Beach Party Gone Wrong

Beach Party Gone Wrong

By: Brittany Schaefer

A beach party quickly evolved into fatality Sunday night for a high school teenage girl. After deciding to take a late night swim, Chrissie Watson, 17, was found dead, washed upon South Beach after suffering a tragic death.

Also, a fun day at the beach turned into something someone would have never suspected. An hour ago Alex Kintner, 10, had been floating on a rubber raft off a crowded Village Beach at 2 p.m. when what appeared to be another shark attacked. The pool of red spread into the ocean as kids and parents shrieked to get out of the waters. The immense amount of blood was all that was found of Kintner. 

The raft was all that was left, which floated ashore shortly after the attack. His damaged raft floated ashore shortly after the incident with what appeared to be a large bite out of it.

The cause of Watson's untimely death appeared to be by a brutal shark attack. Watson was last seen by another teen at the beach party, a male identified as Christopher P. Hoggenbottam III, at 11 p.m. He is a sophomore at Trinity College and a former local of the island.

Both teenagers had been drinking heavily and possibly smoking marijuana during the evening, as police investigators were told from witnesses.

Watson, of 23 Sharkstooth St., Amity, a senior at Amity High School was highly involved at her school. As told by Hoggenbottam, Watson was a member of the varsity swim team and a life guard at the Amity Island YMCA pool in Oak Bluffs, therefore the calm seas along with her high swim capability ruled out drowning, along with her severely distorted and mangled appearance Monday morning.

The weather was clear, temperature of 72 degrees F, and the seas were relaxed. Water temperature was 65 degrees. Winds were out of the south at about 3 knots.

Townspeople are to take precaution of swimming in these waters. Watson has been severely mauled by an attacker of unknown origin. Do not swim alone or at night when the waters are dark, residents and visitors still may swim at our lovely beaches.

We believe it may be possible that Watson's death could also be linked to Kintner's as a victim of a shark attack. But the investigation is ongoing.

As of now, Watson’s body has been transported to the cornoer’s office for autopsy. No charges have been files in the case, and police are still continuing their investigation into the incident. Police are also still searching for young Kintner's body. Amity mayor, Larry Vaughn is expressing sincere condolences for the Kintner family. "The senseless violence, victimizing innocent, helpless citizens, do not just happen in the city."

Boston Marathon Recovery

After reading a recent story in the Boston Globe, I thought of the true emotions a reader can have while reading an article. Emotional connection is important while writing an article. "Paul and J.P. Norden, Jarrod Clowery, and their tight band of buddies from Stoneham cemented their friendship on fishing trips and work sites, during poker games and by just being together" this background of the characters helps the reader connect and this is something that I've been told to work on. The background and activities show aspects of these characters that help the reader see who they truly are in a positive aspect. I enjoyed reading this piece because not only did I get a true feel for both victims but it was also tied with a current event that is highly read in the news recently. This way it was a favorite among readers, including me!

UNH brigade of state troopers

Yesterday as many know by now state troopers and police officer thought that a little fun at UNH should be terminated in a chaotic manor. I was just arriving back at UNH when the craziness unleashed. When I was walking down Madbury Rd to find my friends a row of eight state troopers in uniform with paintball guns, tear gas guns, and pepper spray marched down the street. They were yelling at the students to keep walking, as we had no where to go. One male student threw a beer can at an officer, and he then proceeded to get tackled and punched by three officers. This is on video. I may be biased by I think this incident was taken way out of hand. Many students were over 21 and drinking on their property is legal. I'm excited to see what else will unfold and whether students will sue or not. Just another crazy situation here at the University of New Hampshire!

Final Years EVER of being an underclassman.

It's always a sad time of year at the end of April. Another year flys by quicker than a mother watching her newborn child grow up. Since I am only doing a four- year plan. This means these next final weeks, 3 to be exact. Will be my last weeks being an underclassman. I realize that seniors have more to be bittersweet about but I literally love this place. UNH will be the best years of my life as it already has been. Being an upperclassman I won't take a moment for granted. I'm already in clubs but I could always try more? And the already overused #YOLO will be in my mind, or instead yoyo, You'll only be young once. Heart breaking but true, I will live life at the fullest and continue. These next two years means finding an internship and really making connections with the people that will influence the rest of my life.

Boston Marathon Mishap

Two weeks ago writing about Brooke McMullen seemed to be ordinary. Well, she was an extraordinary young adult, completing the Boston Marathon for the second year in a row at 19. But what she didn't expect was for an abrupt finish. Luckily and unluckily, McMullen hurt her ankle 9 miles in and couldn't finish the race. After speaking with her after the race, she said she would have most likely crossed the line at the same moment two explosions shook the finish line of Boston. After two dead and suspects in custody it's unbelievable and unimaginable that this actually happened. An ultimate state of schock overtook Boston but everyone was looking to help. Two good friends of mine traveled to Boston from UNH just to give blood to the hospital. They were 133 and 134th in line to donate. Then another thing UNH did was the vigil that I attended along with a thousand other students. It was clearly showing how much respect us college students have for our country, especially an area so close to our hearts.

TNH not rant

So I decided since I wrote a rant, I could follow up on my recent chain of events. Last Tuesday I walk into the contributors meeting per usual as I am there consistently every Tuesday night at 8:00. Usually casually walking in a little early just to grab a seat close to the table so I can grab the best articles first. I know, I figured out the status quo. Anyways, so I walk in and all of my fellow contributor friends frantically ask me if I got the job. Thus begins my inner panic. All of them pressure me to check now. But I can't. If I didn't get the position I would cry. And who likes crying in front of people you barely know. This proceeds to be the worst half hour of my life hardly being able to focus on the pitch session. I quickly exit after grabbing an article and then run. Yes run home in sandals. During I am counting every possibility quite honestly thinking I didn't get the job. I quickly log into the UNH e-mail account and the present of all my desires lays in front of me. I GOT THE JOB. I am starting as a staff writer which is more than desirable. This not only means I get a little dough, which I could care less about, but it immensely helps my resume! End of story. I'm a happy girl. :)

Who let the cat out?

Who let the cat out?
By: Brittany Schaefer

Fluffy, a rare spotted leopard has been announced missing as of this morning. Officials don’t know how Fluffy escaped from the Durham Zoo or where she is currently so precautions need to be made. Fluffy feeds off fear especially in children under eight years old therefore, protect your children.

“When we opened the zoo at 9:30 a.m. we immediately noticed Fluffy was missing. Everything about her cage seemed normal,” said Gerry Durrell, the director of the zoo. “The door was shut and did not appear to have been tampered with. Fluffy was seen in her cage when the zoo was closed at 9 p.m. last night. At that time everything seemed normal.

As told by the zoo’s chief zoologist, Kitty Smith, Fluffy is dangerous when cornered or when encountered at night in a dark alley. “Her defense is to kill, and to kill quickly.” This statement left me with an angry father and an even angrier child who proceeded to kick my knee in the process. The zoo was in complete chaos with visitors and towns’ people in a scramble for the exit. People we’re screaming like squealing of car tires in a never ending circle.

The peculiar situation of the matter is the mystery of how Fluffy escaped. With no tamper of her cage and no alarm the zoo staff is left confused and upset. “We miss Fluffy and we want her back, safe and sound,” said Smith as her tear ducts uncontrollably left her cheeks damp in a quick orderly exit.

Durrell continued saying, “We haven’t a clue.” She may have left the area, and she could be walking around Durham at this point. We just don’t know. We love this cat, and we don’t want to lose her.” With a sniffle and a rubbing of his watering eyes Durrell choked on his last words before exiting the conference.

Among the crowd in the zoo, James Petronkis of New Market was trying to discover any information for himself. “Police cars from every direction came to the scene.  Within minutes they were roughly pushing visitors to the exits. I hit behind a building because I wanted to see what happened,” said Petronkis with concern in his expression. “Cops had guns, people were screaming. It was mayhem.”

Fluffy was a gift from our sister city, Durhamvoska, Romania. She is black with white spots and weighs 146 pounds. Fluffy is built for speed able to reach 60 miles per hour. She is without a doubt a carnivore so precautions should be made. She is one of only five animals in existence of her breed.

This makes her crucial to catch for so many reasons. Fluffy is rare and dangerous. Officials and police are searching throughout the zoo to begin and if no luck will outreach into Durham for further looking. This is a hide and seek game that shouldn’t be meddled with. If any information immediately contact the officials of the Durham Police Department.

RIP Shain Gandee

Breaking news hit CNN, FOX, The Washington Post and many other newspapers and news stations on April 1st 2013 as the death of celebrity Shain Gandee swept the nation. This reckless redneck was mud trucking with his uncle and another unidentified person, all three were killed in the crash. The even more alarming response was the hate Gandee received for his popularity. Although I fully agree that our soldiers don't receive the respect and attention they deserve when they die, Gandee shouldn't be blamed for his popularity even though he was a hillbilly lacking the bravery of a soldier. It is a sad event nonetheless, and since I did watch Buckwild on MTV I am thoroughly surprised and devastated for his death, along with the death of our beloved soldiers.

New Outlook Better Grade?

Going into the usual Tuesday night 8:00 sharp meeting I had a different mentality. Instead of picking the easy article that I knew I could complete. I picked an article that would be interest my readers. I can hopefully make this article interesting. I am writing a profile this week on a freshman that is training to run the Boston Marathon. Not only do we need to do a profile for this class but also I'm hoping I can make this interesting by describing races and look closely on how she reacts to the questions I ask. This way it will be descriptive which is something I believe I'm good at! Here goes nothing!