Shark Attack Leads to Fear of Village Beach Closing

Amity - Townspeople and summer vacationers come together to discuss the latest shark attack that resulted in the death of Alex Kintner that occured on Village Beach which may lead to the beach closing for the summer.

Martin P. Brody, the Chief of Police of Amity, MA, worked with Mayor Bob Farley to reach a conclusion on the mid-summer's festivities, but had a hard time seeking the approval of Amity's residents.

Most of the attendees of the town meeting, however, were not happy with the idea of closing down Village Beach.

"I have a point of view that a lot of other people," said one woman at the meeting. "I have a motel here."

Businesses and tourists attractions would certainly be in jepordy. Business owners are likely to lose business if a shark attack leads to the beach closing down.

Chief Brody reassured people that the shark would be caught and more safety precautions would be used on the beaches.

"We're going to put extra deputies on the beaches and bring in experts from the mainlands," said Brody.

The one question he did not immediately answer was if the beach would be shut down.

"We will be closing the beaches," said Brody.

After townspeople hollered and bantered about shutting down the beach, Mayor Farley quickly added a few words that Brody was not pleased with.

"We're only shutting the beach down for 24 hours," said Farley.

Even closing it down for a mere 24 hours was not good enough for the townspeople and beach bums.

In the midst of shouting, one woman at the meeting said "24 hours is like three weeks!"

Not only was there an issue about safety on the beach, but now a controversial reward was being offered by Marian Kintner, the mother of the young boy whose body was washed up onto the beach shore.

A poster stated "Reward: $3,000 for the man who finds and kills the shark that killed."

This may be a good incentive for fishermen in the area of Amity, but Brody had more of a pesimistic view on the idea.

"It's going to turn into a contest," said Brody.

One man even joked about the reward.

"Is the $3,000 in cash or check?" said the attendee.

People laughed, but this issue of safety and closing a place where people spend their summers in the real perdicament.

Ben Quint, a fisherman, accepted the challenge of finding the shark that killed Alex Kintner.

He said that the task would be a challenging one; it would be difficult, but it needs to be done and he's the man to do it.

On that note, he made a proposition to the Mayor.

"I'll find it [the shark] for $3,000, but I'll catch and kill it for $10,000," said Quint.

There was not formal agreement to that offer.

It was not up to the Mayor to decide what the reward would be because the $3,000 was out of Mrs. Kintner's pocket, not the city's.

"We'll take that under advisement," said Farley.

With the meeting coming to a close, it was understood that the beach would be closed for at least 24 hours and safety precautions would be underway.

Amity residents, though, were not at all pleased with the final decision.