youths for violation of state statutes in climbing over a fence at the municipal swimming pool last Friday and breaking b...
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News
News
Following outcry, Ouray seeks gym solutions
City may move fitness center to empty building, assess bathhouse for possible remodel
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 8, 2026
The city of Ouray is thinking about moving the fitness center from inside the historic bathhouse at the Ouray Hot Springs Pool to an empty building across the street from the Ouray Community Center. C...
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A foam-filled Fourth
News
A foam-filled Fourth
July 8, 2026
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Send us your celebrations!
News
Send us your celebrations!
July 8, 2026
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 guidelines for submissions: - This ...
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Calendar & Events
News
Calendar & Events
July 8, 2026
Thursday, July 9 Ridgway Concert Series: Black Uhuru with opener Psylo, free concert in Hartwell Park, 6 p.m. No dogs or outside alcohol allowed. Youth Garden Club: Compost Basics for ages 8-18, from ...
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Some evacuated areas will reopen to residents Wednesday
News
Some evacuated areas will reopen to residents Wednesday
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 7, 2026
The Ouray County sheriff is allowing some residents to return to their homes in evacuated areas starting Wednesday morning. The sheriff's office approved re-entry for credentialed residents who live i...
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Wildlife displaced by fire, residents can help by providing water for animals
News
Wildlife displaced by fire, residents can help by providing water for animals
Commissioners to discuss emergency plans for flooding
By James Hanlon, Special to the Plaindealer 
July 7, 2026
Wildlife escaping the Gold Mountain Fire are moving closer to town, prompting state wildlife officials to advise the public on how they can simultaneously help animals and give them the space they nee...
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Features coverage
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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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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Feature
Travels influence food truck flavors
By By Chloe Kiparsky Special to the Plaindealer 
June 24, 2026
From Greece to the Caribbean, menu runs gamut at The Sweet Tea Syndicate A new, bright red food truck has rolled into town, and with it come flavors of Greece, Poland, the Caribbean and the southern U...
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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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Evacuees can obtain credentials for re-entry of fire zone
News
Evacuees can obtain credentials for re-entry of fire zone
Timeline unclear for return to homes in evacuated area
By Deb Hurley Brobst 
July 6, 2026
Evacuees of the Gold Mountain Fire — who have been displaced for more than a week — hope they will return to their homes soon, are thankful for the firefighters working tirelessly to quell the flames ...
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Forest closure expands as fire makes another big run
Main, News...
Forest closure expands as fire makes another big run
By Mike 
July 2, 2026
The U.S. Forest Service this afternoon expanded the closure area in the Uncompahgre National Forest east of Ridgway, as the Gold Mountain Fire makes another big run. The original closure largely encom...
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News
Water providers ask customers to conserve
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 2, 2026
Water managers are asking residents to avoid excessive water use and putting more demand on their distribution system. Ridgway Mayor John Clark announced during a Ouray County Board of County Commissi...
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Reservoir to close due to aerial firefighting operation
News
Reservoir to close due to aerial firefighting operation
By erin@ouraynews.com 
July 2, 2026
Ridgway Reservoir will close to boaters as soon as planes dispatched to assist with the aerial attack on the Gold Mountain Fire arrive. It's hard to tell exactly when that will be, but Colorado Parks ...
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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....
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

Ouray County Plaindealer
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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
970-325-4412

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