Beautification Grants Available, 12 Hours Seeks Volunteers

Businesses can apply for up to 300 dollars to help spruce up their properties this spring; the annual 12 hours of Mesa Verde Endurance ride still needs volunteers, and the Soil Guy is coming to the Cortez area. You're watching the Local News Roundup, brought to you by Big-O Tires and TruWest Auto. I'm Wendy Graham Settle. The city of Cortez wants to create a more positive commercial environment and has announced it will offer local businesses up to 300 dollars in matching grants to purchase materials that will enhance their facades or primary public entrances. Projects may include flowers, flower pots, potted bushes, other vegetation, paint for building exteriors, or window cleaning and painting. All materials must be purchased from a Montezuma County business. Grants will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis through September 1st or until the funds are exhausted. To apply, contact the city's Community and Economic Development Department or go to cortezco.gov. The famous 12 hours of Mesa Verde Endurance race still needs volunteers for the May 7th event. This year's theme is blazing saddles. First riders launch at 7:30 a.m., and the 16-mile laps follow trails in the Phil's World trail system. The goal is to see how many laps individuals or teams can complete until 7 p.m. The course starts and ends at the Montezuma County fairgrounds. Volunteers are needed for timers, course marshals, and other positions. As of last week, only 65 out of 115 volunteer slots had been filled. The race has sold out with its maximum 950 riders. Since its inception, the endurance race has raised nearly 800 thousand dollars for local charities that serve children, youth and families. To learn more or to volunteer, visit 12hoursofmesaverde.com. The Soil Guy is coming to the Cortez area to offer a daylong seminar on improving soil health. Ray Archuleta, a certified professional soil scientist, will lead the seminar from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, May 20th, at the Lewis Arriola Community Center. Registration is 40 dollars and includes lunch. Archuleta is a certified professional soil scientist with the Soil Science Society of America and has more than 30 years' experience as a soil conservationist, water quality specialist, and conservation agronomist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service. After his retirement from the NRCS in 2017, Archuleta founded Understanding Ag and the Soil Health Academy to teach biomimicry strategies and agroecology principles for improving soil function on a national scale. His seminar will cover how to improve soil health to reduce fertilizer costs and improve soil's water-holding capacity, among other topics. The seminar is sponsored by the High Desert Conservation District and the Mancos Conservation District. To register, go to montezumacountyconservationdistricts.org. Thanks for watching this edition of the Local News Roundup, I'm Wendy Graham Settle.

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