www.ghostsofohio.org Volume 8 Issue 6 From the Spooky Desk of James Willis: The “Ultimate” Bragging Rights? While Sheri is going I’m appalled at what this show is home to step forward and push you. No, to give us all her review proclaiming makes for a good these people just wanted answers and to of Zak Bagan’s newest investigation. Aside from the fact that talk to someone who wasn’t going to endeavor, Paranormal the “investigation” is really only two treat them like they were crazy. There Challenge, later in this 2-hour sessions or that one of the criteria were no bragging rights involved. At the newsletter, I’ll go ahead the teams are graded on is called end of the day, if you could climb into and admit something “history” when really all they are asked bed with the knowledge that you helped right off the bat; I made to do is use their short-term memory to a family sleep a little easier, you were James sure to tune in for the remember what (unverified) history the content. first episode. There were two reasons for tour guide tells them, the vast majority Things are different now. It’s no that. First, Ghost Adventures’ new of investigators I have seen on the show longer about how professional you are, season had yet to start, so I was curious behave badly. They yell at fellow team but how much “evidence” you collect, as to what part of Mr. Bagans had grown members, misuse equipment, and try to no matter how suspect it is. And there more during the hiatus: his biceps or his outdo each other by continually will be those who will tell you that if head (the answer ended up being both). challenging the ghosts to “do you don’t have your own TV show yet, But more than that, I was curious as to something.” Perhaps these teams are you better get a pilot episode up and what exactly the “ultimate bragging simply parroting the antics of Mr. running if you ever want to be taken rights” were that the winners were going Bagans in an attempt to gain favor. But seriously. All in all, it’s clear to me that to have bestowed on them. Even though I’m getting more than a little sick and somewhere along the way, many got I’ve spent the last 26 years investigating tired of having myself and The Ghosts lost. I can only hope that one day, we ghosts, I’ve never felt that I had of Ohio lumped into the same category can all find our way back. Until then, I bragging rights to anything. So I was as these groups. won’t hold my breath awaiting approval dying to know exactly what one had to Back when I first got involved in this on my Ghost Adventures Crew be in order to acquire “ultimate” field, how good a team you were was membership application. bragging rights. determined by one thing and one thing Truth be told, even though I’ve only—how you treated your clients and Cheers, waded through several episodes of those who reached out to you for help. James A. Willis Paranormal Challenge, I’m still These people weren’t looking for you to Founder/Director scratching my head over what those get into a wrestling match with a ghost bragging rights are. But more than that, or dare whatever was inhabiting their Travis Walton: One Decision Can Change a Life “If I had to do it over I first learned of Travis Walton years again, I wouldn’t get out ago when I saw Fire in the Sky, the 1993 of the truck.” film loosely based on his book about his – Travis Walton abduction experience. The movie terrified me at the time. However, my When Travis Walton inquisitive mind always wants to know Samantha took the podium on July more, so I recently acquired a copy of 16th at this year’s MUFON of Ohio his book titled Fire in the Sky: The Summer Conference, the audience’s Walton Experience. It was incredibly anticipation was palpable. It isn’t often eye opening. It not only proved to me that the subject of the world’s most that he did, indeed, have a close thoroughly documented alien abduction encounter, but it also revealed that there case makes a public appearance; and are some things more frightening than based on what I had learned about him anything Hollywood can produce. And before the conference, I must admit that I’m not necessarily talking about aliens. I was excited, too. Continued on Page 3 Do You Believe? Page 1 Volume 8 Issue 6 HOT or NOT: Checking the Temperature of the Paranormal Community HOT Mel Meter It’s an EMF! No, it’s a temperature gauge! Actually, it’s both…and a whole lot more. And since it does the work of several handhelds, it’s like getting a whole extra hand free. EM Pump So if ghosts can affect the electromagnetic field, what would happen if you introduce even more electromagnetic charge into an area? Will ghosts use it to materialize or simply drain the energy? That’s what this device aims to prove, one way or another. LUKEWARM Ovilus No one seems to care that there’s no real explanation as to how this device supposedly allows ghosts to speak through it or that the manufacturer willingly admits that the Ovilus is designed for “entertainment purposes only.” All that matters is that the darn thing speaks! K-II Meter Is it your dead grandmother who’s making all those lights on the K-II flash? Or is it merely a call from your living grandmother on your cell phone that’s responsible? The fact that this meter is susceptible to all sorts of interference is causing more and more investigators to think twice about using it. NOT Dowsing Rods In today’s “flashing lights and beeping noises” world of the paranormal researcher, dowsing rods look, well, kind of lame. Add to that the fact that the slightest breeze or involuntary twitch will send these things spinning and you’ll see while most dowsing rods are being re-bent and returned to their original shape as a clothes hangar. Investigations and Consultations: Continued Scheduling for 2011 The Ghosts of Ohio is continuing to request. All investigations are offered with you to discuss your current schedule investigations for 2011 and free of charge, and confidentiality and situation and what help we may be able into 2012. If you or someone you know discretion are assured. to offer. is experiencing something unexplained Not sure if you want or need an For more information, please visit in a home or place of business, contact Investigation? The Ghosts of Ohio now http://ghostsofohio.org/services/ us at [email protected] or visit our offers consultations. Let us sit down investigations.html. website to fill out an investigation Do You Believe? Page 2 Volume 8 Issue 6 Travis Walton: One Decision Can Change a Life—Continued Continued from Page 1 Travis Walton’s extraordinary story with false sightings of Travis in various buttons and levers that another being began on November 5, 1975, in the locations. They received calls from arrived. This one, however, appeared to Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in conspiracy theorists and prank callers; be human, and Travis was at first Arizona. At the time he was a logger on so many, in fact, that his brother-in-law relieved. He asked question after a crew with six other men, clearing pine Grant didn’t believe it when Travis question, but the “human” never spoke trees in a remote area of forest. After a himself called on the fifth day after his to him. The being simply guided him to long day of grueling work, the men disappearance, shouting something like, an airlock, and then off of the craft into a loaded into their truck and began the “They brought me back!” and begging to large hangar, and then to a room where drive home to the small town of be picked up in the nearby town of two men and a woman were waiting for Snowflake, Arizona. However, their trip Heber. Luckily, Travis’ family decided him. Again, he asked question after was interrupted by the sight of a bright to go to Heber and look for him, just in question, but these human-like beings yellow light emanating from within the case the call was real. didn’t speak to him, either. Strangely, all forest about 30 yards from the road. The When Grant and his brother Duane of them looked similar, as though they sun had already set, so they began found him in a phone booth, Travis was could all be related. And again, Travis speculating about what it could be. shaky, hungry, and thirsty. He made noted their eyes. “Something was Hunters? Fire? Plane crash? As they got attempts to describe what had happened definitely odd about those eyes.” The closer, the source of the light finally to him, but was too horrified to get the beings led him to a long table, lifted him came into view, to everyone’s utter words out. He was an emotional wreck. onto it (despite his resistance), and disbelief. What they saw was a “strange, Knowing the circus that would await gently pushed him down. They then golden disc” hovering only 90 feet Travis if they took him back to placed an oxygen mask-like object over above the ground.