An end to winter's bitter cold will come soon, according to Pennsylvania's famous groundhog. Punxsutawney Phil emerged from
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his lair Saturday in front of thousands in west-central Pennsylvania but didn't see his shadow. (Feb. 2)
Tags:ap,Associated Press,Bill Deeley,bill murray,Groundhog day,Katie Donald
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DURATION: 2:04----------------------------------------SHOTLIST:POOL VIDEO - AP CLIENTS ONLYPUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa.- February 2, 20131. Medium shot of cane knocking on Punxsutawney Phil's lair, two men reach down and pull groundhog out2. Wide shot of man holding Punxsutawney Phil and showing him to audience with NATS UP (ENGLISH) "All hail groundhog supremacy"3. Man places Punxsutawney Phil on top of his lair 4. Wide shot Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair 4. Tight shot Punxsutawney Phil NATS UP (ENGLISH) "Phil and President Deeley conversed in groundhog-ese"5.Medium shot man reading scroll 'and Phil directed him to the chosen prognostication scroll. The president tapped the chosen scroll and directed Phil's prediction to be proclaimed." ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ "My new entrance is a sight to behold. Like my followers, faithful followers strong and bold. And so ye faithful, there is no shadow to see, an early spring for you and me." 6. Tight shot Punxsutawney PhilSTORYLINE:An end to winter's bitter cold will come soon, according to Pennsylvania's famous groundhog.Following a recent stretch of weather that's included both record warm temperatures and bitter cold, tornadoes in the South and Midwest, torrential rains in the mid-Atlantic and high winds in the Northeast, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his lair Saturday in front of thousands in west-central Pennsylvania but didn't see his shadow. Legend has it that if the furry rodent sees his shadow on Feb. 2 on Gobbler's Knob, winter will last six more weeks. But if he doesn't see his shadow, spring will come early.The prediction is made during a ceremony overseen by a group called the Inner Circle. Members don top hats and tuxedos for the ceremony on Groundhog Day each year.Bill Deeley, president of the Inner Circle, says that after "consulting" with Phil, he makes the call in deciphering what the world's Punxsutawney Phil has to say about the weather.Phil is known as the "seer of seers" and "sage of sages." Organizers predicted about 20,000 people this weekend, a larger-than-normal crowd because Groundhog Day falls on a weekend this year. The 1993 movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray brought even more notoriety to the Pennsylvania party. The record attendance was about 30,000 the year after the movie's release, said Katie Donald, executive director of the Groundhog Club. About 13,000 attend if Feb. 2 falls on a weekday. (****END****)
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