After predicting last winter’s brutal weather, Papponetti sees less severe cold this time

Animal control officer says squirrels aren’t furiously stacking pine cones like a year ago

Harry Papponetti

ALBION – It was about a year ago when Harry Papponetti, Albion’s animal control officer for more than 30 years, made a grim prediction: the area would be facing a brutal winter.

Papponetti noticed squirrels were furiously stacking pine cones a year ago. The animals seemed to know something, he told the Village Board.

The board members smiled and chuckled at Papponetti, not quite taking him seriously back then.

But Papponetti proved right. The area fell into winter’s grip in early November and it didn’t let go for several months, as the area was bombarded with snow and then fell into a deep freeze in January and February.

During Wednesday’s Village Board meeting, with board members now seeing Papponetti as a wise prognosticator, asked what he expects is in store this winter. Papponetti said he has been observing squirrels and they seem much more care-free this year. They aren’t so determined with their pine cone stacking and collecting of nuts.

Papponetti predicts a milder winter this go-round.