up the street, but then it ran across the road, from my right to my left, and jumped over the iron fence at the home of Bill & Debbie Rogers. It ran right on through their yard.”
   Daniel said he last saw the animal running into a wooded area behind the Rogers home, which is almost a stone’s throw from the Craig home on 10th Street.
   “It was like something was chasing it, or it was chasing something, because it was MOVING.”
   Daniel said the animal was in such a hurry and was so impressive, that once it bounded into the road, it jumped so far that it landed well past the other shoulder of the road. “After he hit that paved road, I don’t think his feet hit the other bank.”
   Daniel says he has no doubts about what he saw. “I’m certain I saw a Cougar. I was fairly close to it, and it was plenty light outside. (just about 10 minutes before 8 a.m.)”
   Daniel said the animal appeared to be mature. “It was right good size. It wasn’t a small animal at all.”

   Blackstone Town Manager Larry Palmore said he’s more convinced than ever that a cougar appears to be residing in or close to town limits. “There’s definitely a cougar out there.”
   Palmore said Town crews have been placing dirt in areas near some of the recent sightings, “hoping we can pick-up a track.”
   Strategically-placed wildlife trail cameras so far have captured nothing but images of deer, Pal said. “Lots of deer.”
   Palmore said representatives from the state Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries continue to visit Blackstone daily, and he said more efforts to track the Cougar are being taken, He did not elaborate.
   Courier-Record social correspondent, Mrs. Tuckie Kile of Lunenburg Avenue, says her Sheltie dog, Lucy “usually stays outside a lot, day and night (we have an underground electric fence) but refuses to go outside at night. She has been like that for a couple of weeks. Is it just too hot, or does she know that big cat is lurking around?”
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question aloud and bog Council down, because Council’s meeting already had passed the two-hour mark.
   Palmore told Green, “I’d rather it (the list of questions) come from Town Council as a body, rather than me taking direction from one councilman.”
   Green said he wants to be able to provide answers to citizens when they approach him with questions, and he suggested that each councilmember receive the answers in writing, too. “But I wouldn’t dare ask you, or direct you, to do anything,” he assured Palmore.
   Council President Jerry Wilson asked Green to send everyone a copy but “not ask Larry to take action until next month.” Green agreed.
   Wilson again wanted to be sure everyone understood the process. “Larry won’t be required to respond to any of them until Council acts on them at the next Council meeting (next Monday, August 11th).”
   Green did ask aloud some of the questions, which he called pressing. He asked Palmore about the safety of trees on the old school property on Oak Street, which is leased by the Town. Palmore assured Green the trees are safe. He also said the electrical department is very busy and might not get to do any trimming until November.
   Green asked about the status of the Memorial Center. Palmore assured Green that Council has in effect surplused that building, and that it will be sold in conjunction with the Town’s annual auction in October.
   Green also asked about a Town citizen survey, first proposed by Palmore in June. Palmore’s sample survey contained only three questions, asking citizens if they wish to do away with nighttime police protection, brush and rubbish removal, and reduce garbage pick-up to once a week.

   Palmore told Green, “We have not had time to think about the survey. I’ve had more people tell me to forget the survey because the answer’s gonna be ‘no’ to everything. But we will do the survey.”
   Green also asked if the Town is required to reappoint Town Manager Palmore, Town Clerk Joanie Palmore, and Town Attorney Ken Walden every year, or every four years. Palmore said every four years.
   Green also requested the status of the Town hiring a part-time building inspector, Marvin Alder from Lunenburg. Palmore said that he, Assistant Town Manager David Dunn, and Mr. Alder will meet soon.
   Green has posted the other questions on his website blog at: www.councilmanbengreen.org
   Two of those questions are labeled as questions from a constituent that Green says he cannot answer:
   “Since the town manager has stated publicly that all expenditures for the new medical center will be fully recovered by the town within 10 years, I believe this should become an annual report via the local newspaper as to the amount spent and the amount recovered. This is the only way the taxpayer has to know if the stated policy is being adhered to. The first report should be made within 1 year of the opening of the center.
   “The town is too secretive about what is spent on various projects--especially the ones that are rather controversial. For instance, the medical facility, memorial center, armory, Castles trailer park--just to name a few. There is never any financial report at the town meetings or in the newspaper indicating how much taxpayer and grant money is spent on these projects. I believe the public is entitled to know this information.”
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