|
BABS driver spots mountain
lion on South Main Street
Blackstone, Game Commission
stepping-up efforts
Concerns here about a mysterious cougar--one
that apparently doesn’t mind roaming through residential areas--are escalating
with yet another reliable sighting.
Charlie Daniel, a driver for the Blackstone Area Bus System (BABS), reports
seeing a cougar on South Main Street last Thursday morning, July 31st, at about
7:50 a.m. in the general vicinity of Dollar General. (More stories, page 3)
Thursday’s sighting is less than a block from the home of Mrs. Shiras Scott
Craig, who recently reported seeing a cougar near her home on 10th Street, and
who has asked Blackstone officials to trap the animal.
According to Daniel, he was coming back into town from the shopping centers,
heading north on Main Street.
Daniel said that as he passed the intersection of 10th Street, he saw the big
cat on the right-hand side of the road near the home of Mrs. Irene Gearhart, who
lives two doors south of Dollar General.
“When it got to the street, it turned toward me like it was going
to run . . . .
Read more > |
Residents asked to be prepared
Blackstone Police
Chief Nick Kuzmiak this week encourages residents to be alert, observant, and
ready to call police if they happen to see a cougar.
Kuzmiak this week said, “Town Animal Control Officer Radcliff is working in
cooperation with Officers from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries. They are working diligently” and offer the following suggestions to
residents:
•Have a camera ready to take a photograph
•Contact a neighbor upon a possible sighting. It may be possible to obtain an
additional photograph.
•If a suspicious track is noticed, cover the track with a bucket, to preserve
the track, and contact the police department.
•If the animal is observed jumping over a fence or going through thick brush,
they may notice hair samples.
•Residents are encouraged to call the police department (292-3323 or 3322) at
any time to report a possible sighting.
If you should happen to encounter a mountain lion while walking, experts say you
should stop, make loud noises, wave your arms and make yourself larger than you
appear, and call for help. Experts warn that turning your back and running can
be a fatal mistake, because running is said to trigger an instinct for mountain
lions to chase their prey. |
|
 |
|
A Little Spendin' Money
There's nothin' like a
check for a quarter-million dollars to make your birthday brighter.
Glenn Jackson of Blackstone had 250,000 reasons to celebrate after
playing the lottery.
He picked the five winning numbers on July 22--the day before his
77th birthday. (Story in this week's print edition). |
|
|
Councilman
asked to
hold-off on questions
for Town Manager
Green
offers list
to Palmore, Council
Blackstone Town Councilman Ben Green says he gets a lot of questions
about Town business from various constituents.
So Green recently typed-up a list and was prepared to present it to
Town Manager Larry Palmore and members of Council at Council’s July 21st
meeting.
Palmore appeared concerned about the process. “Are you going to
send me the list, or is this going to be a recommendation for me to
spend my time on from the Council first, or just under your direction,
or how?”
“I’ve got 15 questions I’d like answered, and whatever the right
way to do it is, I just want to do it that way,” Green assured Palmore
and members of Council. “These are questions I’ve been asked to look
into.”
Green, who already had made copies, offered to share the list with
Palmore and Council. He said he didn’t want to read each . . . . .
Read more
> |
|
