Historic Tours Highlight Preservation Day

The annual historical tour of Cortez will feature 10 buildings that made history. Beginning Farmer short courses will be offered at the Old Fort in Hesperus, and the City of Cortez has nearly two dozen seasonal, part-time and full-time jobs it needs to fill. You're watching the Local News Roundup, brought to you by TruWest Auto and FASTSIGNS of Durango. I'm Deborah Uroda. Ten buildings that made Cortez's history will be the focus of the 12th annual Cortez Historic Preservation Day tour, scheduled for Saturday, May 21st. Walking tours will be offered between 10:30 A.M and 2:30 P.M, between Market and Chestnut streets. A new version of the Main Street Walking brochure will be available. Tour start at the Cortez Cultural Center at 25 North Market Street. You may also take a sneak peak at the new Montezuma Heritage Museum at 35 South Chestnut street between 11:00 AM and 1:00 PM. Museum volunteers are installing exhibits and hope to open the museum this fall. Call Cultural Center to reserve a tour spot, at 970-565-1151, or visit the City of Cortez at cortezco.gov. Looking for a job? The City of Cortez has nearly two-dozen seasonal, part-time, and full-time openings available. Full-time positions include City Engineer, and Assistant Engineer, City Planner, and Assistant Planner, IT Support Technician, Refuse Collector, and Refuse Equipment Operator. Part-time and seasonal jobs include positions in the Parks and Recreation Department. Visit cortezco.gov to see jobs, full descriptions and instructions for applying. Are you a beginning farmer or considering the profession? The Old Fort will offer a series of short courses this summer, that are tailored to address the challenges of a high desert environment. Individual courses will cover farm, food and safety, ecological market farming, plant basics for farmers, and growing specialty crops at high elevations. Courses are taught one day a week and lasts from two to six weeks, depending on the topic. To learn more, visit fortlewis.edu and search for Old Fort. Permits are now available to cut firewood this summer on the San Juan National Forest. Permits are $20 each, are divided into five tags, with each tag good for a half cord of firewood. You can use them separately or all at once. A cord is measured as a stack four feet by four feet by eight feet. One household may purchase a permit, for up to 10 cords of firewood per year for personal use. Commercial permits are required for resale. Restrictions apply to cutting standing dead ponderosa pine and live gambel oak. Permits are available through December 31st, this year. You can purchase the permits at Cox Conoco in Mancos, Conoco Corner in Lewis, Dolores Outfitters in Dolores, and Kroegers Ace Hardware in Durango. They're also available at the San Juan National Forest Headquarters in Durango. For more information, visit fs.usda.gov/sanjuan. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup, I'm Deborah Uroda.

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