Claim Filed on Behalf of Drowning Victim ❏ Action Notes Lack Been Submerged up to 10 Minutes Ing the Pond,” the Claim States
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THURSDAY,AUG. 17, 2017 Inside: 75¢ Monuments taken down overnight. — Page 4B Vol. 89 ◆ No. 119 SERVING CLOVIS, PORTALES AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES EasternNewMexicoNews.com Claim filed on behalf of drowning victim ❏ Action notes lack been submerged up to 10 minutes ing the pond,” the claim states. ance provider. the pond has once again been after going under while swim- Clovis Police Capt. Roman Rogers did not return a call filled with water and the sprin- of safety precautions ming with friends. He was Romero wrote in an incident Wednesday for any updates on kler system has been repaired. removed from a respirator July report that “no signs were noted the claim. City workers have “treated the around pond in park. 15. as being posted around the The kidney-shaped pond at the facility with chlorine and we’re A tort claim submitted July 12 perimeter of the pond, barring north end of Hillcrest Park was getting a good flow of water in By David Grieder by Albuquerque-based lawyer swimming or wading.” drained and blocked off in the and out of there,” Phelps said. STAFF WRITER Kimberly Brusuelas noted the Brusuelas has not indicated the week following Lewis’ near- “We are pleased so far,” he [email protected] absence of safety precautions amount of any damages possibly drowning and rescue by first said. CLOVIS — Legal action has surrounding the pond near the old being sought by Lewis’ family. responders. Officials had discov- The claim Brusuelas submitted been presented to the city of golf course in the park on city She was not available Wednesday ered the presence of cholera in — addressed to both the city and Clovis on behalf of Gevion land. for additional comment. the pond water July 10, which its Parks and Recreation Lewis, who died less than two “At the time of the incident no City Attorney David Richards they attributed to stagnant water Department — included a notice weeks after a July 4 accident in a signs were posted to warn the said the matter was being from broken sprinklers. of spoliation demanding the pond at Hillcrest Park. public of no swimming. addressed by attorney Cody Interim City Manager Tom preservation of evidence related Lewis, 13, never regained con- Additionally, no fence was in Rogers of the Miller Stratvert Phelps said Wednesday the tem- to the incident. sciousness after being pulled place to keep the public, specifi- Law Offices of Las Cruces, porary fence around Hillcrest The city has not yet responded from the pond, where he had cally minor children from enter- which represents the city’s insur- Park’s pond has been removed, to the claim. FAIR COLORS Couple arrested in 2016 child death ❏ Tucumcari residents entered no plea to four counts of child abuse. By Thomas Garcia STAFF WRITER [email protected] TUCUMCARI — A pair of Tucumcari resi- dents are out on bond, charged in connection with the 2016 death of a 1-year-old boy. Hope Bass, 25, and Daniel Martinez, 19, were arrested Aug. 10, and both entered no plea to four counts of child abuse — one resulting in death. The charges stem from the Aug. 5, 2016, death of Chase Bass. Staff photo: Tony Bullocks The two were arraigned Above: Clovis High Monday before Quay County School AFJROTC pres- Magistrate Judge TJ O’Quinn Bass ents the colors in front of and released on $20,000 the oldest house in Curry appearance bonds, with County to kick off military caveats including house arrest, GPS ankle bracelets and the appreciation day at the consent to be searched at any Curry County Fair. time without a warrant while out. Right: Bayleigh Attempts to contact the sus- Craddock, 3, of Clovis pects on Wednesday were chases bubbles from the unsuccessful. It wasn’t clear if Martinez Bubble Tower either had an attorney. District Attorney Tim Rose Wednesday evening. said it took a year to file charges because the Office of Medical Investigator’s autopsy took months to complete and because the DA con- sulted with a child abuse specialist before pur- suing charges. According to a criminal complaint filed by Chester Bobbitt of the New Mexico State Police: ■ Chase was brought to the emergency room of Dan C. Trigg Memorial Hospital following a 911 call that he was not breathing. Staff attempted life-saving treatment for 30 minutes, and reported a temperature of 104.6 degrees and multiple abrasions and contusions on the body. ■ Interviews with Martinez and Bass includ- ed several inconsistencies and changes in retelling the day’s events. ■ Bass said her son was fine the day of the incident, and was preparing dinner when she asked Martinez to wake him. Martinez called for her to come to the child’s room, where Martinez said he found Chase face down and not breathing with blue lips. ■ Bass said she did not discipline her chil- DEATH on Page 2A Forecast: Today Friday Saturday Index Calendars..........................2A Puzzles..............................6A Reach us at: High: 90 High: 90 High: 89 Classified ..........................6B Markets ............................2A (575) 763-3431 Comics ..............................5B Obituaries..........................5A Low: 65 Low: 65 Low: 67 Voices................................4A Sports ............................1-3B PAGE 2A ✦ THURSDAY, AUG. 17, 2017 LOCAL/NATION THE EASTERN NEW MEXICO NEWS AUG. 17 Clovis pays out $183,000 in settlements THE STAFF OF THE NEWS injuries and property damage due to through the drainage tunnel, she On this date ... “negligent driving” by a city employee believed she was going to drown to CLOVIS — The city of Clovis has on March 15, 2014, records show. death.” 1942: A man working paid out $183,000 to settle complaints The city’s insurance company paid She suffered injuries to her ankles, on his truck while smoking against it since Jan. 1, records show. the claim. knees, back, chest, wrists, hands, neck a cigarette escaped injury The city has paid out 12 claims, with The city’s insurance company also and head. after tossing a lit cigarette allegations ranging from damage paid $50,000 to Joanne King following City Manager Tom Phelps said the into a puddle of gasoline caused by garbage trucks and sewer a flood on Sept. 24, 2014, records zoo has since made property improve- that he thought was water. backups to traffic accidents. show. ments intended to prevent such an The information was provided in King was driving to the zoo to pick The incident happened at accident from happening again. response to a public records request up her son when her vehicle was “sud- El Vado Service Station at Other claims paid include: First and Main in Clovis. filed by The Eastern New Mexico denly washed off of the northwest side Gilham said she wanted ■ $16,382.90 to Scott Wildenhain The only damage was to News. of the roadway and came to rest in a to name it Marguerite, after The largest settlement paid so far flooded culvert,” according to a notice for damages due to sewer backup. the tires of the truck. ■ its mother, but Sellars this year was $75,713 to five individu- of tort claim. $10,000 to former city employee “would not stand for it,” the David Bryant for an Americans with The Clovis city als involved in a vehicle accident with She was forced to evacuate the vehi- 1942: Clovis News-Journal report- Disabilities Act violation. Phelps and clerk’s office had a new a city bus. cle on zoo property and was soon ed. Bryant declined to discuss the ADA member. Lendon Tye Odell, Virginia Lykins- “swept underwater and into an uncov- Odell, Logan Lykins, Christian Lykins ered drainage tunnel,” the claim reads. issue, but Phelps said it “has been Matie Gilham and Pages Past is compiled and Jenna Nead suffered personal “As Ms. King was getting washed taken care of.” Marguerite Sellars became by Anna George. She can the co-mothers of a half- be contacted at: inch long horned toad. [email protected] Officials recognize school donations BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS board of education meeting said. That’s a dramatic cation in our community Events calendar Monday night. improvement from com- was an ideal leverage point PORTALES — Pencils, “We just asked shoppers bined collections of 7,900 for changing communities Saturday Ongoing paper, glue and erasers. to give a little extra,” said items last year and 11,000 ■ — for helping long-term Big Bass Bonanza — 7:30 ■ Pintores artist of the Notebooks, binders, crayons UWENM Executive items in 2015. a.m. fishing fundraiser at Ute Lake growth in our community month — Brackston Taylor is the and calculators — the Director Erinn Burch, not- This year’s collections and family stability,” Burch for Melrose Senior Center. Entry Pintores Art League featured school district has “boxes ing the collection’s produc- were assisted by Altrusa and fees: $65. Information: 575-309- said. artist for August at Clovis-Carver and boxes and boxes” of tive coincidence with tax- area businesses, Burch said. “It raises the awareness of 4496 Public Library. Information: 575- these items thanks to the free weekend. “When you In the past seven or so ■ how important education is Old Timers’ luncheon — hit all the right notes it usu- years of the annual promo- 769-7840 United Way of Eastern New — it reminds us all of that,” Noon at Curry County Events Mexico, said Portales ally works. This year we tion, this year’s haul com- she said. “I want every child Center. Information: 575-763-3435 Municipal Schools adminis- had great volunteer partici- pares most closely with The events calendar is a daily to feel that joy of going listing of area events.