- Mancos Marshal John Cox resigns after being arrested for DUI.
- Huge hurdles remain for better public access to Yucca House National Monument.
Mancos Marshal John Cox has resigned following his arrest November 10th on a charge of DUI after he reportedly crashed his car into a guardrail on Highway 160 in La Plata County. The Cortez Journal reports that District Attorney Will Furse plans to file additional charges against Cox, who had been placed on administrative leave November 4th for an undisclosed reason. Town Manager Andrea Phillips tells KSJD Cox turned in a one-line letter Monday and the board of trustees voted unanimously to accept his resignation. Phillips said the town “really appreciates John’s service” since he joined the marshal’s office in 2012. Deputy Marshal Jason Spruell has been named acting marshal while the town advertises the position. The town, which currently has two deputies, is planning to add a third if trustees approve the proposed budget on December 9th.
It will take two years and an act of Congress to finalize a land donation that will provide better public access to Yucca House National Monument south of Cortez. That’s according to Mesa Verde National Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer, who came to Monday’s meeting of the Montezuma County Commission. In 2014, the commissioners considered closing the only road to the little-known and undeveloped 34-acre ruins site because of objections from a rancher whose home is next to the parking area. They decided instead to keep the road open while the park service worked on a new route through an adjoining 160-acre tract being donated by another landowner. Monday, the commissioners expressed dismay that the process takes so long but said they are eager to see it completed.
