In this issue:

"Holiday Concert" by Taylor W. & Christy H.	"Geography Bee" by Emily C.
"Electives" by Libby C. & Emily C.	"Football" by David, Nick and Kris
"Hail To The Chief" by Andy & Mike	"Korean New Year's Day" by Dong H.

Hail to the Chief - The President visits Newport, RI by Andy K. and Michael P.

On December 3, 1998, the 8th grade class went to see President William Jefferson Clinton speak at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island.This experience was memorable, fun, and eye-opening for all of us. One of the more impressive things about this experience was the security. The security was extremely high, as the President arrived in his limousine which was surrounded by other vehicles armed by the SWAT teams and other high security groups. At the event, there were also groups of protesters who felt that the President should be impeached. A few of the protesters were saying "A stain on American history," and others had signs picturing the President behind bars. This was very shocking. To get in we had to wait for the motorcade, pass through metal detectors, and have our bags searched. After the speech, we had to wait for about an hour for the President and his entourage to finally load themselves into 4 helicopters and fly away.

This is us waiting to be let into Fort Adams. Here we are listening to the President give his speech about the new water treatment/filtration plant that operates in Newport, Rhode Island.	Lunch break during the speech. Killing time waiting to leave.

Here is the content of his speech as reported by the Associated Press.

(From The Associated Press)

P R O V I D E N C E, R.I., Dec. 3 - President Bill Clinton announced new regulations today aimed at improving the safety of drinking water for 140 million Americans. Clinton said the regulations would "give our families greater peace of mind" about the water they drink. The new rules set safety standards for a water-borne parasite called cryptosporidium, which is found in animal feces and was blamed for contaminating Milwaukee's water system in 1993, sickening some 400,000 people and killing about 100. The Environmental Protection Agency predicts the new standards will prevent 460,000 cases of water-borne illnesses a year. In addition, Clinton announced new rules that require improved filtration and monitoring in water systems to prevent disinfectants used in water treatment from contaminating tap water. Those chemicals, like chlorine, are used to kill water- borne microorganisms that cause illnesses such as typhoid and cholera. But the chemicals have also been found to cause birth defects and cancer in laboratory animals. The new rules are aimed at reducing exposure to those byproducts by 25 percent in water systems serving 140 million people. Regulations Cost $2.5 Billion The regulations will cost about $2.5 billion to implement over five years. "This is the sort of thing we ought to be doing in America, tending to America's business, reaching across party lines, looking into the future, thinking about our children," Clinton said. Clinton also announced the government was making available $775 million in low-interest loans to the 50 states to upgrade drinking water systems, and $93.8 million in grants to support states' drinking water programs. Although escaping Washington and the impeachment controversy for the day, his motorcade route offered reminders of his political problems.