Overview
- Deborah Van Patten, who addressed the City Council on Monday, asked for formal acknowledgment and an SPCA donation as the deputy city attorney apologized for poor outreach.
- The incident behind Portsmouth High School on Feb. 28 left her dog dead and shocked her friend and the friend’s dog after they encountered an electrical current in groundwater.
- The Portsmouth Fire Department reported 68 volts in the groundwater at the spot and said crews cut power before leaving the scene.
- Fire Chief William McQuillen called the event isolated and said there is no ongoing public threat at the site.
- Mayor Deaglan McEachern said he made a personal SPCA donation in Frankie’s name, and the school department now leads the search for the cause with earlier help from city electrical staff, school maintenance, and Eversource.