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Kathy Conder and the World's Leading Ghost Hunters Unite to Produce Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales From Around the World |
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Kathy, cofounder and lead investigator of Michigan Paranormal Encounters, contributes her ghost investigation notes and expertise on haunted hot spots to the first book written by dozens of paranormal investigators from around the globe. September 29, 2005 “ There are haunted homes, restaurants, battlefields, cemeteries, inns, castles, and ghost towns in every corner of the globe. Though spirits and specters are often the fodder for frightening local legends, there are people who actually go looking for ghosts “ they're the paranormal investigators. The Encyclopedia of Haunted Places: Ghostly Locales From Around the World is the first book to be written by scores of these investigators. The Encyclopedia includes ghost hunters investigation notes from some of the worlds most notable haunts and more obscure locales that only regional investigators would know about. Kathy, who resides in Galesburg, Michigan, contributed her investigation findings of a haunted castle in North Wales, a haunted B&B in Key West, and the oldest haunted bar in Florida to the endeavor. Michigan Paranormal Encounters is committed to exploring paranormal phenomena, said Jeff Belanger, founder of Ghostvillage.com and editor and compiler for the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places. Their contributions to this project were integral in making this book the successful venture that it was. Paranormal investigators from around the world came together to write about the haunted locations they know best. Ghost hunting is one of the fastest growing fields of study in the world today. Families are taking haunted and historic ghost tours in cities around the world, and individuals who are interested in the paranormal are coming together to investigate reported ghostly activity using both scientific and esoteric means. People are talking about ghosts and many want to learn more and see the phenomenon for themselves. To look for ghosts and spirits is to touch history. It's a quest for tangible evidence of life after death. Kathy adds, "Thanks in great part to exposure through movies, books and television, people today are more and more aware of the existence of the paranormal and are increasingly curious about its exploration. Serious paranormal investigators are exploring areas that continue to yield fascinating results." |
Wednesday, May 2, 2007 11:44 AM EDT
Allegan County News
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These newly trained paranormal investigators participated in their first ghost hunt at the Old Jail Museum in Allegan. Pictured (from left to right) are Kali Frankhauser, Kass Hillard, Debbie Ready, and Chuck Martin. (Photo by Nu Yang) |
Editor’s note: Last May, staff writer
Nu Yang was invited by the Michigan Paranormal Encounters team to join them
in an investigation at the Allegan Elks Lodge. She was invited to join them
again as they investigated the Old Jail Museum in downtown Allegan.
It was a night of many firsts on Saturday, March 3. For a group of five local
residents, it was their first time out on a paranormal investigation. For the
building at 113 Walnut St. in downtown Allegan, home of the Old Jail Museum and
the Allegan County Historical Society, it was the first time a team had ever
investigated there.
The building was used as a jail and the sheriff’s home from 1906 until the 1960s
when the current jail facility was built across the street.
Inside the building are old jail cells and remnants from World Wars I and II,
the Spanish American War and the Civil War. The residence is even furnished to
look like the early 1900s.
In an earlier walk-through at the old jail, investigators Kathy Conder of
Galesburg and Kass Hillard of Allegan detected a lot of activity and energy in
the building. It led to them to gather a group of people to stay the night.
For Hillard, Martin resident Debbie Ready and Allegan residents Valerie Emmons,
Chuck Martin and Kali Frankhauser, it was their first time on an investigation.
After attending two training sessions, they felt prepared to hunt for ghosts.
Conder, who recruited the team members, was unable to
attend the investigation, but even with her absence, the team still wanted to
conduct their investigation.
“Kathy prepared us well,” Hillard said.
Spending the Night
The night starts at 9 p.m. Hillard and Frankhauser spend the first hour sitting
in jails cells that had housed male prisoners. Emmons, Ready and Martin sit in
the dark where solitary confinement used to be located.
During this time, the five of them try to communicate to any spirits that may be
keeping them company. They take pictures and use tape recorders. All material
will be reviewed later to see if anything supernatural has been captured, but
for now, all they can rely on are their five senses.
Every now and then a soft bang or knock is heard. A distinct smell wavers
through the area. A cold shiver goes down our spines. Is it something that can
be explained or is it truly a visit from beyond the grave?
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Having an open mind is important to this team, according
to Ready. For Martin, who claims to be a skeptic, he’s on this investigation
because he finds the subject interesting.
When the group gathers again—this time with the lights turned on—they move to
the sheriff’s residence. Again, Hillard and Frankhauser team up upstairs in the
bedrooms and Emmons, Ready and Martin investigate the parlor on the lower level.
Another hour goes by of sitting and waiting in the dark. Not much activity takes
place, but that’s later explained when the five of them meet again after
midnight to discuss their findings and end their investigation for now.
“It was our first time here,” Hillard said. “(The spirits) aren’t as open.”
The group returned to the jail site for a second trip later in the month, where
spirits were more “outgoing.”
Michigan Paranormal Encounters may be contacted at
kathy@encounterspri.com or
kass_hillard@yahoo.com. More information can also be found at
www.michiganparanormalencounters.com.
Nu Yang can be reached at
nuyang@allegannews.com or at (269) 650-7359.
Monday, October 31st, 2006 -- "Take Five" Channel 13 WZZM
"Ghost Hunters"
May 31, 2006 -- The Allegan County News
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Interview with Cindi Kolean and Kathy Conder |
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June 15, 2006 -- The Allegan County News "A Night with the Spirits of the Elks Lodge"

October 30, 2005 -- WZZM Channel 13 -- Interview with Kathy Conder

April 2006 -- "The Montel Show" with Sylvia Browne with Cindy Kolean and Kathy Conder

January 2005 -- EVP Interview with Monty Norton

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