High Spirits: The Ghost Log Blog

Random Thoughts

Recently a package came from AAPI (American Association of Paranormal Investigators).  Included was information that was thought to be lost from the October 2008 investigation.  It seems that a new member was added to the AAPI team.  To their amazement he is a computer geek.  The files from the previous investigation were thought to have been lost.  A computer hacker broken into their files and corrupted them.  Well lucky for all of us “new geek guy” was able to save the day.

As time allows I will go through the EVPs and see if there are any that we previously did not have.  Stay tuned.

I have also been working on the EVPs from the October 30^th Ghost Walk.  Many of you have stopped by the library asking why they have not been posted yet.  The reason is basically time.  It does take time to breakdown the EVPs and “guestimate” what is recorded.  I must say there are a few that participants claim to have evidence, but I am not finding anything profound.  It might be there but I am not finding it.  I may have to ask AAPI or a professional group to take a listen and see what they can find.

Note to self: Remind participants to not talk constantly during EVP sessions.  Ask a question and pause to allow the spirits time to answer, then, go on to the next.

There are still a few people out there that claim to have evidence from the Ghost Walk but have not sent them in yet.  If you are reading this and this is you, please send in what you have.  It will greatly appreciated.

Many of us are just learning how to do investigations and the proper way to review evidence.  I for one have so much more to learn.   As I am sure you have read before, I watch Ghost Hunters on the SyFy Channel, every week.  I try to pay attention to the techniques they use and how they perform their tests.  I have also started watching several others as time allows.  Ghost Adventures and Ghost Lab both seem to be good.  Each group or team has their own take on what to do and how to do them.  I find it all pretty interesting.

There is just so much we do not really know or understand.  We are for the most part guessing at what we are seeing or hearing.  We all try to debunk the evidence but there is something there at times.  Each of us has our take on the paranormal.  As always, I am open to information and advice.

For any of you that have EVPs, photographs, etc. that you would like to share, please send them in to me by email at:

mgilmore@sweetwaterlibraries.com

I would love to hear from you.  What do you have to say???????

Ghost Log 2008

2008

2/12/2008 8:15 am C.H.(Staff)

She was back towards Y. A. area and heard a sound like “hu-hum”.  As if someone was clearing their throat.  No one was there.

2/20/2008 8:25 am Micki (Staff)

I was reading shelves early before anyone else, but maintenance comes in.  I was in the fiction area and heard what sounded like “hu-hum” or someone clearing their throat.  I was sure it was Gary (Maintenance) pulling a prank.  I whispered “Gary knock it off”.  No answer.  A few minutes later I heard it again.  I got up and looked around.  No one was even close to where I was.  About a couple of minutes later I heard a rustling sound.  I immediately thought of the “swishy skirt” that has been heard before.  I looked around again.  No one was there.

April 1, 2008 Patron

Patron said he hear noises in the Men’s Room.  No one but him was in there at the time.  I asked if this was an April Fools joke, he said no.(?)

Carla said she has been smelling perfume and “getting that feeling” again.

Ellie and Tag group was out by the garage painting and could feel something.  Ellie thought someone was behind her and she turned and no one was there, but she noticed one of the girls was doing the same thing.  She asked her and she said she had just felt like someone was watching her too.

April 2, 2008 Joyce

Reported hearing voices again before the rest of staff arrived.  The only persons in the building at that time of day are the custodian and the maintenance man.

April 3, 2008 Patron Report (mg reporting)

The same patron that previously saw the “little girl” reported she was “creeped out”.  She said she had been in many times since the “little girl sighting” and there was nothing to report.  She went into the Ladies Room and the hair on her neck went up.  She asked if there was anything different going on lately.  I could not think of anything that would make her feel that way.

April 14, 2008 Micki (Staff)

I was coming back from lunch and as I started down the stairs in front of the library I heard a “boy” crying.  I guessed about 10 years old, not a baby or toddler.  I of course looked to see if someone was hurt, but I could not find anyone.

Several staff members reported smelling lavender or perfume by the mailboxes in the back.  There was a Christmas ornament with a candle in the area, but after investigating, the staff said this was not remotely close to the fragrance they smelt.

Ellie reports smelling lilies for the past week.

April 18, 2008

We had a Poetry Jam at the Sweetwater County Library on the evening of the 18th of April. After the show was over, there were several volunteers helping clean up. A man approached me and asked if there was another librarian working that he hadn’t met yet. I assumed he meant during the day and asked what she looked like. He began to describe her as having black curly hair that was styled kind of high up on her head and he said she wore glasses. Well I was stumped and asked if she had worked earlier that day. He said, “No, right now. I just saw her.” I said, “Wait a minute; you JUST saw her? There are no other librarians working tonight. Was she a real woman or a ghost woman?” He said, “I don’t know, that’s why I asked.” I said, “Where did you see her? Show me!”

Well we put a lot of the items that we do not need in the back hallway and this guy had been back there alone retrieving some of it. There was a light on under the stairs, however the light in the stairwell was off and it was there on the landing in the darker part of the stairwell at the top of the bottom flight of stairs that he saw her. He said she was so solid he thought she was real and that she wore a long white dress and just held eye contact with him for a couple of minutes and then smiled at him and went upstairs. Later we turned on the light and he noticed the picture of our first librarian in Green River that hangs in the stairwell there and said that the woman he saw looked just like her, however her hair was styled different. There was definitely a presence in that area, for right as he showed me where he saw her, the hair on my arms stood up. I almost ALWAYS feel a presence there and on this night it was VERY strong! Extremely cool!!!

May 7, 2008 Micki (Staff)

I was in the public Ladies Room, first stall.  I heard what sounded like a flip-flop hitting the floor.  You know, like someone was putting their foot down.  Then it got quiet.  I had a strange feeling and the hair on the back of my head stood up.  I softly whispered “hello”, no answer.  I said it again, “hello” and suddenly there was a very loud slamming bang.  That got my attention.  I decided to go look and see if someone was there and was playing games.  There was no one.

July 3, 2008  Thursday Micki & other staff

As the staff was closing up for the holiday weekend, we had turned off the lights and were heading towards the door.  I heard an unusual sound that seemed to come from the Gallery area.  It was like a soft bang or thud, like a ball bouncing (?). The restrooms are in that area, but we had just checked them and no one was in either one.  I suddenly stopped and looked that way to see if I was missing something and the rest of the staff stopped also.  Carla apparently also heard or felt something.  I then heard a very low giggle, like a small child’s laugh.   Carla and I both got the chills and we all decided to leave.

July 15, 2008 Staff Member 6pm

Heard voices, low and muffled.  She looked around no one was there.

9/24/2008 Staff LJ, BK & LB

They were up in the Staff Lounge.  All doors were closed and the restroom door began shaking back and forth.  This is a very heavy door.  No explanation was found.

10/25/2008 J. J. Patron

During the annual Ghost Walk, I was helping to bring up the rear of the tour groups.  We walked 3 groups through and nothing was amiss during all the tours (that I could tell, anyway) except for a few wayward wanderers that kept veering away from the group to check out rooms that the tour had just gone through.  The last group had just come down the stairs and were filing through the hallway leading into the librarians office.  There were 5 or 6 of us left in the hallway, which was completely dark, when I heard fast, heavy footsteps going back upstairs.  Figuring it was another wayward tourist, I sent Nick upstairs to bring them back. He reported from the top of the stairs that there was no one up there.  I looked at the others and asked if they, too, had heard the steps and with wide eyes they all said they had.  Just as Nick was rejoining us, a waft of what smelled like vanilla pipe tobacco hit us from the direction of the stairs. So we got the heck outta there!  Later, Ellie said she smelled vanilla in the back of the Multi-purpose room, with connects to the hallway at the foot of the stirs, where the door stood open.  SPOOKY!

Ghost Walk Reports from Patrons

October 30, 2009

Reports are listed alphabetically by last name.

If no last name is listed they are listed alphabetically by the first name.

CB:

I went to the boy’s bathroom and while I was using the restroom I heard a loud “WHISH” and it sounded like the toilet next to me, but nobody else was in the bathroom. When Ellie was talking about sometimes seeing the entrance to the girl’s bathroom open, I saw the door open about 10 inches and stay open at least for 2 seconds and then close.

AC:

#1: Well I was about to go down the stairs when I saw a little boy at the top then he just disappeared.

#2: We were headed into the lounge and I got a really sick feeling in my stomach followed by a dizzy feeling.

BH:

#1: I was in the doorway that Ellie doesn’t like to go in and I felt a rush of cold air on my hand like something was passing me.  There was nothing there but after it passed it wasn’t cold any more.  So that doesn’t usually happen.

#2: We were right next to the Ladies bathroom.  Ellie swears she didn’t touch the door and it swung open.

BM: When I was on the Ghost Walk I was in the bathroom and I was the only one in there and as I came out to wash my hands the lights went off and I felt as if there were people standing around me as I was trying to feel my way out.  There wasn’t a possible way for someone to open the door and turn off the lights without me noticing them.  It was a very cool and strange experience.

As I was on the Ghost Walk through out it I felt as if someone was squeezing my wrist.  I also saw various shadows on the staircase and down the hallway.

Mona:

On Ellie’s tour in the ladies room when they asked the spirits “Is anyone here?”  I heard whispering.  When I heard it played back the whispering said “Gretchen” plain as day.  In the upstairs hall the smell of chemicals made me queasy.

EON:

I was up in the lounge when my phone began vibrating and I hadn’t gotten a text or call or anything.  My screen on my phone was blank except for my wallpaper.

EO:

When we were in the girl’s bathroom, my girlfriend asked if there was a girl in here.  I heard something whispering and then we listened to the recorder and heard a voice say “Gretchen”. When we were in the upstairs room I heard some creaking and my girlfriend heard the same thing.

JS:

EVP #1: In the bathroom at around 9 pm and EVP was recorded.   Asked if there was a little girl who wanted to speak and an entity responds with the name “Gretchen” in a low whisper like voice.  The more I listen to this voice it’s hard for me to distinguish whether or not it is a voice or just scattered background noise from the other people in the room.  Hopefully further analysis on this recording will help us to make a proven decision.  I would really love to know if this is a spirit person, or a name that I chose to hear subconsciously because I really wanted to catch something.  But then others seemed to have heard the name too.

At around 10:30 pm we were getting ready to walk into the downstairs office when the fax/printer machine turned on all by itself.  I don’t know if it was a fax machine or a printer but the paper was going in it.  At the same time or maybe 2 minutes later a girl, about 5 feet behind me, at the other fax machine said that the fax started dialing numbers.  At around 10:45 pm we all decided to use the electromagnetic detector to communicate with any entity in the room since it appeared to be so active.

EVP #2: Not only did we get hits on the device 2 times because it lit up when we asked the spirit to come close to it (which was amazing because we set it on the ground and there was no fluctuation on it until we asked the entity to come towards or step on the device)but I also got an EVP of a man saying “I’m sorry” after one of the women in our group tries to get an entity to light up the device by saying “the device won’t hurt you at all, we are just trying to record your presence”…..”I’M SORRY”.  I do believe I caught other EVPs in this recording but with so many people in the room it is hard to be sure.

EVP #3: In another recording around 10:45 pm our tour guide asks if the entity wants us to stay and it responds with “YES…SORRY”.  This was in the downstairs office.

EVP #4: At around 9:45 on my first tour in the downstairs office I was next to our tour guide when she said “Alright everyone move in here, hmmm…”YOU JUST…I just don’t like to have my back all the way”  This EVP is clearly of a man saying “YOU JUST”.  Also the tour guide is nervous about the hallway and just before she says, “Did you hear that?” the audio goes fuzzy as if an interference.  Maybe there is something there that I can’t hear.

EVP # 5: She says “this hallway gives me the creeps” and then about 5 seconds after I can hear either a whistle or a scream, not sure what it is but I doubt it was any living person in the room.  At around 11pm we were all upstairs in the break room and this was when I felt overwhelmingly uncomfortable and jumpy.  Like someone was standing right behind me.

EVP #6: I began recording and after our tour guide thanks the spirits for communicating with us a male spirit responds with “Thanks”.  Also I believe that I caught other EVPs but again, it is hard to tell because there are so many people in the room.  I can say that there are times during recording when the audio goes fuzzy or cuts out which I do think is an entity trying to communicate.  This usually happens when a lot of people are talking.  The audio will be crystal clear, and then all of a sudden go fuzzy or seems to be interference.

EVP #7: At around 11:15 pm I asked my boyfriend to go to the girl’s bathroom to do an EVP session by him self.  HE asks ‘Are you by yourself” and 5 seconds later a little girl’s voice is heard.  I can’t tell if she is saying “somebody help me”, or something and then “mommy”, “I want my mommy”.

T and T:

We were upstairs in the staff lounge looking down into the book section.  We were looking around the middle when we saw a light from the computer flickering on and off.  Then all of the sudden it stops.

Travis:

I got an EVP on his phone while going up the back stairs.  It sounds to us like a man’s voice saying “just keep walking”.

EVPs will be coming soon!

Ghost Walk Report from Micki Gilmore

October 30, 2009 Report by Micki Gilmore

Earlier in the Day:

The work day started for me about 10am.  I was to meet Ellie and start setting up the Multi-purpose Room for the evening event.  She called and said she would be late.  I worked on other things until she got there.   It was about 10:45 when she arrived.  She went to the room and started setting up chairs and figuring how to arrange everything.

After we completed the set-up Ellie borrowed the thumb drive I have prepared with the EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) that were sent to me from AAPI (American Association of Paranormal Investigators) from their last visit and investigation.  We were planning to use them in the evening’s program.  I left it with Ellie so she could review it and possibly add some to the presentation.   I left at 12pm.

Sometime after Ellie had finished listening to the EVPs, she realized the thumb drive was missing.  She looked everywhere and checked with staff to see if they had picked it up.  No one had seen it.  When I came back later and we were setting up the last equipment I, without thinking went to my thumb drive wallet that I keep at my desk to get the thumb drive to use for that night.  I had forgotten that she should still have it.  It was there in my zipped wallet.  I immediately thought that she had just put it away when she was done.  As I walked into the Multi-purpose room and handed it to her so she could key-up what she needed she looked shocked.  She asked me where I had found it.  I did not know what she meant.  She then told me that she had used it earlier and it had somehow gone missing.  I told her where I had found it and how.  No one seems to know how it got there.   ??????

While I was gone during the afternoon shift to closing it seems there were other things going on.  The Head Librarian Carla was sitting at her desk working and put in a CD to listen to on her computer laptop.  As she was listening she suddenly heard what she describes as a mature female say “Hello” and then again “Hello”.  It seemed to be coming from the speakers.  She checked things out and saw nothing different than usual.  She got up from her office and took a walk for a few minutes to shake it off.  She came back to her desk, sat down to work and it happened two more times.  She said to what ever was doing this, “That’s enough”.  She turned off her computer and left.

The Evening:

I came back to work about 6:30pm.  I brought Richard and our son Wilson with me.  They had agreed to be the security for the night.   David Halter was already in the Multi-Purpose Room when we got there.  He immediately reported that the place was really cold and could we override the system and turn up the heat.  When we got into the building and checked it seemed a little cold but not bad.  Had the ghosts been hanging out keeping him company?

We opened the doors about 7:30pm and closed them about 8:05pm.  We had abut 60 people of different ages attend.

Ellie did a Power Point presentation, which included library history, basic Ghost Log reports, terminology, and photos.  We talked a little and began dividing into groups.  I stopped everyone and told them to feel the energy level in the room.  You could almost reach out and touch it.  Wow.  Most participants were really jazzed about doing the Ghost Walk.   A few seemed almost bored, but that changed as the night went on.  I explained about the K-2 meter that I own and how it worked.  Each group was asked to take it with them as they toured the library.  At this time I also took a push-button flashlight and placed it on the floor of the top step of the stage.  I asked “If anyone would like to let us know they are here, please push the button and turn on the flashlight”.  We were disappointed at the end of the evening, as the flashlight did not turn on at all.

Ellie took the first group.  David went with her to observe.  While they were gone I played the EVPs that were on the thumb drive and we had a discussion.  The first group came back.  They heard noises and thumps.  Many people brought their cell phones and used them to record as they asked questions and apparently they got several answers from “someone”.  They were pretty excited.  There was a young couple in this group that had asked “I hear there is a little girl ghost here, is that you?” no answer, “What is your name?”…..you hear “Gretchen”.    There were a few others, but at this time, I can not remember exactly what was recorded.

Next was my turn and I took my group around the building.  We started by the restrooms and Gallery, then to the Front Desk area, Youth Services, along the back of the library to Young Adult area, to where the Adult computers are, back to the Front Desk, then to the Work Room,  down the hall to the Outreach Room and the garage.  Next we headed up the stairs to the Staff Lounge, then down the hall past the Director’s Office and Business Office and back to the Multi-Purpose Room.  On the tour we would stop at “hot spots” and I would tell of the stories that had been reported about that area.

As we began our tour, I asked a random person to hold the K-2 meter.    As we walked along the back of the library there was a small hit and the light lit up.  We tried it again and nothing.  I always try to check or debunk if we get results.  This was a possible sign.  Next we walked passed the Front Desk and we had another hit.  I was able to try the same spot and it was the cash register not a spirit, to everyone’s disappointment.  I explained that it is always better to double check if possible.  We want “real” findings.  When we were up in the hallway by the Staff Lounge a girl was holding the meter and we got another hit.  We could not debunk it.  It did not light up again.  We continued downstairs and our tour was over.

Ellie took the third tour.  This tour was the smallest and there seemed to be high energy coming from the participants.  They were gone a bit longer than the rest of the tours.  I was beginning to wonder what was going on when they came through the door to the meeting room.  Ellie was really animated and you could tell immediately that there was something big to report.  She said they had had noises and there were many EVPs recorded on cell phones.  Everyone was trying to listen to the recordings.  There was a lot of excitement.  It was hard to hear the EVPs because everyone was trying to talk and check things out.  There were many, many recordings from this tour.  We are hoping to hear from those people that might have caught something.

After things settled down, everyone sat down for a discussion.  There were good questions and stories.  Slowly people started leaving.  Some people wanted to go into the restrooms by themselves and try questioning again.  A gentleman went into the lady’s room by himself.  We were sure there was no one else.  He asked a question and came out and played the recording.  Sure enough you could hear someone answer him.

Several of the patrons stayed and helped clean up the library.  We talked as we worked.  It sounds as though every group had at lease some activity.  After they all left it was just Ellie and I finishing up.  We gathered our stuff and started to head out.  Ellie stopped at the front doors and said “Thanks for letting us do this, I hope we did not bother you, thanks again.  Have a good night”.  At that point we turned to go and we both heard a feminine voice say something.  I was sure what, but I know I heard a voice.  I could not tell what was said, but I thought immediately “a woman’s voice”.  We locked up and went home.

We asked anyone that had evidence to email or share with us.  We are now starting to get in the recordings and photos.  We will prepare a written report once all the evidence is reviewed.

Ghost Log 2007

2007

2/12/2007 DW by MG (Staff)

She was sitting at the front Desk and she heard a voice at her ear.

2/15/2007 C.H., G.P., Micki (Staff)

We were standing by the computer by Micki’s desk.  All three heard the computer turn off and then turn on three times.  Strange.

6/14/2007 Micki (Staff)

I went out to non-fiction to pull a book.  As I reached up to get it, I felt a light touch.  Like a hand lightly reach and hold my arm.  I have never had that happen before.  It got my attention.

6/28/2007 C.M. (Staff) for Patron

A patron came to the desk. She asked if it was normal to see a little girl. I asked if the girl was lost and she shook her head.  I asked if she meant a ghost and she shuddered and said yes.  She saw a little girl next to her while she was washing her hands.  She said she had noticed her in a stall previously.  We asked but she did not want to talk about it.

Additional info:  The story goes… the same lady had seen the young girls with pigtails.  They said hello to each other and she stated washing her hands.  She turned around and the girl was gone.  She asked if anyone had seen the same girl, no on had.  Staff member CM, said she was sure of what she saw “a ghost girl”.  Years ago an oriental girl was seen, could she be back?????

5/5/2007 L. H. Amateur Ghost Hunter, from Torrance, Ca. (Tourist/Patron)

I arrived in Green River at approximately 7:10pm.  My very first stop was the supposedly haunted library in town.  I’d read a story about it in one of the several ghost books in my collection at home in Torrance, California.

I wanted to check the library closing time before checking into a motel.  The posted hours showed a closing time of 9 pm, so I figured I had time to see if there was a vacancy at the Coachman Motel nearby, grab a quick bite to eat, and come back.

Up re-entering the car, I dialed up directions on my GPS for the Coachman, on Flaming Gorge Way.  I headed out in the direction of the arrow, fairly confident that if I made a wrong turn, I would hear the female voice saying, “Re-calculating”, and pointing me in the right direction.  I headed uphill, not realizing Flaming Gorge Way was behind me.  As the road curved right, I got a “Re-calculating” telling me to continue .4 miles on my route and to make a right on Riverview Cemetery Road.

As I went up the narrow curved road I immediately saw the entrance to the cemetery straight ahead.  This was the cemetery where the bodies from the old cemetery where the library now sits had been relocated!  The GPS told me to urn on Riverview Cemetery Road, but all I could see was an unmarked gravel road before the cemetery entrance, so I thought the motel might be on the other side of the cemetery grounds.  As I drove through, I got several, “re-calculating” messages, telling me now to make a u-turn when possible.  I was starting to get creeped-out.

I was happy to see a couple cleaning a grave marker and I hopped out of the car and approached them with, “I’m sorry to disturb you, but I’m lost.”  They gave me directions to go back the way I had come.  I got back in my car after thanking them, turned off the GPS and found my way out and away from there!

L. H., Amateur Ghost Hunter

(Upon attempting to get the same directions a second time from her GPS, it directed her, correctly, to the Coachman Motel.)

8/2/2007 M. T. (Patron)

It was around closing time, I was around the Children’s videos and I heard my name a couple times in a very low voice.  I turned and looked and no one was around.  Then it happened again.  Then I walked away and I thought I saw a figure out the corner of my eye.  I was so freaked out.

8/24/2007 M. P. (Patron)

I was on the computer playing a game and a lot of books fell off the shelf.  It freaked me out.

8/29/2007 Micki (Staff)

I was walking to the ladies room and felt a chill or a cold spot.  As I walked into the restroom door, it was gone, so I stepped back out and it was there.  It was still between the table and the door.  I could find no vents or such that would cause this.

9/14/2007 8:30 am Micki (Staff)

I came in a little early.  Only a couple people were in the building.  I walked to the hallway towards the Multi-purpose Room for coffee and a movement caught my eye.  I saw a shadow move across the hall.  It was directly in front of the Outreach door.  I thought maybe it was the maintenance man outside the door casting a shadow in.  He was not anywhere near there when I found him and said he had not been.  This is directly under a light and it would be very unusual to have that much movement outside show.  I only saw it for about 15 seconds.  I did not see it again.

9/19/2007 V.R. (Staff)

I felt someone watching me as I worked in my office (located in the back of the building across from the Outreach room).  I turned around and no one was there.  I kept feeling like someone was there so I hurried and finished and left.

(She reported later that in the many years she has worked here she never felt being watching this strongly).

Happy Holidays

Thanks for stopping by.

I would like to take this time to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Please stay safe while traveling.

“May the Christmas Spirit move you.  ”

MLB Players Claim the Milwaukee Pfisher Hotel is Haunted.

Somewhere out there are others of our kind, seekers of the paranormal, hunters of the unknown. But mostly there are just regular people looking for answers. People from all walks of life are wondering what they heard, what they saw, and was it real?

Even the famous and well known have encounters. Well here is a little something I ran across today.

On YouTube you will find several links to reports of the ghostly kind involving MLB players keeping baseball bats in their hotel rooms at night. Mike Cameron of the Milwaukee Brewers reports “There is a creepy feeling when staying there” during a CNN News interview. Also Brendan Ryan of the St. Louis Cardinals states “There a strange light that pasted through the room, very strange, the room got a little chillier. “ Ball Clubs and players state that the hotel is first class, but things happen.”

Many of us can agree that old buildings hotels or otherwise have their share of creeks and noises. But there is something different when you are laying in bed at night a light moves threw your room or the decorative chains start to rattle. Where is my baseball bat!

MLB (Major League Baseball) Players Claim the Milwaukee Pfisher Hotel is Haunted courtesy of You Tube.

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The Raven, A Messenger

Not long ago, a friend told the most amazing story. She and her husband were visiting Yellowstone National Park. You know stopping at all the great sites, taking pictures, just enjoying the time with nature.

It seems at one particular spot they and a few other nature lovers were stopped to take a break. They all noticed a group of very large ravens. They did not seem to be threatened by the humans with their cameras sticking to their faces, so they all stopped and watched. One large bird seemed to be posing for the pictures. He turned one way and then the other.

My friend who is a huge animal lover began to call to him. He seemed to call back. Other tourists were watching and they apparently were intrigued by what they were seeing. Everyone seemed to stop what they were doing and watched as my friend and her new pal seemed to carry on a conversation.

Here is the astonishing part, the huge raven suddenly turned his head and plucked a large black feather from his side and dropped in front of my friend. As the others watched she slowly picked it up and thanked him for the gift. He seemed to answer her back. The people watching were amazed at what they had just witnesses. They expressed to my friend that had they not been there to witness this communication between species that they surely would not have believed it. Wouldn’t we all love to know what was said? Every time I hear her tell her amazing story it gives me chills.

It seems that from time to time our furry or feathered friends truly try to communicate in whatever way they can. We should all pay closer attention when animals are around and see if they are just hanging around or are there to share some great message. We might be surprised.

Most of the people that I know feel that animals have a spirit if not the same as ours, at least similar. If this is the case then we are all brothers and sisters of the earth. I think we all should take a little time to see what they might be trying to share with us. Native Americans always seemed to know this. Maybe it is time we all pay a little more attention.

(Special thanks to Carla for sharing this story and picture.)

If you have a story to share please let me know. I would love to hear from you.

Ghost Walk Follow-Up (Micki)

When I first was asked to help with this year’s Ghost Walk, I thought we might have a few things happen here and there. Well………to say the least we seemed to have a lot of excitement from the patrons that attended, but we also seemed to have a few spirits that wanted to say hello.

The following is a basic report that I prepared for my supervisor here at the library. I was assisting Ellie Davis, who was the staff member in charge of the event. Her report will hopefully be posted later. I hope you enjoy the results.

Ghost Walk Report

October 30, 2009

Report by Micki Gilmore

Earlier in the Day:

The work day started for me about 10am. I was to meet Ellie and start setting up the Multi-purpose Room for the evening event. She called and said she would be late. I worked on other things until she got there. It was about 10:45 when she arrived. She went to the room and started setting up chairs and figuring how to arrange everything.

After we completed the set-up Ellie borrowed the thumb drive I have prepared with the EVPs (electronic voice phenomenon) that were sent to me from AAPI (American Association of Paranormal Investigators) from their last visit and investigation. We were planning to use them in the evening’s program. I left it with Ellie so she could review it and possibly add some to the presentation. I left at 12pm.

Sometime after Ellie had finished listening to the EVPs, she realized the thumb drive was missing. She looked everywhere and checked with staff to see if they had picked it up. No one had seen it. When I came back later and we were setting up the last equipment I, without thinking went to my thumb drive wallet that I keep at my desk to get the thumb drive to use for that night. I had forgotten that she should still have it. It was there in my zipped wallet. I immediately thought that she had just put it away when she was done. As I walked into the Multi-purpose room and handed it to her so she could key-up what she needed she looked shocked. She asked me where I had found it. I did not know what she meant. She then told me that she had used it earlier and it had somehow gone missing. I told her where I had found it and how. No one seems to know how it got there. ??????

While I was gone during the afternoon shift to closing it seems there were other things going on. The Head Librarian Carla was sitting at her desk working and put in a CD to listen to on her computer laptop. As she was listening she suddenly heard what she describes as a mature female say “Hello” and then again “Hello”. It seemed to be coming from the speakers. She checked things out and saw nothing different than usual. She got up from her office and took a walk for a few minutes to shake it off. She came back to her desk, sat down to work and it happened two more times. She said to what ever was doing this, “That’s enough”. She turned off her computer and left.

The Evening:

I came back to work about 6:30pm. I brought Richard and our son Wilson with me. They had agreed to be the security for the night. David Halter was already in the Multi-Purpose Room when we got there. He immediately reported that the place was really cold and could we override the system and turn up the heat. When we got into the building and checked it seemed a little cold but not bad. Had the ghosts been hanging out keeping him company?

We opened the doors about 7:30pm and closed them about 8:05pm. We had abut 60 people of different ages attend.

Ellie did a Power Point presentation, which included library history, basic Ghost Log reports, terminology, and photos. We talked a little and began dividing into groups. I stopped everyone and told them to feel the energy level in the room. You could almost reach out and touch it. Wow. Most participants were really jazzed about doing the Ghost Walk. A few seemed almost bored, but that changed as the night went on. I explained about the K-2 meter that I own and how it worked. Each group was asked to take it with them as they toured the library. At this time I also took a push-button flashlight and placed it on the floor of the top step of the stage. I asked “If anyone would like to let us know they are here, please push the button and turn on the flashlight”. We were disappointed at the end of the evening, as the flashlight did not turn on at all.

Ellie took the first group. David went with her to observe. While they were gone I played the EVPs that were on the thumb drive and we had a discussion. The first group came back. They heard noises and thumps. Many people brought their cell phones and used them to record as they asked questions and apparently they got several answers from “someone”. They were pretty excited. There was a young couple in this group that had asked “I hear there is a little girl ghost here, is that you?” no answer, “What is your name?”…..you hear “Gretchen”. There were a few others, but at this time, I can not remember exactly what was recorded.

Next was my turn and I took my group around the building. We started by the restrooms and Gallery, then to the Front Desk area, Youth Services, along the back of the library to Young Adult area, to where the Adult computers are, back to the Front Desk, then to the Work Room, down the hall to the Outreach Room and the garage. Next we headed up the stairs to the Staff Lounge, then down the hall past the Director’s Office and Business Office and back to the Multi-Purpose Room. On the tour we would stop at “hot spots” and I would tell of the stories that had been reported about that area.

As we began our tour, I asked a random person to hold the K-2 meter. As we walked along the back of the library there was a small hit and the light lit up. We tried it again and nothing. I always try to check or debunk if we get results. This was a possible sign. Next we walked passed the Front Desk and we had another hit. I was able to try the same spot and it was the cash register not a spirit, to everyone’s disappointment. I explained that it is always better to double check if possible. We want “real” findings. When we were up in the hallway by the Staff Lounge a girl was holding the meter and we got another hit. We could not debunk it. It did not light up again. We continued downstairs and our tour was over.

Ellie took the third tour. This tour was the smallest and there seemed to be high energy coming from the participants. They were gone a bit longer than the rest of the tours. I was beginning to wonder what was going on when they came through the door to the meeting room. Ellie was really animated and you could tell immediately that there was something big to report. She said they had had noises and there were many EVPs recorded on cell phones. Everyone was trying to listen to the recordings. There was a lot of excitement. It was hard to hear the EVPs because everyone was trying to talk and check things out. There were many, many recordings from this tour. We are hoping to hear from those people that might have caught something.

After things settled down, everyone sat down for a discussion. There were good questions and stories. Slowly people started leaving. Some people wanted to go into the restrooms by themselves and try questioning again. A gentleman went into the lady’s room by himself. We were sure there was no one else. He asked a question and came out and played the recording. Sure enough you could hear someone answer him.

Several of the patrons stayed and helped clean up the library. We talked as we worked. It sounds as though every group had at lease some activity. After they all left it was just Ellie and I finishing up. We gathered our stuff and started to head out. Ellie stopped at the front doors and said “Thanks for letting us do this, I hope we did not bother you, thanks again. Have a good night”. At that point we turned to go and we both heard a feminine voice say something. I was sure what, but I know I heard a voice. I could not tell what was said, but I thought immediately “a woman’s voice”. We locked up and went home.

We asked anyone that had evidence to email or share with us. We are now starting to get in the recordings and photos. We will prepare a written report once all the evidence is reviewed.

The Paranormal and TV

Many people have strong views on the paranormal. In this time we live we have more access than ever before to information. No longer do we have to find information about the unexplained just by reading books or magazines. It seems everywhere we look on television there is another show with new and different ways to investigate.I find that some are very good and some and what I call basic. As anyone that reads this blog knows, I am an avid fan of Ghost Hunters on the SyFy Channel. My oldest son and I watch it every week. We both feel that they generally try to “debunk” any claims and therefore are more believable. But of course everyone has their own opinion.

I have just recently found a new show on the Discovery Channel, Ghost Lab. I like the people on the show and this may be one of my top favorites. I will be watching.

Here is a sampling of the shows that are now available on television today and what each shows lists about their program.

Ghost Adventures …..Travel Channel: Are you ready for the lockdown? The “Ghost Adventures” crew — Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin — is back to investigate the scariest, most notorious, haunted places in the world.

The trio will interview eyewitnesses and historians at each location, arming themselves with the stories of the ghosts they will later provoke and confront during their dusk-to-dawn lockdowns. (Note: They don’t always come out unscathed!) Then they’ll review and analyze their findings with some the most respected experts and specialists in the paranormal field.

Ghost Lab….The Discovery Channel: With the help of the latest technology, two brothers have uncovered some of the most powerful results in supernatural research to date — including a recording of Civil War soldiers talking. Meet Brad and Barry Klinge, Texas natives who in 2007 founded Everyday Paranormal, an investigation team that has explored more than 70 locations and set a new standard in supernatural research with some of the world’s most sophisticated equipment housed in a decked-out traveling “ghost lab.”

Traveling the country, the 24-foot car hauler can provide 200,000 watts of electricity to power audio-, video- and photo-analysis stations; flat-screen televisions; and an interactive touch-screen smart board. The lab houses surveillance video cameras capable of shooting 300 feet away in total darkness with a 180-degree peripheral view; temperature, humidity and dew point data loggers; various digital cameras, including thermal-imaging cameras; audio recorders; and more than 8,000 feet of video cable. This on-site high-tech lab enables investigators to analyze data on the premises in real time, helping them to more narrowly focus their investigations on known hot spots.

Join the Klinge brothers, along with some of the world’s foremost specialists in science measurements, as they devise and test cutting-edge theories during their investigations, in Ghost Lab. The all-new series premieres Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

Ghost Hunters…..SyFy Channel: This one-hour weekly reality show from the creator/executive producer of American Chopper follows a group of real-life paranormal researchers as they investigate hauntings throughout the country.

Contact between our existence and the one that awaits us is no more far-fetched to some than wireless phones would have seemed to the ancients.

Enter Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, plumbers by trade who head up The Atlantic Paranormal Society. TAPS is a group of fairly ordinary people — office managers, factory workers, teachers and even psychic-hotline gurus — moonlighting to understand seemingly unexplainable disturbances.

Tom Thayer and Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Films (American Chopper) are the executive producers.

Do you know of a paranormal presence? Yes, the spooky sounds and weird clamminess in the air might be duct echoes or backflow in your pipes — and if so, TAPS is qualified to tell you that, too! So, request an investigation at the TAPS site.

The only thing you stand to lose is a noisy house, and maybe a discontented forbearer.

Ghost Hunters International…..SyFy Channel: A spin-off of SCI FI’s Ghost Hunters series, Ghost Hunters International features a squad of paranormal investigators who use their principles of scientific techniques, to explore some of the most legendary haunted spots around the world. Each week the team travels to the far corners of the globe, searching for answers to bizarre supernatural mysteries.

For its first round of investigations, the International crew took on some of Europe’s most haunted locales, including Chillingham Castle in England and the forgotten underground city of Mary King’s Close in Scotland. The new episodes will take the team to countries such as Peru, Singapore, Sweden, the Philippines and many others.

Veteran investigators Robb Demarest, Dustin Pari, Brandy Green and Barry FitzGerald, are joined by newcomer Angela Alderman on their trip to Peru. TAPS member Joe Chin also makes the move from Ghost Hunters to Ghost Hunters International.

Ghost Hunters International is produced in association with Craig Piligian’s, Pilgrim Films and Television which has produced American Chopper, Dirty Jobs and Ultimate Fighter. Piligian and Thomas Thayer, along with Rob Katz and Alan David, serve as executive producers.

Most Haunted…..Travel Channel: The “Most Haunted” team is headed back to U.K. this season to investigate the spookiest sites in their home country. Watch Yvette Fielding and her ghost-hunting team explore the paranormal side of life starting Friday, February 6.

As experts from the paranormal field, the team attempts different methods and experiments to try and communicate with the dead. The team is determined to prove the existence of life after death.

The team, armed with night-vision cameras and using séances to connect with the dead, will head to some of the creepiest places in the U.K., including spooky castles, underground vaults, and the most haunted ship in Britain!

What eerie souls lurk and linger in these haunted locations? Don’t miss the search for lost souls and the investigation of unexplained paranormal activity. Join Yvette and the team on “Most Haunted,” on Friday nights at 10 ET, starting February 6.

Paranormal State…..A & E: Delve deep into the strange and the mysterious with Paranormal Research Society founder Ryan Buell and his team of investigators as they attempt to unravel inexplicable paranormal phenomena including sixth-sense experiences, ghost sightings, demonic disturbances, and brushes with the darkest areas of the unknown. Founded by Buell in 2001, the PRS works on cases across the country and is one of the most recognized paranormal societies in the nation. Past seasons have included cases such as a Pennsylvania couple besieged by paranormal activity in their home, an aggressive poltergeist in Maryland, and a ghostly hag nicknamed the “Lady Vampire” by the Texas family she torments. Through the use of Electronic Voice Phenomenon (EVP) recordings and video documentation, and with the help of renowned psychics, demonologists, psychologists and counselors, the PRS explores these bizarre cases in the hopes of helping frightened people who have nowhere else to turn.

Paranormal Television Network…..PNT: Thank you for stopping by and welcome. Three of us have teamed up because nothing like this has never been conceived of in the past. The PTN web site is still under construction and we are presently taking auditions for new shows or shows that are in progress already on the internet and want to be part of the PTN show line-up.

Are you creative, adventurous and driven? PTN will be launching soon and is looking for creative dedicated individuals in the field of the Paranormal, Ufology, Crypt zoology, Spiritual, Horror producers and producers of special music for these fields. If you’re a band or an individual, a group or solo, psychic medium and or a educator an investigator or explorer in the realms of the Paranormal and beyond,a UFO researcher we are looking for you.  Casting calls are now open, please upload a demo of your produced video work or music video and follow the instructions when submitting your information and demo video.  Once we have reviewed your video we will contact you regardless with our decision.

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