Two 'Bigfoot Calling' contests are set for Conecuh County on March 2

I had someone stop me the other day on the sidewalk and ask about the latest news on Bigfoot. They noted that there hasn’t been much Bigfoot news lately, and they wondered if maybe Bigfoot had moved south in search of warmer weather. I assured this person that there was more going on behind the scenes with Bigfoot than had been in the newspaper.

For example, Luther Upton announced on his morning radio show last week that this year’s Collard Green Festival will feature a Bigfoot Calling Contest. This will be the first such contest locally since Tony Kyles was named Grand Champion during October’s Conecuh Sausage Festival.

The Collard Green Festival is set for March 2, and noted author Wil Elrick plans to attend to compete in the Bigfoot Calling Contest. Wil, who visited Evergreen several months ago to kick off the publicity campaign for his book “Alabama Lore,” also plans to set up a booth, sells copies of his book and bring his Bigfoot suit. Wil’s determined to win the Bigfoot Calling Contest, so the other contestants better bring their A-game.

After the Collard Green Festival, everyone is invited to attend the 14^th Annual Baggett’s Chapel Wild Game Supper, which will also be held on March 2 and will feature a Bigfoot Calling Contest. Proceeds from this event will go to benefit Ruby Norwood and family.

Auction viewing will start at 3 p.m. with the meal to follow at 5 p.m. This year’s guest speaker will be Matthew Kelley with Equip Ministries.

Once again this year, Bigfoot expert Ashley McPhaul and I will be the guest judges for the Bigfoot Calling Contest. Last year at the Baggett’s Chapel Wild Game Supper, Steven Bradley of Repton was named Grand Champion in the adult division, and Hunter Nichols took home top honors in the youth division.

These contests continue to get bigger and better. Not only do they attract contestants from our neck of the woods, but also contestants from outside Conecuh County. Those of you who have seen these contests in person will know that it’s good, clean fun.

Also this week, I saw where noted Bigfoot author David Paulides appeared on “Coast to Coast AM,” a national radio show, to discuss his book, “Bigfoot, Wildmen and Giants.” This 376-page book is a collection of over 300 articles about historical reports between 1680 and 1922 in five different countries. I’m interested to see if it contains any reports from Alabama.

Paulides, a retired police detective from California, is best known for his “Missing 411” series of books, which are extremely interesting. I’ve read most of these books, which detail odd and unusual disappearances around the world. One of his books (my personal favorite) is specifically about missing hunters, and it’s very thought-provoking, especially if you do any sort of hunting.

Well, I guess that’s about all the space I’ve got for this week. If anyone in the reading audience has a Bigfoot report they want to tell me about, call me at the newspaper office or shoot me an e-mail.