The beaches of Amity are closed until further notice after a third person was killed around 1:30 p.m. today.
James Parks, 30, of Oak Bluffs became the third victim of what are now definitely being called shark attacks. His small rowboat was attacked in the pond next to Village Beach. He was knocked into the water and was not seen after that.
The Amity Police Department urges residents and tourists to use extreme caution and report any incidents or sightings to the Coast Guard or police.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Beaches reopened for the Fourth of July
On the Fourth of July, Village Beach in Amity, Mass was once again flooded with locals and tourists eager to enjoy the holiday.
Earlier this week, the deaths of two Amity youth’s were reportedly caused by a shark attack.
The mauled body of Wendy W. Watson, a sophomore at Amity High School, was discovered by an Amity Police Deputy, several hours after she disappeared.
Hours later, Alex Ferguson, a 10-year-old from Mayfair Court in Amity was killed while floating on a raft in the crowded water of Village Beach.
Following the second attack, the beaches were closed until the shark was killed and it was considered safe to swim again.
The beach reopened after a 16-foot Nurse Shark was caught and killed by anonymous fishermen in waters one mile south-southwest of Amity.
“While police urge vigilance, we believe the danger of further shark attacks has passed,” said Martin Brody, Chief of Police in Amity.
People at Village Beach were hesitant at first to enter the water but after a few moments it was full of fun and laughter again. That was until two young boys gave the beach-goers a scare with a shark hoax. After the false alarm the boys were apologetic for what they did and the atmosphere was once again full of excitement.
Nurse Sharks are common in the Atlantic and in the eastern Pacific, in coastal tropical and sub-tropical waters. They have been reported to exist anywhere from Senegal to Gabon, Rhode Island to Southern Brazil, and Mexico to Peru.
This species is very common in shallow waters throughout the West Indies, south Florida and the Florida Keys. Since 1554, there have been only 23 reported attacks where a Nurse Shark was the perpetrator. They are labeled as only dangerous to humans if provoked.
Armed shark spotters will continue to patrol the waters off the beach to ensure further safety. Any shark sightings should be reported immediately to police or Coast Guard.
Earlier this week, the deaths of two Amity youth’s were reportedly caused by a shark attack.
The mauled body of Wendy W. Watson, a sophomore at Amity High School, was discovered by an Amity Police Deputy, several hours after she disappeared.
Hours later, Alex Ferguson, a 10-year-old from Mayfair Court in Amity was killed while floating on a raft in the crowded water of Village Beach.
Following the second attack, the beaches were closed until the shark was killed and it was considered safe to swim again.
The beach reopened after a 16-foot Nurse Shark was caught and killed by anonymous fishermen in waters one mile south-southwest of Amity.
“While police urge vigilance, we believe the danger of further shark attacks has passed,” said Martin Brody, Chief of Police in Amity.
People at Village Beach were hesitant at first to enter the water but after a few moments it was full of fun and laughter again. That was until two young boys gave the beach-goers a scare with a shark hoax. After the false alarm the boys were apologetic for what they did and the atmosphere was once again full of excitement.
Nurse Sharks are common in the Atlantic and in the eastern Pacific, in coastal tropical and sub-tropical waters. They have been reported to exist anywhere from Senegal to Gabon, Rhode Island to Southern Brazil, and Mexico to Peru.
This species is very common in shallow waters throughout the West Indies, south Florida and the Florida Keys. Since 1554, there have been only 23 reported attacks where a Nurse Shark was the perpetrator. They are labeled as only dangerous to humans if provoked.
Armed shark spotters will continue to patrol the waters off the beach to ensure further safety. Any shark sightings should be reported immediately to police or Coast Guard.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Are Shark Attacks a Threat In New England?
Ever since the movie Jaws appeared on the big screen in 1975, there has been a worldwide panic on the dangers of the water. However, local experts provide the data and reassurance that shark attacks are not a concern here in New England.
“Gone Fishin’: Great white shark sighted in Vineyard Sound” was the headline on an issue of the Martha’s Vineyard Times this past June. It was the cause of several beach closings and many frightened residents and vacationers. According to a local shark expert at the New England Aquarium, this incident was an exception.
“Shark attacks are not a huge concern here in New England,” said Chris Bauernfeind, an expert from the New England Aquarium who personally deals with shark’s every day. “It’s been a very long time since there has been an issue concerning a shark attack,” he said.
According to the International Shark Attack File maintained by the University of Florida there have been five unprovoked shark attacks in New England since 1670. Yes, only five unprovoked attacks in the past 400 years. One took place in Connecticut and the other four took place in Massachusetts. Three of the attacks were fatal and the last fatality occurred in 1936.
Bauernfeind said there are only a few dangerous species of sharks that pose a risk to people’s safety, none of which live in the frigid New England oceans.
Experts at National Geographic explain that there are several ways to avoid an attack. Do not wander too far out into the ocean and stay with a group of people every time you swim. Also, swim away from fishing boats because they often trail fish remains and blood, which attracts sharks. A big thing that attracts sharks is blood. If you're bleeding, stay on the beach. Sharks can smell and taste blood from over a mile away. Avoid groups of seals, sea lions, dolphins and sea birds because they are common victims of sharks. Although it may seem obvious, stay out of the water at dawn, dusk, and night, when some species of sharks may move inshore to feed on fish. Do not wear bright clothing or shiny jewelry. Sharks see contrast extremely well.
If you are attacked by a shark there are a few things you can do to save yourself. Use anything around you at the time to defend yourself. Avoid using your hands or feet; if not, concentrate on hitting between the shark's eyes, snout or gills. If bitten, try to stop the bleeding. Leave the water as quickly and calmly, as possible. While many sharks will not bite again, you can never officially rule out a second attack until you are safely on shore. Get immediate medical attention no matter how small the injury.
So are the oceans of New England safe to swim in? The answer is yes, but always be cautious and aware of your surroundings.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
The Death of Two Youths Linked to Shark Attacks
The body of a 16-year-old girl was found washed up on the shore of South Beach in Amity on the morning of July 1 after her mysterious disappearance the night before.
Wendy W. Watson, a sophomore at Amity High School, was discovered by an Amity Police Deputy, several hours after she disappeared. Her body had been severely mauled by an attacker of unknown origin.
She was last seen alive with an unidentified male leaving a beach party around 11 p.m. Police were notified immediately by her companion when she did not come out of the water after late night skinny dipping in a remote section of the beach. Witnesses at the party said both teenagers had been drinking during the evening.
The cause of death appears to be a shark attack, though other possibilities have not been completely ruled out. Her body has been transported to the coroner’s office for an autopsy. No charges have been filed in the case and police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
SECOND DAY STORY:
For the second day in a row, another tragic death has occurred on the beaches of Amity.
Alex Ferguson, a 10-year-old from Mayfair Court in Amity was killed in what appears to be another shark attack.
“Alex Ferguson was killed in what appears- I repeat, appears- to have been a vicious and unprovoked shark attack,” said Martin Brody, Chief of the Amity Police Department.
Ferguson was floating on a rubber raft in the crowded water of Village Beach when the attack occurred. His body has not been recovered, but his raft floated ashore with what appears to be teeth marks and bites all over it.
The 10-year-old returned to the water after begging his mother, Marian Ferguson, to allow him a few more minutes in the ocean. She hesitantly allowed him 10 more minutes, despite her concern of his cold, pruned fingers. Marian Ferguson is currently being treated for shock at Amity hospital, where she is reported to be in fair condition. There were no other injuries reported.
Officials are beginning to link yesterday’s death of Wendy Watson to the death of Alex Ferguson. Both deaths are still under investigation and no official cause of death has been determined.
“We now believe that it may be possible that the Watson death could also maybe have been linked to the possible shark activities, though the investigation is ongoing at this time,” said Brody.
Police Chief Martin P. Brody, the mayor and the Amity Board of Selectman held a press conference at 5 p.m. today in Town Hall.
At the meeting it was decided by officials to close all the beaches due to the two deaths and the growing concern for the public’s safety. The mayor, however, interposed that the beaches would only be closed for 24-hours because of the significant amount of people this would negatively affect.
It was announced that more police officers would be stationed at the beaches in Amity to oversee the water and watch for dangerous predators. Officials hope to eliminate any more deaths or injuries without closing down the beaches permanently.
A $3,000 reward was being offered to anyone who could catch and kill this dangerous predator. Local fisherman Ben Quint promised to hunt down and kill the perpetrator for $10,000 before anyone else is killed. This offer, however, has not been made official.
Wendy W. Watson, a sophomore at Amity High School, was discovered by an Amity Police Deputy, several hours after she disappeared. Her body had been severely mauled by an attacker of unknown origin.
She was last seen alive with an unidentified male leaving a beach party around 11 p.m. Police were notified immediately by her companion when she did not come out of the water after late night skinny dipping in a remote section of the beach. Witnesses at the party said both teenagers had been drinking during the evening.
The cause of death appears to be a shark attack, though other possibilities have not been completely ruled out. Her body has been transported to the coroner’s office for an autopsy. No charges have been filed in the case and police are continuing their investigation into the incident.
SECOND DAY STORY:
For the second day in a row, another tragic death has occurred on the beaches of Amity.
Alex Ferguson, a 10-year-old from Mayfair Court in Amity was killed in what appears to be another shark attack.
“Alex Ferguson was killed in what appears- I repeat, appears- to have been a vicious and unprovoked shark attack,” said Martin Brody, Chief of the Amity Police Department.
Ferguson was floating on a rubber raft in the crowded water of Village Beach when the attack occurred. His body has not been recovered, but his raft floated ashore with what appears to be teeth marks and bites all over it.
The 10-year-old returned to the water after begging his mother, Marian Ferguson, to allow him a few more minutes in the ocean. She hesitantly allowed him 10 more minutes, despite her concern of his cold, pruned fingers. Marian Ferguson is currently being treated for shock at Amity hospital, where she is reported to be in fair condition. There were no other injuries reported.
Officials are beginning to link yesterday’s death of Wendy Watson to the death of Alex Ferguson. Both deaths are still under investigation and no official cause of death has been determined.
“We now believe that it may be possible that the Watson death could also maybe have been linked to the possible shark activities, though the investigation is ongoing at this time,” said Brody.
Police Chief Martin P. Brody, the mayor and the Amity Board of Selectman held a press conference at 5 p.m. today in Town Hall.
At the meeting it was decided by officials to close all the beaches due to the two deaths and the growing concern for the public’s safety. The mayor, however, interposed that the beaches would only be closed for 24-hours because of the significant amount of people this would negatively affect.
It was announced that more police officers would be stationed at the beaches in Amity to oversee the water and watch for dangerous predators. Officials hope to eliminate any more deaths or injuries without closing down the beaches permanently.
A $3,000 reward was being offered to anyone who could catch and kill this dangerous predator. Local fisherman Ben Quint promised to hunt down and kill the perpetrator for $10,000 before anyone else is killed. This offer, however, has not been made official.
NH Legislation to ban cell phones and pets in laps while driving
The state of New Hampshire is trying to jump on the road safety bandwagon along with several other states by proposing a driver safety bill. The bill would make it illegal to talk on a handheld cell phone, text message or have a pet on your lap while operating a vehicle.
New Hampshire State Representative Richard Drisko proposed a driver safety bill that outlaws handheld cell phone use, text messaging and holding a pet on your lap while driving. Eleven previous cell phone restriction bills, without the addition of pet restrictions, have been rejected. The state hopes this bill will pass with the addition of the pet restrictions.
"The cell phone dilemma has been talked about for a very long time and should be very interesting if it goes to house and then if it passes there onto the senate," said Richard Drisko, the New Hampshire State Representative who proposed the driver safety bill.
Cell phones cause over 200 automobile-related deaths and half a million injuries per year, according to a Harvard University study. From 2003 to 2007, there were 129 deaths resulting from driving and talking on a cell phone in New Hampshire. In 2000, 309,000 people in New Hampshire owned a cell phone. Since then, the amount of cell phone users has increased by 300 percent. There are now over one million people in the state who own a cell phone.
Students Against Destructive Decisions and Liberty Mutual Insurance Group determined text messaging is the primary distraction to teenagers while driving. Text-messaging while driving is becoming as dangerous as drinking and driving, in terms of hindering teenager's driving ability. Despite the danger of text messaging while driving, 46 percent of teenagers admitted to the dangerous act in a study conducted by AAA.
There are currently no limits on cell phone use while driving in New Hampshire. A ban on driving while talking on a handheld cell phone is in place in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Washington. There are also laws in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania that allow different localities to ban cell phone use while driving.
To further ensure driver safety, Drisko added the restriction of lap pets to the bill. The distraction of a pet in your lap can result in injury or fatality to the driver, other people or the pet. However, the law would still allow drivers to have a pet in their vehicles.
"Dogs love to ride in cars - but it's very important to do so safely," said Ryan Huling, a representative of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "For that reason, we advise people to use car seats and seatbelts when driving with their dogs, to ensure everyone's safety."
Despite his objective to improve safety on the roads, many people feel inconvenienced by this bill. The good intentions of Drisko are seen as a nuisance by people who regularly travel with their lap dogs.
"I have two dogs at home and I take them with me in the car all the time. I don't see them as a distraction at all because they just sit there while I drive," said Brian Carroll, a sophomore at UNH. "Small dogs are hard to travel with because if they aren't on your lap you risk them being injured, so if the bill was to pass I probably would not take my dogs with me anywhere."
Drisko hopes by adding this clause to the bill, New Hampshire will pass the proposal. The goal of this bill is to increase safety on the roads and to do what he feels is in the best interest for his constituents.
"People are 50-50, there are mixed feelings toward this bill," said Drisko. "A lot of people like it, a lot of people don't like it."
New Hampshire State Representative Richard Drisko proposed a driver safety bill that outlaws handheld cell phone use, text messaging and holding a pet on your lap while driving. Eleven previous cell phone restriction bills, without the addition of pet restrictions, have been rejected. The state hopes this bill will pass with the addition of the pet restrictions.
"The cell phone dilemma has been talked about for a very long time and should be very interesting if it goes to house and then if it passes there onto the senate," said Richard Drisko, the New Hampshire State Representative who proposed the driver safety bill.
Cell phones cause over 200 automobile-related deaths and half a million injuries per year, according to a Harvard University study. From 2003 to 2007, there were 129 deaths resulting from driving and talking on a cell phone in New Hampshire. In 2000, 309,000 people in New Hampshire owned a cell phone. Since then, the amount of cell phone users has increased by 300 percent. There are now over one million people in the state who own a cell phone.
Students Against Destructive Decisions and Liberty Mutual Insurance Group determined text messaging is the primary distraction to teenagers while driving. Text-messaging while driving is becoming as dangerous as drinking and driving, in terms of hindering teenager's driving ability. Despite the danger of text messaging while driving, 46 percent of teenagers admitted to the dangerous act in a study conducted by AAA.
There are currently no limits on cell phone use while driving in New Hampshire. A ban on driving while talking on a handheld cell phone is in place in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah and Washington. There are also laws in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio and Pennsylvania that allow different localities to ban cell phone use while driving.
To further ensure driver safety, Drisko added the restriction of lap pets to the bill. The distraction of a pet in your lap can result in injury or fatality to the driver, other people or the pet. However, the law would still allow drivers to have a pet in their vehicles.
"Dogs love to ride in cars - but it's very important to do so safely," said Ryan Huling, a representative of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "For that reason, we advise people to use car seats and seatbelts when driving with their dogs, to ensure everyone's safety."
Despite his objective to improve safety on the roads, many people feel inconvenienced by this bill. The good intentions of Drisko are seen as a nuisance by people who regularly travel with their lap dogs.
"I have two dogs at home and I take them with me in the car all the time. I don't see them as a distraction at all because they just sit there while I drive," said Brian Carroll, a sophomore at UNH. "Small dogs are hard to travel with because if they aren't on your lap you risk them being injured, so if the bill was to pass I probably would not take my dogs with me anywhere."
Drisko hopes by adding this clause to the bill, New Hampshire will pass the proposal. The goal of this bill is to increase safety on the roads and to do what he feels is in the best interest for his constituents.
"People are 50-50, there are mixed feelings toward this bill," said Drisko. "A lot of people like it, a lot of people don't like it."
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Dangerous Weather in New England
Severe weather conditions give travelers coming from all directions a scare on their way to New Hampshire.
The state of New Hampshire has not seen a flood since May 2007. At 4 AM, the National Weather Service posted a flood watch for Southern Maine and New Hampshire.
Power outages have already been reported in Bethlehem, Conway, Durham, Eaton, Madison, New London and Tamworth as of 8:25 this morning.
It took commuters longer to get to their destination this morning with the dangerous driving conditions. Traffic lights were not functioning near UNH this morning, creating an even more hazardous commute for drivers.
According to the National Weather Service Forecast, today’s weather prediction included one to three inches of rain and a temperature of about 44 degrees. Wind speeds will consist of an east wind 17 to 20 mph increasing to between 38 and 41 mph. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.
Residence halls at the University of New Hampshire have power, but there have reportedly been brief power outages intermittently. Classes were not cancelled and power the remained functional in all of the academic buildings.
The state of New Hampshire has not seen a flood since May 2007. At 4 AM, the National Weather Service posted a flood watch for Southern Maine and New Hampshire.
Power outages have already been reported in Bethlehem, Conway, Durham, Eaton, Madison, New London and Tamworth as of 8:25 this morning.
It took commuters longer to get to their destination this morning with the dangerous driving conditions. Traffic lights were not functioning near UNH this morning, creating an even more hazardous commute for drivers.
According to the National Weather Service Forecast, today’s weather prediction included one to three inches of rain and a temperature of about 44 degrees. Wind speeds will consist of an east wind 17 to 20 mph increasing to between 38 and 41 mph. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph.
Residence halls at the University of New Hampshire have power, but there have reportedly been brief power outages intermittently. Classes were not cancelled and power the remained functional in all of the academic buildings.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
FareCard Alibi
The headline on the front page of today's New York Times “Murder Suspect Has Witness: A FareCard” immediately caught my attention. Articles like this one always seem to catch my attention, hence why I am taking a homicide class this semester. The basic lead used also dragged my intention into the rest of the story. I thought it was a good technique to summarize the main point of what the article was about. However, we don’t learn the importance of the suspects FareCard until later on in the article which was also clever because it forced the reader to keep going.
The story lived up and was described perfectly in the headline. We slowly learned that the murder suspect had his lawyers ask New York City Transit to use his FareCard to trace his movements the night of the shooting. The results supported his account, showing that the card had been used on a bus, and later on a subway roughly five miles from the shooting, just as he had described. This description summarizes the main point of the story.
The story was organized in a way where I didn’t learn about the main focus of the story until halfway through. It began by giving background information which then led to the central idea. The story then goes on to less important information such as what a FareCard is used for and other criminal cases that have needed to use this card as evidence to support or convict someone of a crime.
The story linked its main points from the beginning to the middle. It began by talking about the murder itself and where the suspect claimed he was the night of the murder. It then goes on to talk about the extraordinary turn the case was taking due to the use of the suspects FareCard the same time as the murder. I thought this order was a great way to tell the story because it kept me interested throughout.
By the end of the article I had not learned anything new. This article was not meant to be educational. I was, however, fascinated by the use of electronics and how they are going to help keep an innocent man from receiving the death penalty.
The story lived up and was described perfectly in the headline. We slowly learned that the murder suspect had his lawyers ask New York City Transit to use his FareCard to trace his movements the night of the shooting. The results supported his account, showing that the card had been used on a bus, and later on a subway roughly five miles from the shooting, just as he had described. This description summarizes the main point of the story.
The story was organized in a way where I didn’t learn about the main focus of the story until halfway through. It began by giving background information which then led to the central idea. The story then goes on to less important information such as what a FareCard is used for and other criminal cases that have needed to use this card as evidence to support or convict someone of a crime.
The story linked its main points from the beginning to the middle. It began by talking about the murder itself and where the suspect claimed he was the night of the murder. It then goes on to talk about the extraordinary turn the case was taking due to the use of the suspects FareCard the same time as the murder. I thought this order was a great way to tell the story because it kept me interested throughout.
By the end of the article I had not learned anything new. This article was not meant to be educational. I was, however, fascinated by the use of electronics and how they are going to help keep an innocent man from receiving the death penalty.
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