Shark takes third victim

Amity, Mass. - After a hoax nearly evacuated Amity Beaches yesterday, yet another fatality took the third victim of what is now definitely being confirmed as shark attacks.

The victim, James Parks, 30 of Oak Bluffs, was mauled at 1: 30 p.m. today when his small rowboat was attacked and knocked into the water. Most of his remains have not been recovered. By the order of the Amity Police department, beaches will remain closed until further notice.

Residents are urged to use extreme caution and swim at their own risk. Any incident s should be reported immediately to the local Coast Guard.

Killer culprit taken down at Amity

Amity, Mass. – Despite a string of fatalities off the coast of Amity beach last week, the shore was packed this Fourth of July with beach-goers eager to dive into the waves.

“I am delighted to report that the giant killer shark that has been blamed for two deaths this week was caught, “said Amity Chief of Police Martin P. Brody.”It was killed in waters one mile south-southwest of Amity."

The shark was caught be a group of anonymous local fishermen patrolling the area as a precautionary measure after the two reported deaths. They will be receiving a $3,000 reward for killing the 16-foot nurse shark, identified by Matt Hooper of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.

According to Chief Brody, the beaches will reopen immediately, though armed shark spotters will continue to patrol the waters. He urges any future shark sightings to be reported to the local Amity police or Coast Guard.

However, Brody remains confident of the safety of Amity beaches this weekend. “While police urge vigilance, we believe that the danger of further shark attacks has passed.”

And the locals are taking Brody’s word, as Amity Beaches were packed with children and adults alike splashing into the waves. Even with the ominous racket of helicopters overhead, children were spotted swimming feet from the shallows.

“I’m pleased to announce we have caught the large predator that hurt some bathers,” said Mayor Bob Farley, “After all, Amity means friendship."

With the spirit of Amity intact, all seemed well for the beachgoers. That was until a major scare occurred, in which the patrolmen fired at a ‘shark’, which was in actuality two young men performing a hoax.

The beach was immediately evacuated by lifeguards and patrolmen, but nerves remained high on Amity. The scare, who nearly resulted in the accidental shooting of the young men, evacuated the bustling beachfront.

Shark Attacks unlikely in local waters

Ever since the movie “Jaws” hit the big screen in 1975, New Englanders just can’t shake the notion that they could be the next meal for the infamous great white sharks lurking off Martha’s Vineyard.

But for director of the UNH Marine Center, Stephen H. Jones, shark attacks are not a valid concern for those of us living in New England.

“While Great White sharks are predatory animals, “Jones said. “The media exaggerates their supposed threat to humans.”

Despite the fact that Great White sharks are arguably the world’s largest predatory fish, with lengths reaching up to an awesome 20 feet and weighing in at a colossal 5,000 pounds, Jones supports research that the supposed “Man Eaters” pose a limited threat to humans.

Documented shark attacks in fact indicate that within the last two centuries, only 31 confirmed attacks occurred within the Mediterranean Sea, a sizeable body of water. Here in the Atlantic, the numbers are even smaller, with the last reported shark attack occurring nearly five years ago.

Of these incidents, many are ‘test biting’, where sharks mistakenly grab onto unfamiliar objects, like a buoy or flotsam. Researchers claim this is typical behavior for a shark trying to determine the nature of the catch, and whether it is suitable prey.

In rare instances, a surfer’s legs dangling off the edge of a surf board may be one such ‘test bite’. “Great white sharks are known to mistake surf boards for seals,” Jones said. “Essentially sharks are not malicious creatures. They are not designed to hunt humans.”

The most recent documented shark attack occurred on April 25, 2008 off the shores of Solana Beach, CA. The victim was Dave Martin, 66, killed at approximately 7:20 a.m. while swimming with a group of nine tri-athletes. He was bitten across both thighs.

However, shark attacks occurring in New England are comparatively rare. Connecticut had only one reported shark attack in the last 400 years, while California had three documented attacks, two of which involved the Great White shark.

And for those still concerned with Massachusetts, the setting of the big screen’s hysteria with the predatory fish, only 4 shark attacks were reported. Two such attacks resulted in death, in which the swimmer was unable to escape.

Amity to close beaches as sharks take next victim

Amity, Mass. - Following a horrific death- in which the mangled body of Wendy W. Watson was found washed on shore- a second death was confirmed today in what Chief of Police Martin P. Brody calls a ‘vicious and unprovoked shark attack.’

The latest victim was 10-year-old Alex Ferguson of Mayfair Court in Amity. Ferguson had been floating on a rubber raft off Village Beach when the attack apparently occurred.

His body has not been recovered, but his damaged raft floated ashore with a huge gash, resembling a bite mark.

“We now believe that it may be possible that the Watson death also may have been linked to possible shark activities,” said Deputy Brody. “Though that investigation is ongoing at this time.”

Town officials in Amity have consistently hastened to caution the press not to jump to any conclusions about possible shark- related connections in the recent murders. Their decision appears at the height of the local tourist season.

Although no other injuries were reported, Alex’s mother, Marian Ferguson is being treated for shock at Amity Hospital, where she is reported to be in fair condition.

A press conference will be held by the mayor, Deputy Brody, and the Amity Board of Selectmen at 5 p.m. today in Town Hall to clarify the allegations of shark-related deaths and outline a subsequent action plan.

At that time, town officials will discuss a controversial request by Chief Brody to close beaches, and discuss local fisherman Ben Quint’s proposal to hunt down the shark, now thought to be the vile perpetrator of the tragic incident.

Body Found Mangled on South Beach from ‘unknown origin’

Amity, Mass. - After a horrific death was confirmed on South Beach last night, the mangled body of Wendy Watson, 16 of 23 Sharkstooth St. In Amity was found washed up on shore at 7 a.m. today.

Watson, a sophomore at Amity High School, was last seen alive leaving a beach party with an unidentified male at 11 pm. Allegedly, the teenage girl was skinny-dipping under the influence of alcohol, and entered a remote section of the beach.

After a brief search, her body was found severely mauled by an attacker of unknown origin. Her body has been transported to the coroner’s office for autopsy.
No charges have been filed in the case, and police are continuing their investigation of the incident.

Though a shark attack has not been completely ruled out, the cause of death remains uncertain. But the Deputy Martin P. Brody remains confident regarding the safety of Amity beaches.

“We want to assure all residents and visitors on our fine island that they are in no danger”, he said. Our lovely beaches will remain open for swimming pending the outcome of the investigation.”

'Washout' poses problems for UNH community

Durham, N.H. - At 4:06 a.m, the New Hampshire posted a flood watch for southern ME and NH posing dangerous conditions for morning commuters.

Power outages in Bethlehem, Durham, Concord, Madison and New London were reported as of 8:25 a.m. Weather forecasters predict continued stormy weather this weekend, with between one to three inches of rain anticipated tonight alone.

Due to high winds expected to reach 38 mph, all residence hall sites on the UNH campus have lost power. A flood watch remains in effect by The National Weather Service for Southern Maine.

President Huddleston will notify the UNH community of curtailed operations immediately after a final recommendation is made by the Vice Pres. of Finance and Administration.

But the town of Durham is still feeling the effects of the heavy rainfall, expected to taper off later this evening. Slower morning commutes and widespread power outages pose problems for the community.

In the month of November, the rainiest month in New Hampshire, average temperatures reach 41.5 degrees which is 3.5 degrees above the average. 5.9 inches of precipitation was an expected average rainfall.

Stocks Plunge and Credit Markets Seize Up

When reflecting on an article from Friday’s Times, I was instantly drawn to the bold letters shouting in the dead center of the paper, “Stocks Drop Sharply and Credit Markets Seize Up”. With the economy in a slump, the article is extremely relevant, not to mention hard to miss. The Dow industrials were also a nice, catchy visual.

The lead, which set the economic scene by relaying Thursday’s fear-stricken financial market, jumped right into Friday’s plunge that wiped out gains within the last decade. The article was organized very clearly in a linear pattern, expanding on the reader’s questions about Friday’s drop in the Dow Jones industrial average.

The first paragraph fueled reader’s interest by addressing the extent of the latest damage-which means back to square one for many companies bailed out by the $700 billion rescue plan in October. The second and third paragraph address the details of the article including:

1.) The Dow’s fall by nearly 445 points, or 5.6 percent- the lowest drop since the pre- dot boom era in 1997.
2.) The $8.3 trillion in stock market wealth erased in the past 13 months.
3.) The increasing worry of investors like Citigroup, which dropped to fresh lows of 26.4 percent.

The remainder of the article zeros in on specific investors and the recent plight- like Standard and Poor’s and Citigroup- to give readers a personal sense of the economic damage. I do not have much criticism for the article, as it addressed the obvious who, what, when and where questions in lamest terms and also expanded on particular companies losses.

I was surprised to learn that the Dow Jones industrial average closed at 7,552.29, barely surpassing lows in last October's 2002 bear market. I think the article could have benefitted from more quotes from investors, as this would drive home the severity of the companies' struggles for real individuals facing the consequences of a plummeting market.

Major smuggling operation in NYC ends in fatal shootout

New York City- In a frenzied police chase Sunday night, Police Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle of the NYPD Narcotics Division, shot and killed a suspected assassin, Pierre Jeantot, 36, of Nice France.

Jeantot was allegedly working for a drug kingpin smuggling heroin into the States, whom Doyle and partner Buddy “Cloudy” Russo had been investigating. He was killed by a single shot from Doyle’s .38 caliber service revolver on the platform of the 15th St. elevated railway station, where the chase fatally ended.

Jeantot, who entered the country Nov.4 after a flight from Paris, France, fired several shots at Doyle from the roof of an apartment at 1767 W. 57th Ave. Police officers recovered an automatic rifle and several shell casings on the roof, which were used in an attempt to assassinate Doyle.

According to a press release from the office of Ruth L. Ess, the New York City Police commissioner, during the shooting, Jeantot instead killed a bystander, Betty B. Badluck, 63, of the Bronx in a park adjacent to the apartment complex.

But the chase did not stop there. The chaos ensued on an elevated train that Jeantot hijacked from the 35 St. Station to the 15th Street Station where he was killed. During the hijacking, Jeantot killed conductor Horatio C. Hornblower, 30, of White Plains and trainman Peter Howe, 27, of Queens of an induced heart attack at gunpoint.

Jeantot, in a desperate effort to escape further killed police Chief Roland Evans, 34, of the Bronx when he was confronted on the train. He was a 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department.

City commissioner, Ruth L. Ess commends Detective Doyle for his bravery and the unfortunate loss of life. “Let me just say it is always unfortunate when these incidents end in a loss of live,” she said. “We would have preferred to see Jeantot prosecuted in the court, and we believe Doyle was close to a breakthrough on the case.”

A ‘vigorous’ and thorough investigation, into what appears to be a major smuggling operation is set to continue, in the NYPD’s efforts to rid their streets of potential drug dealers.

Hand in hand with Iraqi police, American soldiers are pictured dancing and horsing around in Baghdad. However absurd, it kept me reading on in A1 of today’s Times.

The article, to the right of its catchy picture, began with a typical summary lead. The lead jumps right in to the information- summarizing the main points of the proposed security agreement, when it happened (Sunday) and what it means for the United States (A final departure date for U.S. troops).

The article has perhaps the best organization I have seen all week, set up in a linear style. The article quickly and simplistically expands on the reader’s central questions. Who? What? When? Where? And of course, the significance to the reader. Why should I care about this?

To answer these questions, the story linked the main points: Iraqi’s cabinet on Sunday overwhelmingly approved a security pact for a full withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq by 2011.

The agreement still needs to be backed by Iraq’s Parliament, and reflects a turnaround in Bush’s disapproval of timetables.

I learned a great deal from the article, as it was packed with information. For example, I did not know the pact took over a year to negotiate and I was surprised it passed,; timetables were so publicly shot down by the Bush administration in recent months even.

But I was left with a few unanswered questions: The article speaks with assurance about the pact and Shiite support, but what of the Sunni opposition?

What is Obama to do?

While checking out the A1 section of the Times today, I was instantly drawn to the “World of Advice for Obama on Foreign Policy” article. Centered smack dab in the middle of the paper, it was an easy way to grab at my attention. The clever pun of a ‘world’ of advice also told me it was an international issue (important!)

The lead-which rattled off the unrelenting demands of foreign nations-, built up a sense of the impending global chaos that Obama’s administration will all too soon face. The reader is left to wonder- Well what next? Then proceed to finish up the article to get their questions answered.

The article, which focuses more primarily on foreign efforts to sway the U.S.’s new administration, outlines several abrupt changes in policy. In North Korea, for example, international inspectors are suddenly not allowed to take samples from nuclear tests sites.

I was disappointed at the vague tone of the article. Obama’s responses to ‘talks’ with foreign administration was not really explained at any length. The article was also somewhat ‘jumpy’ in that it narrowed in on Obama, and then fanned out to international policies.

Though the story seemed to tackle the main points, I would have organized it differently. I would have included a quote much earlier along in the article. The first quote was actually located at the end of the column. That is a lot of facts to muddle through for busy readers!

I was surprised to know that the radical change in policies is normal during a presidential transition. Yet the article stresses that this election will bring far greater change, with Obama’s different approach to foreign policy.

School Chief Takes on Tenure, and Stirs Fight

While my eyes zipped over the A1 section, the article “School Chief Takes on Tenure” grabbed my attention. I’ve been spending time at Stratham Memorial School lately (as an Education minor), and teacher tenure is always a hot point of controversy.
The lead-which was a little bit lackluster- didn’t really hook readers, many of which wouldn’t find a story about Michelle Rhee (you may be wondering, who is she again?!) very compelling. The lead is also very long … “Michelle Rhee, the hard-charging chancellor of the Washington public schools, thinks teacher tenure may be great for adults, those who go into teaching to get summer vacations and….. on an on an on!
The story rebounds in the next few paragraphs, narrowing in on Ms. Rhee’s radical $40,000 proposal for teachers to give up tenure. The fifth paragraph really gets at the bulk of reader’s questions- like Rhee’s current effort to rid ineffective teachers, the lack of union support, and the potential for a ‘wrenching’ labor struggle.
The rest of the article is organized well; there isn’t a strong sense of a story -within -a -story here. The points pan out like this:
Ø Explain who is this ‘School Chief’ (Michelle Rhee)
Ø What is her proposal (how much $ in proposed raises)
Ø Union response/ possible drawbacks
Ø Limitations under her proposal

I was also interested to learn the severity of Rhee’s proposal for labor strikes, and I was left wondering what the Teacher’s Union is likely to do, seeing as their quite divided now.

Daily Reading Log for 11/12

With the economy in a slump, the “Buying Binge Slams to Halt” caught my eye while scanning A1 of the New York Times. The article’s catchy title, with words like ‘binge’ and ‘slam’ would grab up the attention of any consumer these days.
The lead- which was a scene setter lead- worked well, grabbing interest by claiming the worst of our economic woes may in fact not be behind us. The idea that ‘another may be coming’ was enough to keep my attention!
The story fans out typically in the next few paragraphs, first summarizing the more relaxed economic scene in recent weeks- then switching fairly smoothly to the obvious crisis of consumer confidence on Wall Street. (It’s a scary time with giants like GM and Circuit City going under.)
The rest of the article expands on the nut graft, offering consumer’s concerns, and referencing Barrack Obama’s unclear strategy for cleaning the economic mess. The story connected these points:
Ø Fall of consumer spending sales by 32% in vehicles/ loss of consumer confidence
Ø Large companies like GM and Circuit City declaring bankruptcy
Ø Obama’s ‘aggressive’ new approach to the slump on Wall Street
The story was a bit circuitous, but the points affected each other logically. Readers that wanted to know about the article’s main point: the loss of consumer confidence would have such questions.
What is Obama going to do to clean up Wall Street? How is the slump affecting big time companies? The article manages to address all of these points, and connect back to the new consumer crisis.
What struck me most about the article was the extent of consumer concern. I had no idea that spending had fallen so steeply: the largest amount since 1942.
My one unanswered question was what was the stimulus package that Obama’s administration planned to initiate. It was a little vague for the average reader.

Election Day shows unprecedented voter turnout

Durham, N.H. - An unprecedented number of charged-up voters swarmed the Oyster River High School early today, offering one of the highest voter turnouts in recent memory.
“We’ve been slammed all this morning,” said polling official Tom Poirier. “It’s been a busy turnout, and this is the thinnest I’ve seen the line today.”
Poirier anticipated a strong turnout, especially among young, first time voters. But what he did not expect was to be just 2000 ballots short of a full voter registration. “We may need to Xerox more copies and count the difference the old fashion way- by hand,” he said.
And yet the line continued to wrap around the side of the Oyster River School all morning. “I’m so fired up to vote,” said Kerry Murchie, 18, a resident of Durham. “It’s my first election and I’m excited for the chance to vote. I’ve been here since 7 a.m.”
Veterans of the polls agree, sharing in the excitement of first time voters. “This country’s in a bad spot,” said Chris Lowell, 43 of Durham. “I’m voting so that my voice can be heard.”
Attendees, who meandered slowly into the five alphabetized tables in the gymnasium, showed a similar fervor for Democratic Sen. Barrack Obama. Becca Romanoski, 21 of the College Democrats was especially excited. “Face it,” she said with shoulders shrugged, “Obama is the reason for the popular young turnout.”
Poirier, 51, who himself was a once registered republican, is following the ‘young’ trend for change. He is voting for the first time as a democrat. “Yes, I’m most definitely voting for Obama, no question,” he said, “This country needs a change.”
But young support for Republican Sen. John McCain was not lost on eager voters, despite the usual harangue of Obama advertisers. Justin Polanik, 20, of the UNH ROTC program voted Republican. “McCain is the best thing for the U.S. military and I’m training for the army,” he said. “All my friends in the program are voting McCain too.”
Young voters not yet registered also had the opportunity to register at the polls. The entire process, which required domicile students to fill out Addavit forms, took an estimated 10 minutes to complete. UNH owned shuttle vans also transported eager students, often snapping photos of one another, between the campus and Oyster River.

Portsmouth school board to approve Saturday detentions?

Portsmouth, N.H. - In a motion to approve new Saturday ‘disciplinary’ sessions for unruly students, School Board member Time Steele proposed a $3,000 per year allocation for staffing to fund weekend sessions for Portsmouth Schools.
The sessions, which would run from 8 a.m. until noon several weekends during the year, generated uproar from angry parents.
Peggy Bacon, a parent, said she did not think the proposal was a good idea. “I work six days a week- including Saturday morning- and it’s bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday,” she said. “Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well?”
Steele responded that the new disciplinary proposal is an effort to cut down on the number of in-house suspensions. In-house suspensions are given automatically to students caught smoking inside or outside the Portsmouth High School- a problem that in 1995 was the cause of 154 ‘detentions’.
Steel e said the program, by requiring detentions on Saturday, would mean that students would no longer miss class time. “I know this isn’t good news for parents, but I hope that the threat of Saturday classes will make students think twice before breaking school rules.”
Portsmouth Resident Bob Farley agrees. “Parent’s can whine all they want about this, but maybe it’s time parents in America were made to take a little responsibility for their kids,” he said. “Maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons, they’ll start wising up.”
Steele admitted smoking was not the only discipline problem at school, but it is the worst. “I just want to keep students from smoking in the high school bathrooms”, he said. “There are other problems, but smoking is by far the worst one.”
Lisa Gallagher, one of five senior students attending the event, disagreed. “I don’t like this idea,” she said. “I think it’s just being done to make life easier for the faculty, so they don’t have to deal with detentions during the week.”
Another criticism of the proposal addressed the issue of students that skipped their Saturday session. “If a student skips Saturday school,” said Steele in a clarification, “he or she would not be allowed to return to school until the detention was served.
After about 30 minutes of discussion, the board voted 5-3, with one member abstaining, to table the issue until the next meeting March 7. Steele was told to return at the time with figures on in-school detentions thus far this year.

A Pro-Republican NY Times?

A Pro-Republican NY Times?

The New York Times has come under fire recently, with industry critics charging the newspaper with pro-Republican campaign coverage.
And with less than 8 days remaining until Election Day, the front page of the New York Times has been assailed with headlines like, “Obama Ties McCain to Republican Philosophy”, leading critics to charge the New York Times with a right-wing favoritism .
So, are the Times favoring the right-wing? Perhaps, but as Thursday and Friday’s headlines indicate, no more so than pro-democratic coverage.
In “Obama Ties McCain to Republican Philosophy”, Barrack is associated with scheming low campaign blows to Sen. McCain, by ‘seizing’ on his remark that he shared a common philosophy with the unpopular president.
The trend continues in “McCain’s Uphill Battle”, in which ‘observers’ argue McCain still has a promising chance at campaign victory, despite sizeable question marks still hovering over the race.
The paper does offer space for pro-democratic articles, like ‘The Long Run- father’s tough life an inspiration for Biden”. But the coverage offers little insight to democratic campaign strategy, and makes Biden an ‘underdog’ in the eyes of readers.
In perhaps the sharpest criticism of the Republican Party, the Times criticizes the top salary earner in the campaign party- Palin’s makeup stylist. She reportedly earned $22,800 for the first two weeks of October alone, a larger sum than McCain’s senior communications staffer, according to the Times.
But with the tougher nature of the campaign, it was difficult to find articles that took a neutral stance. Palin’s commitment to provide federal money to public schools for the disabled, was impartial and outlined her policy plan.

News/Eng 621 Story- Fluffy Loose in Durham

Durham, N.H. - A rare 10-year-old spotted Romanian leopard broke free from an alarmed cage at the Durham Zoo at 7:30 a.m. this morning as the zoo was doing a routine feeding. After a thorough search of the grounds, “Fluffy’ was confirmed as missing without leaving any trace of her whereabouts.
“Everything about her cage seemed normal,” said Gary Durrell, the director of the zoo. “The door was shut and did not appear to have been tampered with, and the fencing was unbroken.”
Durrell, amid a chaotic crowd carrying high-powered rifles, announced that Fluffy was last seen in her cage when the zoo was closed at 9 p.m. last night. At that time everything seemed normal.
“We have no idea what time Fluffy escaped or where she went, “he said. “She may have left the area and could be walking around Durham at this point. We just don’t know.”
The zoo’s chief biologist, Kitty Smith, takes a stand at the podium to quell visitor’s fear of the escaped 146 pound predator. “Fluffy is a wonderful, warm, gentle cat who has never hurt anyone,” she said “But if these cats are cornered-or encountered on a dark night- there defense is to kill and to kill quickly.
Smith says Fluffy, one of only five such animals in existence, was a gift to the city by Durham’s sister city in Romania, Durhamvoska. The priceless animal has been a feature at the zoo for five years. Plans to fly Fluffy to China to mate with a male leopard owned by the Chinese government have been halted.
Police Chief William Blair of the New Hampshire State Police takes the stage and outlines the search for Fluffy: “We will first search every inch of this zoo,” he said. “If we can’t find her in the zoo, we will begin searching the neighborhood, moving farther and farther from the zoo.”

First News Blog

I never actually thought I would be blogging, but as a journalism student, it seems like a necessary tool. (And a little confusing at times too!). But, my journalism class has been going pretty smooth, with the main struggles being finding an effective story in a smaller town like Durham, and also writing strong leads. Most of my leads are inspired by the kind of alternate story leads often found in the New York Times. My story for next week may focus on covering a writier's series event featuring a Random House editor at UNH.