Jaws - Third Victim Killed in Shark Attacks

Amity, Mass. - A third victim was killed today in a pond near Village Beach, in what police are now definitely calling shark attacks.

James Park, 30, of Oak Bluffs, was in a small rowboat when he was attacked and knocked into the water around 1:30 pm. He was killed immediately, and most of his remains have not yet been found, according to Police Chief Martin P. Brody.

In a statement, Chief Brody urged residents to "use extreme caution and report any incidents to the police or Coast Guard." Amity beaches will remain closed until further notice, by order of the police department.

*class assignment*

Jaws - Amity Beaches Still Open After False Alarm

Amity, Mass. – Amity beaches are still open and considered safe after a false shark sighting today at Village Beach. Swimmers were rushed out of the water after a fin was spotted, but it turned out to be just an ill-timed prank by two young boys.

The town has been on edge over the past week after two Amity youths were killed, reportedly from shark attacks. 16-year-old Wendy W. Watson and 10-year-old Alex Ferguson died earlier this week, and while the exact causes are as yet unknown, police suspect shark involvement.

The beaches in Amity had been closed for the past few days, but reopened today after fisherman caught a giant killer shark believed to have been the cause of the earlier deaths.

The day began as a celebration for Police Chief Martin P. Brody, Amity Mayor Bob Farley, and the citizens of Amity. “I am delighted to report that the giant killer shark that has been blamed for two deaths this week was caught and killed in waters one mile south-southwest of Amity,” Brody said in a statement.

The fishermen who caught the shark wish to remain anonymous, but will receive a $3,000 reward for their help. Matt Hooper, a marine biologist from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, identified the 16-foot killer as a nurse shark.

People were visibly relieved at the news, and flooded the beaches, seeming eager to resume their usual summer activities as normal.

Beach-goers were understandably hesitant to enter the water, despite Chief Brody’s assurance that he and his staff “believe that the danger of further shark attacks has passed,” thanks to the capture of the killer shark. Once one family ventured in to swim, however, people began to follow suit.

Farley was in the middle of telling reporters the good news about the shark capture when the false shark sighting occurred. The swimmers began fighting to get back to shore, causing chaos and an atmosphere of fear.

Patrolmen in boats surrounded the shark fin and were prepared to shoot it when the two young boys behind the prank revealed themselves.

Despite the hoax, the beaches of Amity are still believed to be safe. “Armed shark spotters will continue to patrol the waters off the beach,” Chief Brody said in a statement, and “any shark sightings should be reported immediately to police or Coast Guard. We wish everyone a safe and happy 4th of July.”

*class assignment*

Shark attacks: Could they happen in New England?

It’s a nice sunny day at the beach. Children are playing, people are laughing, and a great white shark is swimming nearby, just waiting to catch and devour an unsuspecting swimmer who ventures too far out in the water.

Could that really happen here in New England? Not likely, according to one local shark expert.

“Shark attacks are essentially a non-factor in New England,” said Tony LaCasse, spokesperson for the New England Aquarium. “It’s one of the last things you have to worry about here.”

To put it in perspective, LaCasse said that there has not been a fatal shark attack in New England since 1936, when a 13-year-old boy was killed just south of Cape Cod. In contrast, two people in Massachusetts have died over the past 10 years from digging in sand pits.

LaCasse said the iconic movie Jaws plays a big part in the media interest about possible shark attacks that inevitably sparks up every June. “Ironically, Martha’s Vineyard would be one of the last places [shark attacks] would happen.”

This is not to say that sharks don’t live in New England waters, however. LaCasse said that beaches in south Maine were closed down two or three years ago as a precaution after blue sharks were spotted nearby. The sharks were following bait fish, and did not bother any humans.

What most people don’t realize, according to LaCasse, is that there are several hundred different species of sharks, with only about a dozen that are vicious to humans. “Only about 3% have historically had a problem with people,” LaCasse said. “New England doesn’t have a species of shark vicious to man.”

Of course, LaCasse did note that there are some exceptions. “We do have some great white sharks, but historically they have been more off-shore,” he said. “We are not on the menu.”

The cold New England water is another factor that makes shark attacks unlikely. “Places with shark attacks usually have warm water with lots of people in it,” LaCasse said. “We don’t have a lot of people in the water here.”

On top of all of this, LaCasse said that sharks have had a devastating worldwide population decline over the past decade or so. Some species are down as much as 90%.

LaCasse suggested that New England beachgoers focus their worries on other, more pressing issues, such as keeping your lunch refrigerated. “You’re more likely to die of food poisoning from bad mayonnaise on your sandwich than from a shark attack.”

For those still worried about becoming the second New England shark fatality in over 70 years, check out this useful website with tips on how to prevent a shark attack.

Jaws - Update on Situation

Amity, Mass. – A 10-year-old boy was killed today while playing in the waters of Village Beach. This is the second beach death in three days, and police now believe sharks may have played a part in both deaths.

The young boy was identified as Alex Ferguson of Mayfair Court in Amity. His mother, Marian Ferguson, is currently being treated for shock at Amity Hospital. She is reported to be in fair condition. No one else was injured in the attack.

In a press release, Chief of Police Martin P. Brody announced the tragic news. “I join Amity Mayor Bob Farley in expressing the town’s deepest and most sincere condolences to the Ferguson family,” he said. “Now we know that these random acts of senseless violence, victimizing innocent, helpless citizens, do not just happen in the city.”

According to the police report, Ferguson had been floating on a rubber raft off Village Beach when what appears to have been a “vicious and unprovoked shark attack” occurred. Ferguson’s body has not yet been recovered, but his raft came ashore with what looked like a big bite taken out of it.

Ferguson’s death comes just two days after the death of 16-year-old Wendy W. Watson of 23 Sharkstooth St. After Watson wandered into the waters of South Beach, police discovered her mangled body washed up on the beach early the next morning. Her body was sent to the coroner’s office for an autopsy, but no results have been released.

“We now believe that it may be possible that the Watson death could also maybe have been linked to possible shark activities,” Chief Brody said in his press release, “though that investigation is ongoing at this time.”

In response to these shocking deaths, the mayor, police chief, and the Amity Board of Selectmen held a press conference at 5 pm today in Town Hall. The town officials discussed the state of the town, and Chief Brody admitted that he is planning to close the beaches.

After an uproar from citizens, fisherman Ben Quint offered to hunt down and kill the shark. Quint requested $10,000 to catch and kill the shark by himself – but said he will not do it with anyone else’s help.

Police said they would take Quint’s offer “under advisement."

Chief Brody urged citizens and the press to remain calm until there is definitive proof of shark attacks. “We hasten to caution the press not to jump to any conclusions.”

*class assignment*

Jaws - Girl Found Dead on South Beach

Amity, Mass. – A teenage girl was found dead on South Beach in Amity last night. The cause of death has not yet been determined.

The Amity Police Department identified the 16-year-old as Wendy W. Watson of 23 Sharkstooth St. According to the police report, Watson was last seen alive leaving a beach party at 11 pm with an unidentified male.

Witnesses at the party said both teenagers had been drinking, and Watson decided to go skinny-dipping at a remote section of the beach. After she didn’t return from the water, Watson’s companion notified police that she was missing at 3 am.

After searching for a few hours, police discovered Watson’s mangled body early this morning washed up on the beach. Her body has been sent to the coroner’s office for an autopsy. No charges have been filed.

While police continue their investigation into the incident and the possibility of a shark attack, Chief of Police Martin P. Brody urged residents to remain calm. “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.”

*class assignment*

Weather in Durham

A mix of rain and high winds led to dangerous conditions in parts of Maine and New Hampshire this morning, making it difficult for students commuting to campus and travelers heading home early for the holiday.

Power outages spread across New Hampshire in Bethlehem, Durham, Conway, Eaton, Madison, New London, and Tamworth, according to the National Weather Service’s update at 8:25 am. The next update will be available at 10:25 am. All UNH residence halls retained power, despite a few flickerings earlier this morning caused by the wind.

The National Weather Service announced a flood watch at 4:06 this morning for southern Maine and New Hampshire. One to three inches of rain are expected to accumulate throughout the night.

University officials decided against curtailing operations, instead continuing the school day as usual.

If these conditions continue through the night and into tomorrow, holiday travelers can expect delays and lots of traffic. Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, is traditionally one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Today’s winds are expected to reach 38 mph, but the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts that they could occasionally get as high as 50 mph. The rain is expected to taper off as the evening progresses, according to WMUR.

This November has been a little rainier than most in New Hampshire. The Farmer’s Almanac predicts an average of 5.5” of precipitation for November, two inches above average.

Technology as a Witness

In today's New York Times, the front page article "Murder Suspect Has Witness That Doesn't Lie: Subway Fare Card" caught my eye immediately. I was interested to find out what exactly that meant. Did his subway card prove he did murder someone, or that he was innocent? I was also curious to find out how exactly his subway card was a witness.

The article starts off with a blind lead, describing some background information on the case before revealing that the suspect's MetroCard has become a key witness. The rest of the article is organized around several main points:

• The details of the fatal shooting that happened in May
  
• The suspect (Jason Jones)'s alibi
• Why Jones and his brother Corey were arrested
• How Jones' lawyer got his MetroCard records, which support his alibi
• Other electronics that confirm Jones' alibi (the punch-clock at his work and a check-cashing outlet)
• What's happening with the case now

I think this article is really interesting. This man has been in jail since May, but he was finally released on bail thanks to the records from his MetroCard that show that his alibi is true. With all of the technology nowadays, it is sometimes a little scary to think that our every moves can be traced. (The article even mentioned the fear of a "Big Brother"-like society.) But then when something like this happens, it shows that the advancements in technology can be a good thing too, and help justice be served.

From this article, I learned a lot more about the tracking that exists in a lot of newer technology. I was aware of this, to an extent, but I didn't realize that it could be accessed by policemen or other professionals to use as a witness in a murder case. The article said that, if convicted, Jones and his brother could potentially face the death penalty. I think the fact that the records from Jones' MetroCard match up with his alibi and seem to prove that he's innocent is great. I hope that Jones, if he really is innocent, can go free and that the police can focus on finding the true murderer.

The French Connection

Police Chase and Kill Suspected Assassin

New York City – A suspected assassin was shot and killed Sunday afternoon on the steps of the platform to the 15th St. railway station after a long chase with a New York City police detective.

According to the police report, it took Detective Jimmy “Popeye” Doyle only one shot from his .38 caliber service revolver to kill Pierre Jeantot, 36. Police suspect Jeantot, of Nice, France, had been hired to assassinate Doyle.

“We commend Detective Doyle for his bravery and quick thinking under very trying circumstances,” said Ruth L. Ess, the New York City Police commissioner.

Though details of the case are still being uncovered, police also suspect that Jeantot had been working on behalf of a French drug kingpin that Doyle and his partner, Buddy “Cloudy” Russo, had been investigating.

After shooting at Doyle from the rooftop of an apartment building at 1767 W. 57th Ave., Jeantot hijacked a train at 35th St. Station, according to the police report. Doyle followed the train in a commandeered car until the train stopped at 15th St. Station.

Jeantot left several victims in his wake. Bronx resident Betty B. Badluck, 63, was shot and killed while walking her granddaughter near Doyle’s apartment building this morning. Roland Evans, 34, a 15-year veteran of the New York City Police Department, and Horatio C. Hornblower, 30, the conductor of the train, were both shot by Jeantot on the hijacked train. Trainman Peter Howe, 27, died of a heart attack at the controls of the train.

“It is always unfortunate when these incidents end in a loss of life,” Commissioner Ess said.

According to the police report, Homeland Security records show that Jeantot entered the United States on Nov. 4 from Paris, France. “We suspect he was associated with a crime syndicate that had been laying the groundwork for a major heroin shipment from France to New York City,” Ess said.

Ess said two other men are currently being sought in connection with the drug crime. “We will continue a vigorous and thorough investigation into what appears to be a major smuggling operation.”

*class assignment*

The Adventures of a 12-Year-Old Food Critic

The article that caught my eye in today's New York Times is "12-Year-Old's a Food Critic, And the Chef Loves It" on page A23. The combination of the headline and this picture of a young boy alone at a restaurant really peaked my interest.

This article is a feature article, part of Susan Dominus' "Big City" column, and it used an anecdotal/narrative lead. I really like the conversational tone used to tell the story. It kept it light and fast-paced, which made it a cute and enjoyable piece about a 12-year-old boy with a love for food.

The story was organized as a narrative, and it highlighted several main points. First, Dominus set the scene and explained why this little boy, David Fishman, was eating by himself at a restaurant (his parents were running late and suggested he get some takeout - he asked if it would be okay to go to Salumeria Rosi, a new restaurant he'd been eyeing). Then, she talked about the boy's personal interests in cooking, his experiences at the restaurant, and how he was treated there.

I really loved the cute little touches in this article. The author mentioned the boy's budget ($25), and even some of the notes he made in his little food critic journal ("Good variety" and "Softish jazz music. Seem to enjoy kids but not overly"). I think his notes in his journal are adorable. I'm impressed that this boy is comfortable enough with himself at 12-years-old to eat in a restaurant by himself. I don't think I would want to eat in a restaurant by myself now, and I'm 20!

The fact that the chef of the restaurant took the time to talk with this little boy is really cool, too. It was nice that the chef treated him almost as an equal, and not as a little child who can't handle himself. Clearly David Fishman is much more mature than the average 12-year-old boy.

I'm not sure that I necessarily learned anything from reading this article, but I really enjoyed reading about this little boy's experiences. It did make me wonder, though, about the age minimum for people to eat alone in a restaurant. I'm sure that it depends on the restaurant, but it was a little bit surprising to me that they let a 12-year-old in by himself. I wonder if they would have turned him away had he been 11, like another restaurant did when David tried to dine alone last year.

Catholic Church Stands Firm, No Women Priests

There were a lot of articles that caught my eye in today's New York Times. I perused stories about space plumbers, the skeletons of three siblings found in their sister's home, "Tuba Man," and an earthquake drill in California - all were extremely interesting, but there was one other article that stood out most to me. "Catholic Priest Faces Excommunication" immediately drew me in. I'm a Catholic, and my uncle is a priest, so I wanted to hear more. Excommunication is fairly rare and very serious, so I wondered what this priest had done to face such a severe punishment.

The article began with a basic news summary lead. It then addressed several main points:

• what the priest, Rev. Roy Bourgeois, did to merit excommunication (he participated in the ordination of a woman as priest, a practice illegal in the church)
• how he feels about this (he is very upset, but said he "could not disavow his actions")
• the background of the priest (he has been a member of the Maryknoll religious order for 36 years and has also served as a missionary in Bolivia and El Salvador)
  
• other women have claimed ordination in the past (this woman was the 35th American woman to claim ordination; she's a part of a group called the Roman Catholic Womenpriests)
• what excommunication means (it is "the most severe ecclesiastical penalty," and the person is forbidden to receive or administer sacraments)
• what will happen now (the priest said he will try to appeal the Vatican's decision)
  

The story tied these points together in a linear way, so that it began at point A and ended at point F, in this case. Their order was very logical and made it easy for the reader to follow and understand the gravity of the situation.

I had no idea that any women were claiming to be ordained as Catholic priests before I read this article. I think this is incredibly interesting. The fact that there is even an organization for these women kind of astounds me. Personally, I agree with the priest in this story that women should have the right to be a priest if they want to. I think the fact that he stood up for his beliefs, even though it will likely cost him his priesthood, is noble. The Vatican gave him the option of formally recanting what he did, but he decided to stick with what he thinks is right.

I wonder what Rev. Bourgeois will do in the future, after he is excommunicated (if his appeal does not work). He has spent over half of his life in the church, and it will be a huge change to leave it. This article definitely lived up to my expectations, and after reading it I feel like I have actually learned a lot about my religion.

Ugly Fruits and Vegetables Get Their Day

Upon looking through the New York Times today, one article definitely stood out to me. Located on page A6, "Europe Relaxes Rules on Sale Of Ugly Fruits and Vegetables" made me do a double take. Along with the picture, the headline seemed a little strange and ridiculous, so I wanted to find out more.

The story was brief, but very amusing. The main point was that European Union authorities have gotten rid of rules that ban oddly shaped produce from being sold in supermarkets. Starting in July, the standards for 26 different products (from peas to plums and lots more in between) will end. As one woman put it, "This marks a new dawn for the curvy cucumber and the knobbly carrot." (I really loved that quote.)

The article began with a basic news lead, summarizing the main point of the article, and it continued in a linear manner. It explained to readers that this decision was made partly because of the rising cost of commodities, so the officials figured "there was no point in throwing away food just because it looked strange." Although 16 of the 27 nations in the European Union tried to block the changes, they still passed.

The article also mentioned that 10 other types of fruits and vegetables will still be held to shape standards. Among these are apples, tomatoes, and strawberries.

Prior to reading this article, I had no idea that Europe had any rules for selling weird looking fruit or produce to the public. Thinking about it now, I suppose it makes sense since you don't usually see ugly fruits and vegetables in supermarkets, but it still seems a little strange to me. It made me wonder if the United States has rules like these - I suspect they probably do - and, if they do, if the U.S. will start adjusting their rules as well.

Nebraska dips a toe in the Democratic pool

Several articles caught my eye when I was looking through the New York Times today. The one that interested me the most, however, was "Glory for Democrats, Riding on a Single Vote." The headline pulled me in because I was a little confused. Isn't the election already over?

I liked that the article answered my question immediately in the lead. "Yes, county election officials here are certainly aware that the presidential race is considered over and done." This lead seems like a cross between the anecdotal/narrative lead and the direct address lead (although it doesn't use the second person, it does seem to speak to the reader).

The article definitely lived up to my expectations. It talked about how people in Omaha, Nebraska are still counting ballots from last week's election. Though the state as a whole has already been called for Sen. John McCain, Nebraska is one of only two states in the country that splits its electoral votes (Maine being the other), and its final electoral vote is still up in the air.

Apparently, it looks like this final electoral vote will go to Sen. (and now President-Elect) Barack Obama, which is a big deal because Nebraska hasn't given any electoral votes to a Democrat since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. I didn't realize that there were any counties in America still counting their ballots, so this article was a bit of an eye-opener.

The story was organized somewhat narratively. The author used qutoes from various people in Nebraska to support the main point that this area of the country is still counting their votes and that it looks like one of Nebraska's electoral votes will go to Obama. She also spent time explaining why Nebraska's taking their time counting their votes. As one man put it in the article, "You can either get instant results or quality results."

I learned that the fact that Obama is likely to receive Nebraska's final electoral vote is very momentous. Like much of the country, Nebraska is slowly becoming moer democratic. As one Democrat said in the article, this electoral vote "puts us Democrats on the map in a place where we've never really been on the map."

The only question I had left after reading the article was about what the final tally of votes is, but the article said that information won't be final until tomorrow.

Durham Votes

Durham, N.H. – Hundreds of Durham residents made their way to Oyster River High School bright and early this morning to cast their votes in the historic 2008 campaign.

“The turnout’s been great,” said Larry Brickner-Wood, the Chaplain for the University of New Hampshire and a volunteer at the polls. “I think it might be the best we’ve ever had.”

Oyster River opened their doors at 7 a.m. and the voters have been strolling in ever since. It was the first time working the polls for Tom Poirier, the Deputy Town Clerk, but he was impressed with the voter turnout.

“It’s been slammed since it opened this morning,” Poirier said. “Extremely busy.”

First-time voter Yesenia M. Morris, 18, came early in attempt to avoid long lines. “There was some confusion at first, but they cleared it up,” Morris said. “It took 20 minutes – a half hour at the most.”

Morris, a UNH student, is from Gansevoort, NY, but registered at one of UNH’s Voter Drives so she could vote on Election Day in Durham. Morris said she was “very excited” about being able to vote, but admitted she was a little anxious.

“I was really nervous I’d mess the ballot up,” she said. “It’s kind of intimidating.” Morris’ fears were short lived, however, and her ballot was cast without problems. She voted for Sen. John McCain, who she felt is the “significantly better candidate.”

After the initial confusion and the long lines of people eager to cast their votes, the process was well organized. Most voters said they moved through the line in as little as 10 to 15 minutes.

“My line was short – I was in and out in like 10 minutes,” said Daniel P. Bishop, 18, of Pelham, NH. Bishop, another UNH student who registered to vote at one of the voter drives, said he wasn’t nervous about voting because he’d been to the polls with his parents before.

“I’m glad I got out and voted,” Bishop said. He voted for McCain as well, but feared that it wouldn’t help much in the overall election.

The voting process was a fairly simple one, Deputy Town Clerk Poirier explained. When voters enter the Oyster River gymnasium, they are directed to one of five tables, according to their last name. There, they submit their name and receive a ballot. After filling out their ballot in a private booth, voters then enter a new line, where they hand in their ballots.

“This morning, the ‘M’ [table] line’s been the longest,” Poirier said. “But the lines shift as the day goes on.”

Poirier worked at one of the voting tables early in the morning, where he noticed more of a Democratic presence among voters. Among the voters who registered today, Poirier said there was a pretty even split between Democrats and Independents. “We haven’t seen too many Republicans.”

UNH student Eliza S. Friedman, 21, is from Glastonbury, CT, and voted for Sen. Barack Obama. Friedman registered at one of the voting drives, and came early to the polls to get her vote in before her classes. Despite being nervous about long lines, she found the process fairly easy.

“I think it’s awesome being in a college town,” Friedman said, “and seeing how excited young people get about [the election].”

Brickner-Wood, the UNH Chaplain, agreed. “People are pretty hopeful,” he said, noting that the exuberance of the young people of Durham is great to see. “I’ve heard very few people say they’re not going to vote this year. People feel pretty excited.”

Julie T. Muldoon, 21, is a UNH student from Scarsdale, NY. Muldoon voted for McCain, but said remained undecided until the last minute. “I had no idea who I was voting for until I got in the booth,” she said. She ultimately decided on McCain because she didn’t believe Obama’s plan for change was “big enough.”

Muldoon registered at the polls, and though she was nervous it wouldn’t work, she described the process as being really easy. “I definitely wanted to vote,” she said. “I feel like it’s just lazy not to.”

Some students came because they felt an obligation to participate in such an important election. “I felt like I had to vote,” admitted Taylor R. Hodges, an 18-year-old UNH student from Nashua, NH. “I’m glad I got out here.” Hodges voted for Obama.

Poirier, the Deputy Town Clerk, had yet to cast his own vote, but said he was voting for Obama. Poirier considered himself a staunch Republican until 2004, but the events of the past four years have inspired him to reconsider his views.

“Not only am I voting for Obama, but I’ve been campaigning for him,” Poirier said. “It’s time for a change.”

UNH Chaplain Brickner-Wood is also an Obama supporter. “I think he’s a real leader,” Brickner-Wood said. “[I think he can] bring us together. He’s a good, decent human being.”

Brickner-Wood said that so far it appears that Durham is “an Obama town.”

Today is Brickner-Wood’s 54th birthday, and he hopes it will turn out well. “I’ve had a lot of bad birthdays,” he said, “but I think today could be a good one.”

It won’t be long until Brickner-Wood – and the rest of the country – finds out.

More Highlights from the School Board Meeting

More Highlights from the School Board Meeting

• Elementary School Teacher Sylvia Perkins was nominated for Teacher of the Year by Portsmouth resident Melissa Jones, of 10 Market St.
• The rental committee reported that rental of school rooms and buildings have dropped 25% from last year. They suggested the use of the newspaper’s classified ads to advertise the rental spaces.
• The maintenance committee reported that graffiti artists have attacked the back wall of Portsmouth Middle School.
• The athletic committee proposed guidelines for fundraising by Booster Clubs.
• New business discussed by the School Board:
• A retreat for administrators in June.
• Four requests from teachers for leaves of absence during the coming school year.
• A financial report detailing the impact of federal budget cuts on the school lunch program.
• Approval of several school department and food service bills amounting to $13,568.

(class assignment)

Portsmouth School Board Discusses Disciplinary Measures

Portsmouth High School students who get in trouble during the school week may soon find themselves back at school on Saturday mornings if the Portsmouth School Board gets their way.

The new rule, suggested by Board member Tim Steele at last night’s School Board meeting, would require any student with disciplinary problems during the week to attend Saturday morning sessions from 8 a.m. until noon. The Saturday sessions would run several weekends during the year.

Steele’s proposal was met with mixed reactions from the crowd.

Peggy Bacon, a parent, was irritated with Steele’s motion. “I work six days a week – including Saturday morning – and it’s bad enough to get my son off to school Monday through Friday,” Bacon said. “Why should I have to worry about Saturday as well?”

Lisa Gallagher, a senior at Portsmouth High, spoke out against the proposal as well. “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. Anyway, what if someone skips the session? What are they going to do, make them stay all weekend?”

Steele explained that any student who skips the Saturday sessions would not be allowed to return to school until they served their detention.

The new disciplinary measure was proposed in the hopes of reducing the number of in-house suspensions, Steele said. Under the current rule, any student caught smoking inside of outside of the school is automatically given an in-house suspension. During the 1995 school year, 154 students received in-house suspensions.

According to Steele, students are not allowed to make up class work they miss during in-house suspensions. With the new program, students would miss no class time.

“I know this isn’t good news for parents, but I hope the threat of Saturday classes will make the students think twice before breaking the school rules,” Steele said.

Steele’s proposal had at least one supporter in Bob Farley of 64 Elm St. “Parents 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,” Farley said. “That’s the whole problem – parents aren’t teaching their kids any discipline, so the kids have no respect for rules. Maybe if they have to miss a few Saturday morning cartoons they’ll start wising up.”

After discussing the issue for about half an hour, the board voted 5-3 (with one member abstaining) to table the issue until their next meeting on March 7th. At that time, Steele is required to return with figures on in-school detentions for the current school year.

Also of interest to students and parents was Superintendent of Schools Nathan Greenberg's administrative report regarding the School Department’s efforts to pass a $21 million budget for the next school year. The proposed budget is 5.5% larger than the current budget, Greenberg said. The board did not spend much time discussing this matter.

(class assignment)

The New York Times: Fair in Political Coverage?

The mark of a good newspaper is that it provides fair and equal coverage of both sides of every story. Recently, The New York Times has been charged with favoring the Republican Party in its coverage of the 2008 presidential election.

A review of the Times from Thursday, Oct. 23 and Friday, Oct. 24 shows that 12 articles about the upcoming election were printed, with two clearly pro-Republican, two clearly pro-Democrat, and the rest in a gray area in between.

The pro-Republican articles include "How McCain Hopes to Defy the Polls and Win," and "From Little-Noticed College Student to Star Politician." The first article, as the title suggests, explores what Sen. McCain is doing to overcome his poll deficit and defeat Sen. Obama. The second focuses on Vice Presidential Candidate Sarah Palin, describing her childhood in Alaska.

The pro-Democrat articles are "Polls Show Obama Gaining Among Bush Voters," and "In a Father's Tough Life, Principles and Examples to Live By for Biden." "Polls" gives statistics from various demographic groups about their voting preferences, with Obama ahead in many categories. "Father's Tough Life" highlights Vice Presidential Candidate Joe Biden and the role his father played in his formative years and beyond.

It is worth noting that the pro-Republican articles do seem to have more prominence in the paper. The article about McCain was printed on the front page of Friday's paper, while Obama's article is on page A18.

Only two articles can truly be considered neutral. "Rivals Split on U.S. Power, But Ideas Defy Easy Labels," and "McCain and Obama Hurl Broadsides at Each Other Over Taxes and Jobs" present both candidates' stances on various issues. "Rivals," a front page article, explores each man's take on foreign policy, while "Broadsides" discusses how both McCain and Obama have been verbally attacking each other.

The remaining six articles focus overwhelmingly more on the Republican Party than the Democratic Party, with five of the six dealing with either McCain or Gov. Palin. However, these articles are not necessarily positive. Three of these articles discuss the controversy Palin is now receiving from the amount of money she has spent on a new political wardrobe, a controversy unlikely to help the Republican campaign.

The other two Republican articles are also unlikely to promote McCain. "McCain Is Faltering Among Hispanic Voters" and "A Onetime McCain Insider Is Now Offering Advice (Unwanted) From the Outside" are full of criticisms of McCain, making it hard to consider these articles pro-Republican, despite their Republican focus.

In order to be equal and fair, The New York Times needs to include more Democratic articles in their political coverage. Though their focus is not necessarily pro-Republican, they certainly have given the Republican Party more press in recent days.

Romanian Spotted Leopards

Romanian Spotted Leopards
With only four other Romanian spotted leopards in the world, Fluffy is certainly a rare animal. Kitty Smith, the zoo’s chief biologist, told reporters that Fluffy has been a mainstay at the Durham Zoo for the past five years since she was given as a gift to the city of Durham from our sister city in Romania, Durhamvoska.

According to Smith, Romanian spotted leopards have been pushed to the point of extinction because of their appetite for young children.

10-year-old Fluffy eats only meat. Smith said her diet consists of three old chickens a day, which are thrown into her cage at meal times.

Fluffy was going to be flown to China next month to mate with a male spotted leopard owned by the Chinese government, Smith said. Fluffy is the only female spotted leopard in existence.

Newswriting practice assignment -not real!-

Leopard Escapes from Durham Zoo

Durham, N.H. – Fluffy, the Durham Zoo’s rare spotted leopard, escaped from her cage sometime after 9 p.m. Tuesday night, according to the director of the zoo.

The cage showed no signs of tampering, and the surrounding fencing was unbroken, Director Gerry Durrell said at a news conference this morning. “We have no idea what time Fluffy escaped or where she went,” he said. “We are doing everything we can to find her and bring her back.”

Police and zoo workers have been vigorously searching the zoo grounds since Fluffy’s absence was noted at 7:30 this morning. Police Chief William Blair said his team will search the surrounding neighborhood if Fluffy is not found in the zoo.

“We are concerned because this is a residential neighborhood with an elementary school and we don’t want Fluffy wandering around after the kids get out of school.”

Blair told the crowd that the New Hampshire State Police and the state wildlife department have been asked to assist the search. Additionally, the National Guard has supplied five helicopters with infrared sensors.

Fluffy is one of only five Romanian spotted leopards in the world, and the only female of her kind, according to Kitty Smith, the zoo’s chief biologist. Fluffy is black with white spots, weighs 146 pounds, and can run 60 miles an hour.

Despite calling Fluffy “extremely dangerous,” Smith insisted that she is “a wonderful, warm, gentle cat who has never hurt anyone.” Smith did admit, however, that if cornered the animal’s instinct would be to “kill, and to kill quickly.”

Families at the zoo were visibly upset upon hearing the news, but more for Fluffy’s safety than their own. “Fluffy would never hurt anyone,” one man said as he left the zoo. “I want my money back, and then I’m never coming back here again.”

Welcome!

Hey... Welcome to my first blog.

I'm pretty new at this blogging thing, so forgive me if I don't know what I'm doing. Like it says in my "About me," I'm a junior at UNH, and this blog is a part of my Newswriting class. Right now I'm sort of just trying to figure things out.

I've really enjoyed this class so far overall, but there are aspects of it that have been a little stressful for me. By far the most difficult part for me has been coming up with story ideas. There are literally millions of things out in the world to write about...how am I supposed to pick out one thing that is more interesting or important than everything else? Then there's the matter of actually finding people knowledgeable enough about the subject to interview...definitely not one of my favorite things to do. Maybe it makes me a bad journalist, but I won't pretend like I don't get nervous everytime I have to talk to random people. I suppose it's a good thing to stretch myself out of my comfort zone. Conquering my fears, and whatnot.

For me, personally, I just love to write. The idea generating and information gathering is a bit tedious, but once I get to sit down and actually write, it's all okay. If only I could find a job where someone else did all of the legwork and I just had to put it all together and make it sound nice. That would be perfect. Maybe someday that will be possible (doubtful), but for the time being, I guess I'll just have to learn to deal.

-Kristin