ARTESIA YOUTH SOCCER — The Artesia Youth Soccer Association has opened fall registration, and registration will be open through Aug. 2. Divions are U6U15. Players must be 4 years old before Sept. 1, 2024. Players can register at clubs.bluesombrero. com/artesiayouthsoccer. Any question can be sent to artesiasoccer@gmail.com.

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HEAD START ENROLLMENT of the title, contact Linda at 575-513-0143 or the AC&B office at 575-7483192.

—————– GAME-DAY APPAREL — The Artesia High School Student Council has launched its game-day apparel for the 2024-25 season. Fans can now purchase a variety of products at great prices; there’s something for everyone in the collection so you can show your support for the team in style. All orders must be placed online by July 24. Use promo code BULLDOG to remove the shipping cost. Pickup will be available at the AHS office Aug. 16 and 19. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gear up for the games and give back to the Student Council, and don’t forget to share with your fellow Bulldog fans!

—————– LIBRARY BOARD — The Artesia Public Library is seeking to fill soon-to-be-opened seats on the Library Board of Trustees. Anyone interested should submit a letter of inquiry to Library Supervisor Omar Acosta at the library or by email to oacosta@artesianm.gov.

—————– PHLEBOTOMIST PROGRAM — Applications are now open for Artesia General Hospital’s certified phlebotomist program. To learn how to apply and for more information on this career opportunity, call 575-7368178 or email foundation@ artesiageneral.com.

—————– INTRO TO YOUTH SPORTS — The Artesia Center is offering a program for children ages 3-5 that introduces kids to sports in a fun, non-stressful environment. The program is held from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Center. For more information, contact Bernice at 915-249-8934.

—————– COMMUNITY FITNESS CLASS — The public is invited to attend a fun, free community fitness class, led by certified group fitness instructor Dottie Ellis, from 5:306:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Artesia Center, 612 N. Eighth St.

—————– DRIVERS NEEDED — SENM Veterans’ Transportation is in need of volunteer drivers to transport veterans to and from doctor’s appointments. Anyone interested in volunteering is urged to contact Alice or Donna at 575-622-0729.

—————– WIDOW’S MIGHT — Widow’s Might, a support group for widows at all stages of grief, will meet at 6:30 p.m. each Thursday in the classroom building on the east side of West Main Baptist Church, 1701 W. Main St. For more information, call 575-746-3528, email widowsmightnm@gmail.com, or visit widowsmightnm. com or facebook.com/widowsmightnm.

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GRIEF SUPPORT A Grief Group meets at 1:30 p.m. each Tuesday in the Saint Damien Center at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 1111 N. Roselawn Ave. Free support is offered in both English and Spanish. For more information, contact Nora at 575-3083248.

—————– MEN’S PICK-UP BASKETBALL — The City of Artesia is hosting men’s pick-up basketball from 5-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at the Artesia Center, 612 N. Eighth St. For more information, call 575-746-9009.

—————– TOPS — The Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS) Club meets at 9 a.m. Wednesdays at the Senior Center. For more information, call the Center at 575-746-4113.

— Head Start is currently enrolling 3- and 4-year-olds for its 2024-25 program year. Children must turn 3 by Sept. 1. To schedule an enrollment appointment, call 575-748-1141. Parents or guardians will be asked to bring the child’s birth certificate and immunization records, verification of income (2023 tax return or SNAP), and a Medicaid or private insurance card.

—————– SUMMER EBT PROGRAM — The Student Success and Wellness Bureau has announced the release of Summer EBT applications. For more information and to apply, visit summerebtnm. org. For more information, call the Public Education Department’s hotline at 505-695-8454. A link to apply may also be accessed through the Artesia Public Schools website, www.bulldogs. org.

—————– YARD OF THE WEEK — Artesia Clean & Beautiful is sponsoring its Yard of the Week contest now through September. Colorful, attractive, well-groomed lawns with curb appeal meet the qualifications. To nominate a yard worthy

El Rito Media Prosecutors appealed to the New Mexico Supreme Court after a district judge agreed to suppress evidence taken from Artesia General Hospital amid the investigation of a 20-year-old Artesia woman who allegedly gave birth at the facility and suffocated the baby in a trashcan.

Alexee Trevizo of Artesia was charged with one count of first-degree murder and tampering with evidence stemming from the incident in January 2023 when police said she gave birth to a boy who was later found dead by hospital staff. Trevizo was arrested in May 2023 and released from custody weeks later despite a motion from prosecutors that she be incarcerated ahead of trial.

A jury trial was scheduled for Aug. 26, 2024, but arguments remained as to what evidence would be admitted in the case. A motion filed by her attorney Gary Mitchell in July 2023 aimed to exclude interviews and medical records obtained from the Artesia General Hospital.

District Judge Jane Shuler Gray on May 13, 2024 ruled in a sealed opinion that statements made by Trevizo to medical staff and police at the hospital be excluded from the case, but did not exclude medical records obtained by investigators, read the prosecution’s appeal filed July 8 in New Mexico Supreme Court. It was unclear when the appeal would be heard.

Defense looks to dismiss, argues suspect’s rights violated Shuler Gray’s ruling followed an Aug. 22, 2023 hearing on the defense’s motions to suppress both the Trevizo’s medical records and statements made at the hospital.

The defense motion argued the case should be dismissed as Trevizo’s doctor-patient privilege was violated when statements she made to a physician were used as evidence in the criminal prosecution, and that she was not properly given her rights to avoid self-incrimination when speaking with police officers at the scene. According to the state’s appeal, Trevizo told a doctor “I’m sorry… it came out of me…I didn’t know what to do,” when she was told by medical staff that her son was found in the trashcan, thus allegedly admitting her role in the infant’s death while not under arrest or restraint. Prosecutors also argued Trevizo’s mother was present during the conversation as a third party, thus removing doctor-patient confidentiality.

“Essentially, the district court determined that Dr. Vaskas was acting as a police agent the moment she walked into defendant’s room. Yet, at the (Aug. 22, 2023) hearing, the district court was not presented with testimony to suggest Dr. Vaskas planned her entry into defendant’s room, that her only purpose was to elicit incriminating statements from defendants, or that she acted in concert with law enforcement agents,” read the appeal.

‘A massive violation’ of Trevizo’s rights, defense argues The defense’s argument centered on this statement being admitted as evidence of Trevizo’s guilt despite being made confidentially as a patient. The motion also argued the hospital violated the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) when it released her medical records to investigators without Trevizo’s consent.

“Sadly, the desire to cover up a constitutional, statutory and rule violations by the Artesia Police Department and Artesia General Hospital have resulted in a massive violation and massive publicity thereby destroying Alexee Trevizo’s attempt to get a fair trial before a fair and impartial jury,” read the defense’s motion.

In its response to the defense’s motion to suppress the evidence, prosecutors argued that once Trevizo was arrested, investigators refrained from asking questions with “investigative intent” and asked the suspect’s mother to not ask questions either.

“At all times. The defendant’s Miranda rights were scrupulously honored. Therefore, there is no basis upon which her statements should be suppressed.” Prosecutors also argued HIPPA did not prevent the hospital from providing information to law enforcement relating to a crime committed at the facility.

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 734-9726855, achedden@currentargus.
com or @
AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.