Super Star

Jakob and Grammy made the news on Halloween. I am working on putting the video together to upload to this page. They spelled both his first name and last name wrong.

For now, here is the article from wtnh.com (where you can also view the clip).

Fox sightings prompt Griswold schools to keep kids indoors
(Griswold-WTNH, Oct. 31, 2006 5:00 PM)
Creepy Halloween characters are not the only things putting a scare into students in Griswold.
The threat of foxes is keeping the kids indoors and off the schools playing fields per order of the superintendent.

Two fox dens sit on this hill just above the practice softball field at Griswold High. Too close for comfort for the superintendent who says not a day goes by that someone does not spot a fox.
Supt. Elizabeth Osga, Griswold Schools, says,"We can see them morning, noon, or night. Running by."
Foxes around here are nothing new with the woods and a river nearby but lately Osga says,"They're more visible and they're bolder."

So bold, one was spotted just lying next to the fence of this playground as the pre-k kids were being brought to school.

Jakob*, Pre K, says, "It's not around but there was a fox here, huh? Where is it? That is what Jakob's grandmother would like to know. Sharon*, grandmother, says, "I was amazed to see it that close. I've never seen one that close before - laying' there."

To play it safe the superintendent has deemed this playground and these playing fields off limits. Which means no outside play periods for the kids and the soccer and football teams have had to find other fields for practice and games.

Supt. Elizabeth Osga, Griswold schools, says,"We really wanted to make sure we had all available information before we put kids in a situation of risk."

The superintendent hopes to have the teams playing on these fields again by the end of the week but she wants to make sure those players and those coming to the games are reeducated to know not to leave any french fries or other food sources around which would make these areas more attractive to foxes.
The DEP says there has been no sign that any of these foxes are rabid.

They just appear to be very comfortable around people.

A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection says the agency will send trappers to the area to catch the foxes and set them free elsewhere, such as a state forest.