Wiarton Willie Dead

WIARTON, Ont. (CP) - Wiarton Willie, one of Canada's best know prognosticating rodents, has died. The albino groundhog passed away at about 11 a.m. this morning. He'd been ill for several months. Holly Morrow, who looked after Willie, said it was a "sad" occasion. However, she said Willie was about eight years old and had a "good life." The Ottawa-born groundhog is to be cremated, and his ashes buried next to a stone shrine in the town's main park at a memorial service on Monday. Willie's predecessor died in a cloud of controversy when his handlers attempted to cover up his death and replace him surreptitiously in a scandal that became known as Williegate.