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Latest News
Ceremony ushers in new Ouray police era
Main, News...
Ceremony ushers in new Ouray police era
Audience greets trio of new officers with standing ovations, as chief emphasizes 'mindset of service'
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 23, 2025
Five months ago, tension and resentment filled the meeting room inside...
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News
Phone rules tighten for Ouray students
School board revises policy to remove devices during class time unless approved by teacher
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
July 23, 2025
High schoolers in Ouray have some new rules for using cellphones when ...
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Councilors, library clash over rooftop deck
News
Councilors, library clash over rooftop deck
Vote delayed as debate continues over location of community amenity
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 23, 2025
Two Ouray City Council members and the Ouray Library District continue...
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‘It just took off very quickly’
Main, News...
WILDFIRE DEVASTATES BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON
‘It just took off very quickly’
Hot, dry conditions preceded blaze, as park closure set to deliver financial hit
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 23, 2025
BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON — Campgrounds filled with families just a matter of days before are surrounded by a web of spidery, blackened trees. Bare branches create windows between campsites where all that’s left are melted picnic tables and ash-filled firepits, mimicking the surrounding landscape. At the edge of the treeline, smoke rises steadily from the canyon where fire churns along the hars...
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No fake AI here — just humans doing their best
Columns, Opinion...
FROM THE PUBLISHER
No fake AI here — just humans doing their best
By Erin McIntyre 
July 23, 2025
I read with interest a summer reading list published earlier this year in the Philadelphia Inquirer, and made a note to check out Andy Weir's new book since I loved "The Martian." Here's the descripti...
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Letters, Opinion...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Hurd’s words don’t match his actions
July 23, 2025
Dear Editor: I just don’t get Congressman Jeff Hurd. He says his decisions are always based on what’s best for our district. But then he votes for Trump’s big budget bill that slashes funding for heal...
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News
News
New sewer plant plagued by problems
July 23, 2025
The city of Ouray says it is investigating and fixing multiple problems at its new $17 million wastewater treatment plant. The mechanical plant, which has been online for just a matter of months, has ...
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News
Sheriff starts alpine ranger program
July 23, 2025
The Ouray County Sheriff's Office has launched an alpine ranger program to help patrol the backcountry during tourist season, after federal cuts caused the U.S. Forest Service to fire their own ranger...
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News
Commissioners to rank county roads for maintenance
July 23, 2025
Ouray County commissioners will individually rank county roads they think should be first in line for gravel installation as part of Road and Bridge Superintendent Ty Barger’s long-term road plan. Bar...
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News
School board OKs property negotiations
July 23, 2025
The Ouray School Board has unanimously approved allowing Superintendent Tod Lokey to negotiate to purchase two properties next to the school for future improvements, including constructing a new gym. ...
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News
Marshal seeks info on shots fired
July 23, 2025
The Ridgway Marshal's Office is looking for information about someone shooting at a building in the 600 block of Chipeta Drive. According to the marshal's office, a bullet was found at the property, o...
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Crews start to gain ground on South Rim Fire
Main, News...
Crews start to gain ground on South Rim Fire
By Lia Salvatierra 
July 18, 2025
BLACK CANYON OF THE GUNNISON – Firefighters finally began to gain ground Friday on the South Rim Fire burning in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, though a timeline for reopening the par...
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Features coverage
Spotlight on the Arts: The Closet Potter
Feature
Spotlight on the Arts: The Closet Potter
By By Chloe Kiparsky Plaindealer intern 
July 23, 2025
When Joan Gibson-Bevier first sat down at a pottery wheel in 1976, she knew she had found her passion. Forty- nine years later, she runs her own business, The Closet Potter, from her house in Ouray. S...
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Good for you!
Feature
Good for you!
July 23, 2025
Send us your celebrations! The “Good For You!” page is a new feature we have launched in the Plaindealer, where we publish reader- submitted photos illustrating community, celebrations and more. Maybe...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
July 24-Aug. 2, 2025
July 23, 2025
THURSDAY JULY 24 Story and craft time, 4-6 p.m. at the Ouray Public Library, 320 Sixth Ave. All ages welcome. Bike maintenance with Singletrack Addict, free, for ages 10-18 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at the ...
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Calendar & Events
Calendar & Events, Feature...
Calendar & Events
July 17-30, 2025
July 16, 2025
THURSDAY JULY 17 "Natural Tie–Dye" activity with the youth garden club for ages 8–18, from 3:30–4:30 p.m. at the Ridgway Public Library, 300 Charles St. Tech Thursday – Get help with quick tech proble...
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The rise, fall and rise of Ouray County
Columns, Feature...
The rise, fall and rise of Ouray County
By Carolyn Snowbarger 
July 9, 2025
Why did thousands of people, most of whom had never even heard of Ouray, Ridgway or Colona, come to this remote part of Colorado? The history of Ouray County follows the familiar story of the American...
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Feature
Melodrama returns to stage in Ouray
Annual carefree performance set for July 18-21. Yes, cheering, booing, popcorn-throwing are encouraged
By Erin McIntyre erin@ouraynews.com 
July 9, 2025
If you find it difficult to keep quiet at the theater, the Ouray County Players invite you to come on out and see "Spaghetti Western or … Mission Im-pastable" at the Wright Opera House. No one's going...
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News
Ridgway keeps water restrictions
By Erin 
July 16, 2025
Ridgway remains in Stage 3 watering restrictions, upheld during a July 9 meeting by town councilors who cited concerns about persistent dry conditions and no permanent fix allowing the town to access ...
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Hunting down the ghosts
Main, News...
Hunting down the ghosts
Veterans services officer finds and assists those who served with benefits, problems
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
During his time as a bus driver in Telluride, Mikael Madsen encountered many of his fellow veterans struggling to survive a Western Slope winter. At the time, Madsen was what he calls a military ghost...
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Wildfires surge across region
Main, News...
Wildfires surge across region
Brief monsoon could bring relief — or lightning — before dry spell returns
By Mike Wiggins mike@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
Four lightning-sparked wildfires that had scorched more than 20,000 acres in southwestern Colorado as of Wednesday continue to churn through tinder-dry terrain, as hundreds of firefighters struggle to...
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Judge to rule on land condemnation
News
Judge to rule on land condemnation
Town seeks slice of property for walking trail; resident c laims use unnecessary
By Lia Salvatierra lia@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
A district judge is expected to rule this week on whether the town of Ridgway can seize a slice of a resident’s property to create a walking trail, after a trial concluded last week. The conflict date...
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Aspen Democrat seeks to unseat Hurd in Congress
News
Aspen Democrat seeks to unseat Hurd in Congress
Alex Kelloff, first-time candidate for public office, stumps in western Colorado
By Mike Wiggins and Erin McIntyre mike@ouraynews.com erin@ouraynews.com 
July 16, 2025
An Aspen Democrat tried and failed twice in the last two elections to represent the 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House. Now, a different Democrat from Aspen hopes he’ll have better luck in 2...
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Remote-triggered avalanche in San Juan Mountains

First responders receive first COVID-19 vaccines

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Ridgway, Colorado 81432
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