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The clipping this text was read from
The clipping this text was read from

By: GERALD W. SPESSARD

Rappahannock Newi Contributing Writer

It’s official! The Thirteenth Annual Woolly Bear Contest ended Nov. 1st and the winners have been announced.

During the month of October, 384 woolly bears were turned into the Woolly Bear Headquarters in Hagerstown, Maryland. The purpose of the contest was to gather enough woolly bears to analyze their markings and determine what type of winter we will have in the upcoming months and also to compare the woolly bears’ predictions to those made by the Hagerstown Town & Country Almanack 18 months ago.

In the first category, the Biggest and Woolliest earning the title of “Hairy Hager”, the winner was Jason Mowen of Greencastle, Pa. Jason is a seven year old first grade at Montgomery Elementary School. Jason received a $100 cash prize. Runner-up in that category was Jon Woodbridge, a 12 year old seventh grader form Clear Spring, Md. Jon received six copies of the 1996 Almanack to share with his family and friends.

In the second category, the Cutest and Cuddliest and crowned “Alma”, the winner was Ashley Magee of Clear Spring, Md. Ashley is an 11 year old sixth grader at Clear Spring Middle School in Clear Spring, Md. Ashley received $100. The runner up in this category was Ryan Beard .of Williamsport, Md. Ryan is a 12 year old seventh grader at Springfield Elementary School. Ryan received six copies of the 1996 Almanack to share with his family and friends.

For the eighth year in a row, the sponsors, the Hagerstown Town and Country Almanack, put a lot of emphasis on trying to get the school children in the areas to participate. A number of schools made this a class project.

From the 384 woolly bears, the consensus is that the first half of the winter starting Nov. 15th and going to Jan. 15th will be a little colder and wetter than normal for that time of the year.. From Jan. 16th to the end of March, the woolly bears show a very mild winter with above average temperatures and little snow. The woolly bears predicted this by their three bands of which the front band (repre

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