A Sasquatch has been seen roaming the hills near Kimberley, if witnesses in the area can be believed.
The famous creature,
making its first appearance in years, has been spotted a number of times over the past several days.
Numerous Sasquatch sightings have been reported this week to the Kimberley RCMP. No less than eight people in groups of two
and three have seen the creature consistently described in size, shape and colour.
Constable Hugh Steward, a member of the general investigation section of the Kimberley RCMP reported that his detachment
has tried to ascertain whether a prank was involved but was unable to reach a conclusion. Reacting to the report of one
witness, the officer said, "there is no way I am going to disbelieve Mickey McLelland. He's a very reputable fellow and
I've known him for years."
McLelland, a member of the Kimberley Fire Department, said he was about nine miles south of the city near the Kimberley
Trap and Ski Club Friday at 8 p.m. There he saw a tall, tan coloured, long legged creature at a distance of about 125 yards.
Asked if it could have been a man is disguise, McLelland said, "I couldn't say. Maybe it's possible. He'd have to be a
pretty fast runner. I couldn't say for sure.
McLelland and a friend chased the animal for a distance, then returned to their car and followed parallel to it on the
highway. Catching up to it only at a speed of 50 miles per hour, they said the creature then veered off in to the forest.
Fifteen minutes to a half hour after McLelland's sighting, the creature was seen at close quarters near the Wycliffe Store.
Mrs. Barbara Pretula, 21, who operates the store with her husband, reported to police that she saw the animal behind the
building and went to get her camera. After taking one picture with a flash cube on her Polaroid, Pretula reported that the
creature, "took right off."
"I was about 15 feet away from it when I took its picture. It didn't see me come up, I snuck around beside the building. It
was just looking around while down on its hind legs," Pretula said.
Describing the animal she said it was "very quick" when it left. "It was black, the tummy was lighter in colour, there was
no hair on it. When it ran off! noticed the palms of its hands didn't have any hair on them—they were long and fingery."
Pretula estimated the animal's height at six feet, but no taller than seven feet.
The colour photograph Pretula took is blurred but she says gives a good indication of the animal's size and shape. The
photograph has been borrowed for reproduction by Roy Fardell of Cranbrook, who Pretula said had tracked Sasquatches in the
past without success. Cst. Steward said, "It's a good photo though a little blurred."
Asked if the animal could simply have been a man in a monkey suit, Pretula replied, "I don't know—the police think it is.
If it is then they're taking a chance because a couple of guys might shoot it."
Other residents of Wycliffe and workers at a nearby restaurant also saw the animal according to Pretula and police.
A more recent sighting was made Tuesday at 4 p.m. by three young people on the Kimberley-Radium highway across from the
Department of Transport airport.
Trade Phillips, 18, her brother Renee, 12, both of Kimberley and their sister Sabrina Lucas, 19, of Cranbrook were driving
up the hydro right-of-way to find mushrooms. "Up the road we saw this big, black thing. We thought it was burnt stump,
then it started to move," Trudy Phillips said.
Asked to describe the nature of the animal's movement, Trudy said. "It didn't seem to walk, it simply moved. It didn't go
fast, just at a man's pace." She also said the head did not seem to project from the body, that where shoulders would be
the animal was rounded or hunched over.
Questioned on the possibility of the animal simply being a prankster, "Trudy said, "It's a pretty remote spot, I think if
you want to create a disturbance you'd go to a more populated area" Her group had not heard of the other sightings before
making their report to police,
Phillips said. The animal was seen at an estimated distance of 200 yards, possibly less when it approached the party. They
never left their vehicle and left the scene, afraid for their safety.
"I have found Kimberley to be a beautiful spot and I am tickled pink to be here." Such is the reaction of Robert Bruce
Bennett, who arrived here June 13th to take on the job of city administrator, a new post created by City Council recently
on the advice of a consulting firm appointed to look into the reorganization of city administration.
"I am very impressed with the city," Bennett commented. "It is neat and tidy and well kept, unlike some other cities of
similar size."
Bennett said he finds he is enjoying his job and that he has a good working relationship with council and staff.
The new administrator comes from the Peace River in Northern Alberta, a town, he states, of some 5,000 - slightly smaller
than Kimberley. There he held the position of secretary-treasurer with the town council from September 1974 until the
present.
Bennett grew up and received his education in Thunder Bay, Ontario. following graduation he attended Lakehead University
for one year, entering the faculty of mining. He then spent four years with the RCAF as a radar technician.
