Forecasters have very differing opinions.

In Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow thus predicting six more weeks of winter. But groundhogs elsewhere (New York, Georgia and Ohio) did not see their shadow, signifying an early spring.

Personally, I’m ready for spring.

Currently it is 26 degrees under sunny skies in Kearney with the highest temperature for the next week predicted to be 40 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. There is a 50 percent chance of snow on Friday.

We should have a local predictor.

Maybe Kearney could have its own Groundhog Day. Western Missouri has plenty of groundhogs. You might know them better as woodchucks. I’ve seen plenty around.

According to visitpa.com, “In 1887, a spirited group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney dubbed themselves ‘The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.’ One member was an editor of Punxsutawney's newspaper. Using his ink, he proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil, the local groundhog, to be the one and only weather prognosticating groundhog.”

Also, keep this in mind: Punxsutawney, Pa., population 5,944 (according to census.gov), had 12,000 people today to watch the big rodent crawl out of a heated tree stump to “predict” the weather. There are other festivities around the town in conjunction with Groundhog Day including a banquet and concert.

Just a thought.

Now back to work in my cozy office – sheltered from the bitter cold outside.