South Bruce Peninsular - Wiarton Willie Dead - Comments

Willie III reports for duty

garym — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 12:45:04 -0400

Within a day of hearing the news, Willie III made himself known as rightful heir to the Mound and came forth to ask safe passage out of Markdale to his new lands up the peninsula.

He had been initially spotted by
the Jennen family on Canada Day and appeared again several days later. The Jennens, being big fans of Wiarton Willie and hearing that Willie had passed away, felt that fate had intervened. It was just meant to be! Once the Jennens secured the young albino they called the Town with the good news.
In the evening of July 18, the young albino groundhog was successfully transported to the Town of Wiarton to begin his new life as a Wiarton's chief weather prognosticator.
[ via South Bruce Peninsula Crier ]

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever

Wiarton Willie II (1998-2006)

garym — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 15:54:45 -0400

Maclean's is carrying a story that Wee Will passed on at 11 this morning, with a subtext claiming (erroneously) that his last prediction had been 'wrong':

He'd been ill for several months. Holly Morrow, who looked after Willie, said it was a "sad" occasion. However, she said Willie was about eight years old and had a "good life."
The Ottawa-born groundhog is to be cremated, and his ashes buried next to a stone shrine in the town's main park at a memorial service on Monday.

[ via Macleans.ca | Top Stories | His last weather prediction wrong, groundhog Wiarton Willie passes away ]

You may recall that the long-reigning Willie Sr had his ashes scattered on Colpoy's Bay, becoming once again one with the free natural world around his hometown. The Toronto Star describes Wee Willie as being taking off life-support this morning:

Willie had been suffering from an infection for the past month, but he rallied a few weeks ago to appear in a television special, giving hope to the town's residents.
The groundhog held the position of Wiarton's weather predictor for the past seven years. He was donated to the town after an Ottawa resident found him on the side of Highway 417.
[ via TheStar.com - Wiarton Willie dies ]

garym: ict evangelist - musician - whatever

Wiarton Willie Dead

bub — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 15:23:52 -0400

Word on the newswire is that Wiarton Willie died this morning, now since its not April 1st Im assuming this is correct, but it was sparse on details except that he had been sick for a while..