A hit-in-the-stomach week, we’ve experienced on Bigfoot Ballyhoo. On Feb. 11^th, Dale Saxton, bigfoot investigator and frequent guest editor-blogger to the site, lost his life to a blood clot while in surgery to remove a cancerous lung. Everyone fell silent in their participation, from shock and disbelief. We are missing him dreadfully, for it was delightful to know that anytime he could post an exciting field account of the animal that his friends and family were quick to say was “in his blood.”

      His son, Cole Saxton, and long-time friend, Bill Emery, have both assured us that they will carry on the search for bigfoot, in the man’s memory. While Saxton never saw the animal, he believed it exists and would want us all to “keep talking bigfoot”; and to keep working at removing the stigma and unfair consequences that often result when reporting a sighting, especially when one’s license is suspended for reporting a sighting from a vehicle (to the police). Another wrong that requires righting is that police officers, who must report a sighting while on the job, are often required to take a leave of absence until checked out by a state approved doctor. On the blog, we have an account of an officer that had to lie when he’d seen a bigfoot just to be allowed to return to work. It isn’t right, is it?

     Saxton was to appear on an hour-long CNN program to share a couple of sightings and to address these concerns of suspended licenses and forced leaves of our policemen. The earthquake in Haiti took priority and the bigfoot program will be filmed when CNN’s schedule allows. Bill Emery said that he would take Saxton’s place if need be. We look forward to that program, and will let our readers know when it will air.

     A change of subject: The bones mentioned in the 1962 Columbus Day Storm in Oregon have been traced to the Smithsonian Institute. A United States Forest Service employee took his/her own time to trace down the bones.  The reference number is: File#USFS/33058-45333-294734-AB. I do hope someone with clout can look into this such as Dr. Meldrum or author David Paulides.

     A final word on Dale Saxton’s death: Christopher and I have dedicated our blog, Bigfoot Ballyhoo to his memory.