Several schools and businesses in Montezuma County were hit with graffiti last week in what appears to be a last-ditch effort on the part of local troublemakers to leave their mark before school begins.

"It’s always the time when school is getting ready to start," said Cortez High School Principal Mark Rappe. "They know that summer is coming to an end."

Rappe said that the portable building at the Montezuma-Cortez High School was graffitied on Thursday and Friday nights along with several areas around the main building.

"We got tagged on Thursday night on our portable building, took photos of it, filled out a police report, painted over it and then got tagged again on Friday night in the exact same place," Rappe said.

The principal added that two windows have also been broken at the high school on separate occasions this summer but said he was unsure whether the incidents were related to the graffiti vandals in any way.

The principal estimated the cost of supplies, equipment and employee time needed to repair the marked-up part of the buildings at approximately $425.

In addition to the blight at MCHS, several other schools and businesses around the area have been marred by vandals this month.

Law-enforcement officials reported that the Mesa Elementary School, Cortez Middle School, Madison House and the Mancos High School concession stand have all been tagged in a similar fashion throughout recent weeks.

The suspects have been using green paint and similar taggings or symbols at each of the sites.

Cortez Chief of Police Roy Lane and Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kalvin Boggs could not be reached for comment Monday.

"This year was filled with more gobbledygook like taggings and monikers rather than insulting, vulgar messages," said Rappe.

Rappe said that taggings are usually more distinctive in language and style —like a signature. "That is why we take pictures and give them to the police," he said.

Inscriptions on the buildings have included drug jargon such as "BLAZE" and "4:20" as well as "ZETROC" or "Cortez" backwards, according to police reports.

Mesa Elementary School Principal Brad Wayt said that, because of the consistency in the markings, police believe that it is the same person or group of people who have been tagging all of the buildings.

Rappe said, "We are just hoping to get more police patrol — but our community neighborhood watch is not helping.