Above: A Few of Last Week's Illustrations and pictures.

The following article is Linda Newton-Perry's Bigfoot newspaper column for the week of Jan. 11, 2010. (Douglas County News)

In December, 2009, a police officer could have shot a Bigfoot. But he did not. He shot in the air and the animal finally, after advancing about fifteen feet toward him, veered into the nearby woods. Departmental policy required that the officer see a state approved doctor before returning to duty. This is apparentyly standard procedure in many or most police organizations across the U.S.

Squaw Lake, in southwest Oregon, has been closed for 2010 because of vandalism. It is believed by many that there is good reason to think a Sasquatch/Bigfoot has claimed the area as his/her territory. Of course the Forest Service can only say so much. Several readers of Bigfoot Ballyhoo, seemingly close to the situation, commented that there was much information that was not being released.

On the blog and in this newspaper column, I encourage people to talk about their sightings. If that is not done, then the subject of Bigfoot/Sasquatch will never be commonplace, which it must become in order to bring about a dignified "discovery" of the animal. There are just too many sightings to all be hoaxes. Hateful scoffing needs to stop.

One individual on the blog decided not to tell us about his sighting. He reasoned that if our police officers are treated so shabbily then how does an ordinary person have a chance? I thought it was a good question, and told him so. (The first thought, however, that came to my mind is that police officers are simply held to higher standards.)

I want to again remind those who have had a sighting to report it to the Forest Service or BLM. I wouldn't report it to the police; you stand a good chance, in Oregon anyway, of having your license suspended until you can be checked out by a doctor. It needs to be said, however, that for any reason you believe a Bigfoot is dangerous, it should be reported to the police regardless of the consequences. After all, we report rabid animals, bears in  town and the like, so why not Bigfoot? Right is right, where danger is concerned.

Most of my friends will tell me, Bigfoot just doesn't figure in their lives one dab. If your friends are like mine and  you speak your mind on the subject, in a realistic and convincing manner, they will come around to the idea that Bigfoot probably does exist. We humans only know what we know. And if you're one of the privileged few to have seen theis amazing animal, then you know what you know: Bigfoot exists, and it's just a matter of time before we all will have to believe it.

Guest Editor-Blogger, Sierra Tahoe Bigfoot Research has this to ask and comment on Squaw Lake, closing 2010:

I'm just curious to know why there is talk of it being considered dangerous? Besides the vandalism, is there evidence of "dangerous behavior"? Was there a threatening encounter(s)? I know sometimes they can be vocal and scary, but has there been any reports of threatening, physical violence?

I've gone back through the blog here, best I can, and really see nothing conclusive, regarding a danger, except for people being scared by the "big guy." Did I miss something?

What I think is interesting is by the USFS closing the lake, it is almost as if they are formally acknowledging that a Sasquatch exists, and is in the area. Closing it cuts their liability, just in case someone does get hurt.

Thanks for the updates!