When I learned today Wiarton Willie had passed away I was a little sad, then I remembered Willie-gate. Wiarton Willie had actually passed away in 1999, but when they rolled out poor Willie laid out in a coffin in his tuxedo, it wasn't him. They actually tried to pass off another dead groundhog as Willie because Willie had badly decomposed.
The Willie who died today was yet another albino groundhog that replaced the original Willie. Rumour has it, there is already another lined up. Mourn the death of Willie II if you like, but don't believe the hype. Willies are like Rockys. They'll keep churning them out so long as there's enough people who give a damn.
