News Briefs

Curran set to appearin District Court on Friday

Clifford Curran III, the Boulder City man charged with several counts of sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, will be in District Court on Friday to face the charges.

The abuse occurred between June 2006 and July 2014 in Henderson and Boulder City and involved three children, the district attorney's office said.

Curran was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on May 27 and is being held on $475,000 bail.

Curran's wife, Bernice Smith, faces one count of child abuse, the district attorney's office said. She also will be arraigned Friday in District Court.

Both Curran and Smith waived their Aug. 13 preliminary hearings in Boulder City Justice Court.

New PFLAG chapter to hostorganizational meeting

Parents who may be struggling to accept their gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender child now have a place to get assistance and support.

Boulder City United Methodist Fellowship is hosting an organizational meeting for a new chapter of Parents and Family of Lesbian and Gay at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Boulder City Library, 701 Adams Blvd.

Part of a national organization, the local chapter will offer support for family and friends, and will work to promote equality through its education and advocacy programs.

"Every person has the potential to enrich the lives of others. We need to foster that potential by encouraging people who need support," said Heather Gaylord, one of the chapter's organizers. "Establishing a local PFLAG chapter says something about our community. It says there are people here who value and respect diversity; who understand that diversity can enrich our lives."

Terry McClain, another organizer, said he believes that intolerance of individuals or beliefs, and prejudice/bigotry can be found now just as easily as it was in the 1950s.

"If a child is gay, he/she will undoubtedly experience these condemnations from society. Being gay is not a conscious choice of a child, nor is being a gay parent. PFLAG is an organization which can help unite a child and parent and guide them through very turbulent times," he said. "Confidential and experienced support from parents of gay children and their allies is available through PFLAG."

Body recovered at Lake Mead

Search and rescue teams located a man's body in Lake Mead on Tuesday near the area where a man went missing Aug. 10.

The man's body was located at 8:35 a.m. Tuesday near Middle Point in the Virgin Basin, according to the National Park Service. Volunteers from Earth Resource Group found the body using an underwater camera.

Lake Mead officials received a call between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Aug. 10 about an occupied vessel floating in the Virgin Basin, the Park Service said. Rangers located the vessel, but nobody was on board.

The Clark County coroner's office will release the man's identity once next of kin is notified.