It’s been said, “It takes a village to raise a child.”

In Rio Rancho, a large “village” was trying to save a child last week.

Finally, five days after 13-year-old Corbin Hayes was last seen alive, his body was spotted Tuesday afternoon by a woman who’d volunteered to help the family.

Observer '�” Gary Herron photo An individual volunteer used his own hovercraft on the Rio Grande during the search for Corbin Hayes last week.

She spotted what she thought might be the boy’s body about 100 yards north of the Alameda bridge on the east side of the Rio Grande. Friends of the Hayes family and volunteers had been maintaining a watch on the bridge in case he had been swept that far south, an estimated eight miles from where he’d been swimming on May 28.

Soon, the body was removed by an Albuquerque Fire Dept. recovery team from what Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz said was “thick brush” and about two feet under water.

Now, it’s time for closure for the Greg and Kim Hayes family of Rio Rancho.

Despite a plethora of concerns in the City of Vision — a sagging economy and job losses, a new high school being opened, special assessment districts controversy and fire-inspection fees — all of that was shoved aside once it was learned Hayes had been swept away by the Rio Grande while swimming near River’s Edge III on May 28.

The youngster, a three-sport star (See page 15) would have been an eighth-grader at Mountain View Middle School in August.

“It’s unbelievable, the outpouring,” said Hayes family friend Carl Bruere of Rio Rancho. “Strangers have been walking up and down that river since he’s been lost.”

Family friend Michael Cooke, president of the Cleveland High football boosters club, said, “We have established a Corbin Hayes Fund to help the family with the enormous costs of everything that has happened recently. This money goes directly to the Hayes family.

“Please convey your continued support and involvement to the Hayes Family in this fashion,” Cooke wrote to numerous recipients via e-mail. “Your outpouring of love and support during these last (few) days was overwhelming and uplifting to the Hayes family. … We have been able to accommodate, on donations, volunteers, and friends alone, over 1,000 meals for our rescue efforts so far.”

Cooke said the fund is set up at First Community Bank, with all branches participating.

Acting as a family spokesman, Cooke added, “Kim and Greg and their whole family have asked me to send their love and respect to everyone who has help them in the last few days. All of New Mexico has shown everyone what a community can do with love in their hearts for neighbors, friends and to support those who need us.”

His e-mail concluded with a grim message: “There is more work to be done. Corbin is not home yet. Please do what you can to help.”

Corbin Hayes had been swimming with his older brother, Garrett, and when the boys were trying to wade out of the river, Garrett noticed Corbin had been swept away. Later, Rio Rancho police and fire departments were notified and the intensive search began.

Hovercraft, helicopters, riders on horseback and ATVs were used to look for the boy up and down the river, from as far north as US 550 to as far south as Central Avenue. As many as 200 area residents joined in the search.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers decreased the flow of water in the Rio Grande at Cochiti Dam, to help in the search. After the search’s first four days were futile, the search was called off last Sunday evening, only to be resumed Tuesday morning after Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez told Albuquerque fire and police personnel on Monday to help in the search.

Rio Rancho police and fire, Albuquerque police and fire, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s and fire departments, Isleta and Sandia pueblo authorities, and the state police, personnel from the Village of Los Ranchos aided in the search last week.

Rio Rancho Fire/Rescue Battalion Chief Richard Doty, the incident commander Tuesday, said his department used15 firefighters in the final day’s search, including three swift-water technicians and two ground-search teams that “went along the bosque in different directions, conducting searches along the shore line.”

Doty said Rio Rancho’s “full response” on the day of the incident included two rescues, two engines, and on-duty personnel, too, including a rescue swimmer on duty.”

Later, when the NMSP assumed command of the operation, “We assigned units there 24 hours a day to provide any kind of assistance with the search or emergency medical services, with an engine and rescue stationed there.”

Doty said the city would soon be even better prepared to deal with such emergencies.

“Nine of our heavy-tech rescue people will be certified as rescue swimmers (this summer and) we’re buying more equipment to handle a lot more of this ourselves — until the state comes in and takes over,” he said.

Beginning Tuesday, evening vigils were held at Rio Vista Park in River’s Edge II for residents to gather and share their memories of Corbin. A memorial service took place Saturday afternoon in the RRHS gym, and burial followed at Vista Verde Cemetery.

Additionally, a Web site is being built at web.me.com/greghayesfamily/CorbinHayes/Welcome.html.

Julie Arnold, MVMS principal, said grief counseling will be available tomorrow from noon till 3:30 p.m. in the cafeteria for any community members who feel it would be helpful.

“We wanted to provide something for the community,” she said.