Memorial Day Services Scheduled

May 26, 2023

The American Legion Ute Mountain Ute Post 75 will host a Memorial Day sunrise service at the Cortez Cemetery. The Cortez Recreation Center is looking for employees to help solve its staffing shortage and you’re invited to join the Montezuma Land Conservancy’s bike tour of Cortez-area conserved lands and after party at WildEdge Brewing Collective. North Adams Street is now closed to through traffic. By Connor Shreve. This story is sponsored by Southwest Health Systems and FASTSIGNS

Learn More...

American Legion Ute Mountain Ute Post 75 - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064875873167

Cortez Recreation Center - https://www.cortezco.gov/514/Recreation-Center

Montezuma Land Conservancy - https://montezumaland.org/

WildEdge Brewing Collective - https://www.wildedgebrewing.com/

Read the Full Transcript

Memorial Day Services abound in our region, the call is out for workers in Cortez, access to Downtown Cortez has changed, and a bike tour of Conservation Lands is coming up. You're watching the Local News Roundup, brought to you by Southwest Health Systems and FASTSIGNS. I'm Connor Shreve. Multiple Memorial Day Services will be held on Monday, May 29th. A sunrise service by the American Legion Ute Mountain Post 75 will begin at 6:00 AM at the Cortez Cemetery. Breakfast will be served at 7:00 at the American Legion Hall. Montezuma County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5231 will conduct Memorial Day Services at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Mancos at 10:00 AM. Members of the public are welcome at both events. The Cortez Recreation Center needs workers. The rec center has been keeping odd hours lately due to staffing shortages, and it is on the lookout for employees to be able to start staffing normal hours again. You can see available jobs and work descriptions online. Visit cortezco.gov/jobs. The City of Cortez has installed a barrier at the end of North Adams Street. That's a dead-end street south of Montezuma Avenue and east of City Market. Because North Adams Street was being used as an unauthorized through street to access Main Street across private property, which ended up causing too much traffic on a dead end residential street. The barrier does still allow for pedestrian, bicycle, and ADA access to the adjacent property. Please contact the City of Cortez Public Works Department for any further information. Montezuma Land Conservancy's Next Generation Advisory Board will host a group bike tour of Cortez area conserved lands on Thursday, June 1st, starting at Montezuma Park in Cortez at 5:30. An after-ride party will take place at WildEdge Brewing Collective. It is a free event, but donations will be accepted. To RSVP and learn more, visit the Montezuma Land Conservancy Facebook page. Learn more about these and other stories online at montezumalocal.news. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup. I'm Connor Shreve.

Growing Community, Culture, and Climate-Adapted Crops

Pueblo Seed & Food Co. is a family-run organic farm and seed enterprise rooted in deep stewardship of land, seed, and community. Established in 1996 and now operating on irrigated acreage near Cortez, Colorado, the company grows a wide diversity of certified organic crops—open-pollinated seeds, chile peppers, varietal garlic, vegetables, legumes, and heritage grains—selling them as seeds, fresh produce, and handcrafted foods through their Seed & Bakehouse retail space. Their mission centers on renewing and strengthening community resilience by stewarding healthy seeds and food, guided by regenerative, biodynamic, and conservation farming traditions that honor both plant genetics and human stories. As winter approaches, Farm Direct Seed & Food Co. invites its community to celebrate the Winter Solstice Fundraiser on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at their downtown Cortez Bakehouse. This festive gathering not only marks the seasonal turning point with music, hands-on milling and baking, and holiday shopping, but also serves as a kickoff to their exciting new initiative—the Pueblo Seed & Grain Hub, developed in partnership with the Onward! Foundation to expand regional capacity for drought-tolerant grain and legume production. Join in the spirit of the season with whole grain cookies, community, and support for food and seed security in the Southwest. By Paige Sparks. This story is sponsored by Choice Building Supply and The LOR Foundation.

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Durango Has Work Ahead as International Mountain-Bike Championships Host

In 1990, the Union Cycliste Initernational held the inaugural world mountain bike championships in Durango. In 2030, the world's best mountain bike riders will once again return to Purgatory for the UCI World Championships 40 years after the inaugural event. By Sadie Smith. This story is sponsored by Dunkin Donuts and Crystal Mart.

Cortez Library and Wildfire Adapted Partnership Receive Grants

The LOR Foundation awarded a grant to the Cortez Public Library to support new technology and youth STEM programs. The City of Cortez seeks community comments on the 2026 proposed budget and applicants to fill board vacancies. And the Wildfire Adapted Partnership will receive more than $2 million from the United States Forest Service. By Rachel Hughes. This story is sponsored by Distil Beer Wine and Spirits and Home2Suites.

An Evening of Costumes and Community Celebration

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SWCO United Way Expands Mission as “Team Up”

As a fund-raising organization, United Way has a powerful reputation and international name recognition. So why would the United Way of Southwest Colorado sever ties with a philanthropic behemoth to become Team Up? President and Chief Executive Officer Lynn Urban explains, and donors like the change. By Deborah Uroda. This story is sponsored by Crystal Mart Durango and Fort Lewis College Center for Innovation.