New local CASA volunteers sworn in
Lacey Enderle and Barbara Casey were sworn in as CASA volunteers Nov. 22 by District Court Judge Douglas Walker.
Court appointed special advocates act as child advocates and officers in the 22nd Judicial District under the direction of the judge.
To become CASA volunteers, Enderle and Casey underwent 30 hours of training in October through CASA of the Four Corners, which is based in Cortez and serves Montezuma and Dolores counties. The Four Corners office is affiliated with the national CASA Association and works to strengthen and stabilize families and provide voices for children experiencing the devastating effects of abuse and neglect.
Training for incoming volunteers begins the first week of February. To volunteer or learn more about the organization, contact Barbara Casey at info@casa4corners.org or (970) 564-0301. The CASA office is at 10 W. Main St., Suite 106. The national website is www.casaforchildren.org.
Free legal clinic
for county residents
A free legal clinic for people without an attorney will be held in Montezuma County starting Jan. 9 at the Mancos Public Library from 2 to 5 p.m. and continue every second Thursday of the month.
By computer link, volunteer attorneys will answer questions, help fill out forms and explain procedures for civil litigation, including family law, property law, probate law, collections, appeals, landlord-tenant law, small claims and civil protection orders. Walk-ins are welcome. People will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis.
Upcoming dates are: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13 and Dec. 11.
Christmas tree disposal offered
The city of Cortez has opened two drop-off sites for Christmas tree disposal.
City officials said trees could be left at either the Cortez BMX Park at 1339 E. Empire St. or in the parking lot at the corner of First and Elm streets. Trees will be chipped and removed at both sites through Jan. 10.
The city plans to launch a curbside service for Christmas tree removal starting Jan. 6 with final curbside removal Jan. 10.
Plans for birding festival underway
The 10th annual Ute Mountain Mesa Verde Birding Festival is scheduled for May 7-11, 2014.
This year Rick Taylor, author of Six Seasons: A Birding Year in the Land of the Apache, will be the keynote speaker for the event.
Anyone interested in volunteering is invited to attend birding festival meetings. The committee convenes at 10 a.m. the first and third Thursdays of the month at the Cortez Cultural Center. The next meeting is Jan. 2.
For more information, call Debbie or Anne at the Cortez Cultural Center at 565-1151. Details about the birding festival are at www.utemountainmesaverdebirdingfestival.org.
