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| Before and After shot (Photo: TT Nyhetsbyrån) |
At around 4 AM local time, Swedish firefighters were notified that the famed Gävle Goat, the 40-foot straw and sticks Christmas effigy erected in Caste Square in Gävle, was on fire. Despite the best efforts of firefighters, the goat could not be saved.
Since 1966, the Gävlebocken was erected by town residents to celebrate Christmas and New Year's. And each year, some Swedish Grinches try to burn it down. Last year's Gävlebocken only lasted 12 days. There were high hopes that this year's goat would make it through the holidays because it had been treated with fire-retardant. It's also watched 24/7 by a webcam and local residents also maintain a security vigil.
The Gävlebocken has maintained his own blog with daily postings on its health, the local weather, the nice crowds as well as security matters (one of its little brothers was attacked just a few days ago).
The Gävlebocken posted its last entry in this year's blog this morning:
For a goat, that Gävlebocken is a real class act. Progressive Charlestown has been proud to be the only Rhode Island news source to provide full coverage of the Gävlegoat, now for the third year running.
If police find suspects in their investigation of this heinous crime, we'll be sure to bring you that news. So now that the Gävle goat is toast, we can now focus our attention and anticipation on Charlestown's upcoming New Year's Eve bonfire.which is popular with most Charlietowners, except for the CCA Party (especially Mike Chambers) and whoever that rat bastard was who filed an anonymous complaint against the bonfire with RIDEM last year. An abutter perhaps?