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Here, Stonewall Jackson, who served as the local prognosticating groundhog in Sussex County, is held by his owner, Parker Space.

(Photo courtesy of Parker Space)

The 2016 Groundhog Day ceremony was cancelled in Sussex County after the local marmot died Monday night, the NJ Herald reports.

Stonewall Jackson, the groundhog owned by state assemblyman Parker Space, did not give his annual winter forecast Tuesday morning -- a more than 20 year tradition at Space Farms Zoo and Museum in Wantage.

Stonewall Jackson wasn't the original local prognosticator, he was the fourth owned by the Space family in Sussex. Groundhogs generally live roughly 6 to 8 years.

Space told the NJ Herald, Stonewall IV was somewhere between 6 and 7 years old.

Milltown Mel and Punxsutawney Phil had differing forecasts Tuesday. Phil called for an early spring, while Mel's handlers said the New Jersey groundhog did in fact see his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter.

Craig McCarthy may be reached at CMcCarthy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @createcraig. Find NJ.com on Facebook.