New Weekly News Roundup Debuts Today

You're watching the Montezuma Weekly News Roundup for the week ending Friday, December 3rd. Brought to you by TruWest Auto and Big O Tires. I'm Wendy Graham Settle. Cortez based Osprey packs will soon join the family of consumer products offered under Helen of Troy, a worldwide developer and marketer of consumer brand name housewares, health, home and beauty products. Helen of Troy announced in a news release on Monday that one of its subsidiaries has entered into an agreement to acquire Osprey packs for $414 million. Osprey was founded in 1974 and produces hiking backpacks, wheeled luggage, hydration packs, and biking packs. It's famous for its all mighty guarantee, which promises to repair any defect or damage for any reason. Helen of Troy is a publicly traded corporation headquartered in El Paso, Texas. It develops and markets a wide variety of brands, including Vick's, Braun, Honeywell and others. The sale is expected to be finalized by the end of 2021. Ospreys headquarters will remain in Cortez. The city of Cortez may soon take steps to ease the area's chronic housing shortage. The city's zoning and planning commission will hold a special work session at 5:30 PM on Tuesday, December 7th. To consider new regulations for accessory dwelling units, also known as mother-in-law apartments. City planner Tracy Hughes, reported to the city council at its November meeting. That changes under consideration would ease current restrictions that limit their construction. And building more could help ease the city's chronic housing shortage. If approved, the code would allow homeowners to build an accessory dwelling unit in any building on their lots. Units would be limited to 50% of the existing building square footage, up to 600 square feet. And ADU occupancy restrictions that now limit the number of residents to two people would be eliminated. Any changes to the proposed land use code would need the approval of both the planning commission and city council. To learn more visit the city's website at cityofcortez.com. Montezuma County has been recognized as an outstanding economic development leader among medium-sized Colorado communities. The Economic Development Council of Colorado honored Montezuma County with an excellence in economic development award, this past fall. Laurie Lewis Marchino Executive Director for the Region 9 Economic Development District, nominated the county for its effort to form an innovative and collaborative model of economic development. The county formed an economic development team from existing staff and representatives from the city of Cortez, town of Mancos and town of Dolores. The team identified key sites for growth and are working with partners to secure land and begin infrastructure development. The group recently began identifying a list of businesses that would benefit the region and started recruitment efforts. And the county assisted businesses, impacted by the pandemic, with four rounds of relief grants totaling $500,000. To learn more about the award visit the economic development councils website at edconline.org. Seasonal road closures in the San Juan National Forest began on December 1st. Do not cause ruts or road damage and don't get stuck. You can be ticketed for road damage. The Forest Service and the counties do not rescue stranded vehicles. Check for road closures and other updates at fs.usda.gov/sanjuan. Thanks for watching this edition of the Montezuma Local News Weekly Roundup. If you have a short news item to be included in our weekly roundups, submit your ideas online at montezumalocal.news. I'm Wendy Graham Settle.

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