Topics in this week's Roundup include a new license plates requirement and a longer school day. This story is sponsored by Express Employment Professionals and the law firm of Downs McDonough Cowan and Foley, LLC
Montezuma-Cortez students started their first four-day school week this week, Southwest Health System's named a new CEO, and millions of dollars in grants have been awarded to the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe. You're watching the Local News round up, brought to you by Express Employment Professionals and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan & Foley. I'm Wendy Graham Settle. Long-time Montezuma County residents who saved their old XL license plates as testament to their longevity will have to give them up if they transfer title or interest in their vehicles. The new Colorado License Plate Expiration on Change of Ownership Act went into effect on January 1st. License plates for passenger cars and trucks, motorhomes and motorcycles, will expire upon transfer of the owner's title or interest in the vehicle, and you'll be required to purchase a new license plate. The reissue program ensures that registered vehicles in Colorado have serviceable plates that are reflective and visible in low-light environments so that first responders can more easily identify plates. Replacement costs will be an additional $4.73 upon registration. If you want to keep your current numbers and letters, a one-time replacement fee will cost between 68 and $118, depending upon the plate. And if you really want to keep that vintage look, you can purchase the historical license plate with the green mountains and white sky for $118. One upon a time, Colorado license plates included letters designating the owner's home county. Montezuma County's letters were XL. Learn more at dmv.colorado.gov/new-pl8, the number, t. Montezuma-Cortez students began their first four-day week of the semester on January 4th, but their days will be longer. The school board voted to move to a four-day school week for the second half of the school year to address chronic staff shortages. Students will attend classes 11 minutes longer each day and will take Fridays off. High school classes start at 8:45 and end at 4:25 p.m. Middle school classes start at 8:40 a.m. and end at 4:16 p.m. The board will revisit the schedule for next year later this semester. To see the modified school calendar, visit cortez.k12.co.us. The US Department of Commerce has awarded the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe a $3.2 million economic development administration grant to provide high-speed internet service to tribal headquarters in Towaoc. The funding will be used to provide high-speed fiber-optic infrastructure from Cortez. The Department of Commerce estimated that the grant will create 33 jobs and $550,000 in private investment. To learn more, visit eda.gov. Southwest Health System has a new chief executive officer. Jeanine Gentry, who most recently served as CEO for the Steele Memorial Medical Center in Salmon, Idaho, will begin her new job in Cortez on January 20th. Gentry is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and has served as a senior healthcare executive for more than 20 years. Other posts include five years as CEO of two St. Charles Health System hospitals in Oregon. Earlier in her career, she was vice president of Allied Health Services for St. John's Lutheran Hospital in Libby, Montana; a college instructor and consultant for Flathead Valley Community College, and a human resource director for Futura Industries of Clearfield, Utah. She earned her bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and her master's from Montana State University. To learn more, visit swhealth.org. This edition of the Local News round up has been brought to you by Express Employment Professionals and the law firm of Downs, McDonough, Cowan & Foley.
