NAPS Team INFO: Meetings & More

Notice to Natchez Area Paranormal Society Team Members, from Team Leader Mike Chapman:

Our leadership has met and discussed the status of the team after the long summer lay-off. Some of us have been busy despite the lay-off, on such things as referrals and consultations; ghost and after-life theory research; equipment testing; and one full investigation in the Jackson area that involved demonic activity. We hope each of you has had a great summer and are ready to get back into the swing of things with the coming of cooler weather. I'd like to share some of what we have discussed as we move forward with the Natchez Area Paranormal Society. I'd like for each person, as we get ready to resume our team meetings, to read the following carefully and consider whether or not to choose to rededicate yourselves to this volunteer group, or decide that you simply don't have the time at this point in your life. No one will be upset if you can't. What does get people frustrated is when you say you will and you rarely or never show up to meetings or investigations, get months behind in your dues, don't pay for your team gear, and want to push responsibilities, (such as evidence review and reporting) off on others. Frankly, that is no longer going to be tolerated.  Please, either do what you're supposed to, or don't pretend you want to be a part...it's that simple.

UPCOMING TEAM MEETING:
September 20 (Tuesday) at 7pm at Mike's House - outing at Meadvilla afterward

TEAM INVESTIGATOR STATUS:
This is a big one: one of the things we are determined to do is to have a team of investigators that is dedicated and active. This includes participating in investigations, including EVERY aspect - research, outings, field investigations; evidence review; reporting; keeping dues paid and current; keeping up with equipment and handling it with respect and taking care of it appropriately; paying for team shirts and caps in a timely manner; coming to team meetings on a regular basis, going through the training outlines we gave you, etc. This is one area that is definitely going to change, and we are in the process now of dropping individuals that are showing by their choices they are not truly interesting in being an active or responsible paranormal investigator. It is one thing to say you want to do this and another to be a responsible, mature, professional investigator. If this means we only have six or eight investigators then so be it. The rules are going to be stated and enforced strictly. Nothing personal, but that is the only way to make it fair for those who are working so hard to help people with paranormal activity. This is a volunteer organization, and to be involved costs time and money. If you are going to volunteer to help people in this way, then do what you say you're going to do - otherwise please stay home.

DUES:
Dues for individuals is $10 per month, and $15 per month for married couples who are members. Dues will resume starting September. Do not get behind! Out of these funds we purchase things such as gas for trips, batteries for equipment, supplies, marketing materials, new investigative equipment for the team, website costs and more.

CEMETERY PROJECT:
As soon as the weather cools off, we will be resuming the cemetery clean-up project at Meadvilla. Most of the hard work is done, but we need to clear the cemetery itself, re-mow the path back to the cemetery, and then start research on those who are buried there.

EQUIPMENT & TECHNICAL STUFF:
The equipment we have is the best in the field. We have equipment that other teams only dream to have. This equipment is available for you to use but MUST be properly accounted for and cared for at all times! You will sign out for the equipment and will be held responsible if it comes up missing or damaged. Our latest piece of equipment is the Ovilus X, which is proving to be very useful. We received one of the first Ovilus X's ever produced, in the first production run. Tech Specialist Mike DeLorenze is speaking with Bill Chappel on a regular basis via email, and keeping up with the latest software downloads for the Ovilus X as Bill releases them. Mike has some neat things to share with the team regarding our plans for upgrading the Ovilus X, as well as sharing with us information the latest Mel Meter, the MEL ATDD, which we also recently received.
    Sugarsync (our data storage site) is back up and running, but you will need to re-sync your computer to it. Get with Michael if you need help. We have a better plan for long-term data storage that we will share with you at the meeting.


We look forward to getting back into full team mode soon, and enjoying to continue to build upon our success of being one of the best, most professional, thorough paranormal teams in existence, as we work side by side to help people and families with their paranormal experiences. See you all soon!

The Ovilus X at The Myrtles Plantation

Leaders of the SOR Unit of the Natchez Area Paranormal Society got together Friday night to discuss upcoming plans for team meetings, outings, investigations, investigators, and equipment expansion & inventory. We held our dinner meeting at the Cock-of-the-Walk restaurant on the bluffs of Natchez, overlooking the Mississippi River. Afterwards, and on the spur of the moment, we decided to drive the forty-five minutes down to The Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville, Louisiana to continue our efforts in evaluating one of our newest pieces of equipment - the Ovilus X by Digital Dowsing.

We thought it would be a great test of the equipment to use it at a site that we are extremely familiar with and that we know to be very active. Also, it is a site that most paranormal investigators around the country are certainly familiar with. The Myrtles "haunting" is commercially exploited and has a lot of myths surrounding it that are not factual; however, the site is actually very paranormally active. This blog entry is about our outing last night and the very interesting and compelling results we achieved with the Ovilus X. The S.O.R. Unit (Spiritual & Occult research) leaders that conducted this experiment at the Myrtles were Michael & Kimberly DeLorenze, Mike Chapman, and Kim Frith.

Details soon...

House Blessing - Clearing Upcoming

Select members of the S.O.R. Unit of the Natchez Area Paranormal Society will be conducting a house blessing/clearing in the Jackson, Mississippi, area in the near future. The home, recently investigated by members of N.A.P.S. as well as members of M.S.S.P.I. since last autumn, has had paranormal activity occurring there for the past several years. Investigators have concluded that a Christian blessing/clearing of the home is the most appropriate solution to the ongoing paranormal activities that are occurring in the home. The S.O.R. Unit (Spiritual & Occult Research) conducts these blessings and clearings, sometimes with the aid of a priest. The effort normally includes counseling and follow-up with the client.

The Wizard Behind the Curtain - This One is Real

This summer has been rather eventful, with the great flood causing major problems; working two jobs; one of my Deputy Partners being shot in a bank robbery (he's fine and shot the suspect) - but which caused me to have to lead the shift; a close friend of the family who is very sick and does not have long to live; and my daughter coming down for a month to visit. This hasn't left much time at all for paranormal investigations or even writing. However, something happened the other day that I feel I must say a  word about, and that is the tragedy of the bombing and shootings near Oslo, Norway. I'd like to comment on what I believe has been taking place the last few years, behind the scenes of what is being played out in human affairs around the globe. For those of us who believe as Christians in the spiritual world and that this spiritual world does influence our own material world, the topic I speak of is indeed very relevant to paranormal activity - specifically demonic paranormal activity, which I believe is on the increase. However, in many instances, it is masking (hiding), pretending to be something other than what it truly is.


From 1995 - 1998, I was a student in Seminary taking various theology and philosophy courses on the way to my master's degree and, among other things, learning about post-modernity. Post-modernity is the major shift in world view taking place in our time, in which culture and society (which is all of us) are moving away from Modernity.  This is a major, profound event in our lifetime, on the same scale as the shift from the Middle Ages and the Romantic agricultural period of human development to the Renaissance and the Industrial Age. A bit of background and context might be helpful here.

The 20th Century, 1901-2000, saw the maturation of the rise of Modernity and what I believe to be a major strategy on the part of Satanic forces: the clash of the "isms" of ideological/political movements around the world. Examples?  How about just a few: last century, there unfolded the wars between competing world forces of huge political ideologies (or "isms") such as Imperialism (Japan), Nazism (Germany), National Socialism (Italy and Germany), Communism (Russia & Soviet Union, China, Cuba and Central America), Socialism (Spain & Europe) and Capitalism & Democracy (United States, Canada, Britain, Australia & New Zealand) which warred with one another and competed for dominance.

I believe behind some of these isms was Satan and his attempts to influence world affairs.  How else can one view the pure evil of Nazism, the butchery of Japanese Imperialism, and the evil empire of Communism that we warred against for much of that century? To be sure, the political warring during the age of Modernity is just one of Modernity's characteristics (actually more of a symptom than a characteristic), and the reader would be well advised to learn the basics of both Modernity and Post-modernity. However, it would be a grave mistake not to see the wizard behind the scene attempting to shape and influence these events and worldviews. His strategy of pitting political ideologies against one another succeeded very well. His strategy resulted in two major world wars and many other conflicts around the globe which resulted in hundreds of millions of deaths, horrific atrocities, and untold human suffering. It also resulted in disillusionment and a deep, profound sense of hopelessness...that we humans are all alone...that we have no destiny. Satan, through Modernity and the rise of science, destroyed belief in God, promoted hedonism and materialsim as salves to the wounds and despair, and offered up evolution as the only way to "explain" how we humans got here in the first place. It only took a little more than half of the century before man declared, "God is Dead." Evil was behind these events, pushing it, prodding it along, and influencing the humans that chose to follow it. A careful examination of the conflict between Nazi Germany and Communist Russia alone reveals evil turned upon evil which resulted in terrible human suffering and death. I firmly believe that while humans certainly bear responsibility in those crimes and brutality, it is clear to me that Satan was influencing and orchestrating it. As to the broader strategy of Modernity, while still ongoing in many ways, it has given way to a new plan added on top of the remnants of the old one.  

Satan's newly focused and prized strategy is different.  The age of Modernity, which is said to still be going on in certain ways with its philosophical and cultural momentum not yet fully wound down, symbolically ended with the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 and the total collapse of European communism by the end of 1991. I arrived in Russia in January of 1993 and lived & worked there for more than two years, with many follow-up trips in the years since. My first child was born in Moscow. I had also served in the U.S. Army in West Germany from 1984 to early 1986, patrolling the border with Czechoslovakia. I know a bit about what I speak. 

This new danger has arisen to take modernity's place. It is not the purpose of this brief article to go into all the characteristics of Post-Modernity, but suffice it to say that I said back in 1995 that what I saw for the coming century (the 21st) was a shift from the political warring of the last century to a shift to religious wars and religious ideology for the next century. This shift from wars of political nature to wars of a religious nature is a new satanic strategy. More precisely, the concept is not new (he's used it before), but never on the scale of what we are seeing today. Where the last century saw wars of political ideology, the next few decades will be wars of religious ideology.


Indeed we have already seen this prediction coming true with the rise of Al-Qaeda, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and our war against radical Islamic terrorism in its many forms, including the Taliban, Iran and Hamas, and Hezzbollah. The latest versions are al-shabaab and the rise of the Arab Spring. [The Arab Spring, while certainly potentially positive, also is a concern that in the distabilization radical Islamic Fundamentalists will rush in and fill the vacuum. Egypt, for example, is a huge concern in this respect.] The rise of religious wars would, I predicted, emerge as the global threat, and this is exactly what is happening. I predicted this on the basis of it being a shift in Satan's strategy. No, it is not that I am some genius. Many who make it part of their lives to try understand what is really going on in the events of our time, have active prayer lives, and attempt to "see" through eternal rather than temporal eyes, can sometimes get a picture of reality that reveals much of what is truly happening. The truth is revealed to those who have eyes to see and ears to listen to the Spirit of truth. That is actually the major portion of what prophecy is. Many think prophecy is future-telling, which is a minor part of prophecy. Most prophecy is fore-telling, which is simply accurately telling it the way it truly is, and being brave and bold enough to say it (despite being called a lunatic or being viewed as such). I don't consider myself some sort of prophet, but I can see the obvious. You can too.  Look at the evidence.

Lately, with the news from Oslo, I believe we are seeing the next micro step in this continued strategy, in what lies behind the curtain in the recent Norway bombing and shootings. There has been widespread press the last several days in the New York Times and the Washington Post (among many others) about how the bomber, Anders Breivik, is a right wing Christian fundamentalist, that he acted out of hatred for Muslims, and acted in the name of God, seeing himself as a Knight Templar. This young man wrote a 1,500 page manifesto which bears the red cross of the Knight's Templar. Apparently he saw himself as God's soldier. This is perfectly in line with Satanic strategy that I perceived so long ago - as now Satan is having evil people conduct heinous acts in the name of being a Christian. This understanding of what is happening, this glimpse behind the curtain, is being seen by a few who have their ears and eyes tuned to perceive where the enemy might strike next in a strategic sense, but the masses don't get it. There are also reports coming out of Mexico of a vicious Mexican drug gang that is calling itself the Knights Templar - killing and selling drugs in the name of God. There will be more in the coming days, months and years. Stay tuned.


A strategy whereby Satan can wreak havoc by using and misguiding people who are "Christian" in name but certainly not in reality, could (and will because many are fooled) strike a huge blow to the Church and the cause of true Christianity by totally discrediting it in the eyes of ordinary people who do not understand the subtleties of the ongoing cosmic war between Good and Evil. Such people are duped by this strategy and fall for it, coming away from news reports of such things with a negative view of God, the Church, and Christians. What better way to make it seem like all religious or religious interests are equally dangerous and that Christians are just as dangerous as Satan's true tools - radical Islamic fundamentalists. If Satan can get ordinary people who are not believers to morally equivocate Christianity with the radical fundamentalists Muslims, then he has succeeded in half his plan, and he has discredited the only force on earth that understands what the danger (and strategy) truly is. The way to marginalize and discredit true Christianity is to use misguided people who call themselves Christians and get them to do horrific acts under that name, never realizing that they are no where near being actual Christ followers.

What treachery! Indeed, a treachery that will, sadly, succeed in fooling many, many people. Go online and read some of the articles in the New York Times and by Sally Quinn in the Washington Post and you will read people already completely fooled. Not only have we declared and think that God is dead, we've also killed off Satan, demons, and hell, as hardly anyone believes in these realities anymore. Somewhere along the line, we also declared sin as being dead. Instead, sin has become a "disease," or addiction, or society's fault. Anyone that does anything will find some who declare them a victim or something or the other. Casey Anthony even has her supporters...quite a few in fact. There is no personal responsibility and no such thing as sin in the minds of moderns...no God, no Satan, no demonic, no hell, no heaven...no life beyond the natural. But some of us know better.

Yet, hope remains. A glimmer of light shines out in the darkness. The curtain is being pulled back not by Toto, but by the Holy Spirit. The wool is being pulled from over the eyes of at least some of those who are unaware of what is going on behind the scenes of world and even local events. Some are thus beginning to see. We have, as Gandalf said, fallen deeper into shadow. The days grow more evil. Only this is no novel, no movie, no Broadway show or theater production. This is real life. It is time, brave Helios, to mount your steed and take your place in the line of battle. Draw your sword, cross yourself and see the truth for what it is. See...truly open up your eyes and see.


In particular, I possess a grave concern for a woman named June, who has been in contact with me for over a month, from near Oslo, Norway. June recently and bravely decided to become a Christian in her country where that is largely frowned upon and considered to be almost intellectual suicide - to be very much out of vogue. Consider her horror now that this has happened right in her own back yard and having to defend to her family and friends that she has decided to become one of these "Christians." Never mind that this nut who did this is not a true Christian at all but was a tool in the hand of Satan, many will think so much worse of June for her decision to become one of Christ's followers.

Remember the line in the movie The Rite? "He's a deceiver Michael, he's a deceiver." Satan is a master deceiver. Imagine Satan's diabolical attack on June's own mind, perhaps making her doubt her own decision (which was going to prove to be a very difficult and monumental path  to begin with, even before this happened). That is Satan's goal, to make it virtually impossible...or at the least...very, very difficult...for people like June to decide to become Christians and to stay the course. How many would be so brave as to decide to believe and become Christians in a climate such as this, where so-called Christians bomb and slaughter in the name of God? Please remember June and the families of the victims in your prayers, and also pray that this strategy will be exposed and will somehow backfire. Most of all, be aware yourself of what is happening behind the curtain. Don't be duped by the wizard.

Startling Preliminary Results with Ovilus X

Our Lead Tech Specialist Michael DeLorenze reports startling results from his initial field testing of the brand new Ovilus X. Michael and his wife Kimberly recently went to King's Tavern and the Ovilus X gave them several very significant words, such as: fireplace, trap, Harp, chain, and Tom (the current owner of the Tavern is Tom Drinkwater). Given the large vocabulary, these appear to be far more than simply relevant random hits.  I particularly find the fireplace and Harp hits to be significant - those aren't everyday words. [For those of you who are unfamiliar with the King's Tavern haunted site - those words are extremely significant and relevant to that site.]

Michael is putting a report together on his testing.  It is true that these words could be entirely random coincidences, but in my opinion (and his) "coincidences" like these are rather difficult to swallow - the Ovilus X results shouldn't be dismissed that easily if one is truly open-minded. We certainly plan to continue to test against known sites such as King's Tavern, but so far, the results are startling to say the least. At one point, they tested the Ovilus X over a portion of the brick floor where, during one of our investigations there a few months ago, a copper rod dowser (Don Estes) had located a body. The Ovilus X, over that exact spot in the floor, began saying over and over again, "Body." What are the odds of that? 

The Ovilus X is pointing toward being a useful tool on investigations.

Upcoming Team Meeting in July & Investigation in Clinton

Notice to NAPS Team Investigators...we will hold a team Meeting in July now that the flood waters have gone down.  We also will be discussing an investigation into an interesting site in Clinton, MS.  Stay tuned for more information!

Also, Michael DeLorenze has been doing some in field experimenting with the new Ovilus X that we now have. He will be speaking to us in the next team meeting about use of some of our high-tech equipment.

Notice to Team: Meetings Currently Suspended

As most of you know, the Mississippi River flood, as well as some other activities has had most of us super busy and has our lives disrupted.  That is why we have not met for awhile, and probably will not through June.  Some had to move furniture and/or totally move to new locations due to the threat of flooding.  Also, Kim Frith graduated with highest honors from nursing school and is preparing for State Board examination in mid June.  We plan to have our next meeting sometime in July.  Also, we have not received any urgent calls for private investigations during this time.  I think the flooding has us all preoccupied.  All of this does not mean some of us can't go on outings, so let me know if you need or would like to borrow any equipment you don't have.  Dues are also suspended during this time also, so don't fret about any of that.  Those of you who paid for the year, will be extended two months for next year!

Cosmic Battle of Good versus Evil: One Victory!

The nation and indeed the entire world is abuzz today over the death of Osama Bin Ladin at the hands of U.S. Special Forces (Navy Seals) who put a bullet through his brain with a shot to the forehead.  I have posted many times in this blog about the cosmic battle of good versus evil and how the spiritual world and the physical/material world are really not so separate, but are deeply linked and intertwined. 

Just a couple of days ago my sister and I were talking about Gaddafi and Bin Ladin, and I remarked how I was very certain that demonic forces of Satan are protecting these evil men.  Gaddafi had apparently narrowly escaped death (once again) in a bombing run while others close by him died.  I believe to my very core, that events in the spiritual world and in the physical sway back and forth and are influenced to some important degree with our prayers (or lack of them) and our righteousness (or lack of it).  The spiritual affects us collectively, and we collectively in turn affect the spiritual world.  This is a dual-reality that ebbs and flows within every second of our existence, as the dynamics of world events and our individual, personal lives sway like branches in the wind with the actions and reactions within this struggle. 

Today, I am left wondering and pondering what happened to finally break the hold on Bin Laden's protection.  He had escaped destruction so many times by the skin of his teeth, and finally that protection broke down.  One day, on the other side of the veil, we may find the answer to this question, and I believe it will be intriguing, even surprising, to learn the truth of what really happened "behind the scenes" of this world event.

Why am I commenting on this?  To us here at NAPS, our investigations and exploration into life after death is far, far greater than merely "ghost hunting."  We are very conscious of the fact that we are dealing with the deep issues of human life and death: 

What happens when we die?
Does life go on and where do we go?
For that matter, why are we alive in the first place?
And, what is our purpose for living and am I living it?
How do I explain all the bad things that happen, as well as the good things?

There is more going on than what meets the eye, trust me.  All these questions are foremost in our minds as we go about working with people who contact us for answers to "para"normal activity that is taking place around them.  One of our greatest tasks is teaching and educating people that what they consider "paranormal" is actually very normal!  The spiritual world is not so removed from our every day life at all.  It's high time we understand this and begin to live like it.

I am also very pleased that commanders decided to place boots on the ground and go after Bin Laden in a very personal sense, rather than guiding an impersonal bomb on the compound they suspected he was in.  It is particularly satisfying to me, that he came eyeball to eyeball with American soldiers and experienced terror and doom as the last moments of his life played out.  There is a deep sense of justice in that.  I will also be particularly satisfied when photos are released of his dead body with the hole in his forehead.  That is not macabre or sick at all, but gives us all a sense of closure AND of the reality of what is taking place in real life. 

The fact is, that it is life choices and their consequences that results in actual blood and bone, cause-and-effect types of nitty-gritty, rubber-meeting-the-road reality.  We all need a healthy dose of that in our "vision," which has become warped and deluded with illusions, and scrubbed-cleaned news that is designed not to offend or upset anyone.  Blind eyes need to learn to see again.  Really see.  I think all Americans should be forced to see the jumpers jumping out of the world trade center, especially those who think we should never be at war in far off places.  Those people need to get their heads out of the sand and see the truth. 

Life is not a game-boy video or a romance novel.  Our life hangs by a thread and is both threatened and protected by forces whom we often have no idea are seeking to kill and destroy us on the one hand and those who serve and watch over us on the other hand - both human and spiritual.  Our protectors can only do so much, and much of what they can do is based upon what you do!  I challenge you to take more control of what becomes of you, and that begins with becoming awake and aware of what your true condition is and what the world condition is.  Evil forces and evil people exist and want to steal, kill, and destroy.  Awake sleeper, and rub your eyes open to the reality of the world in which we all live!  We are at war on a cosmic level, and the wars on earth - even little conflicts in interpersonal relationships - are evidence of that cosmic war.  Our enemies are three:  our own selfish natures (flesh); a fallen, post-Genesis chapter three world; and a personal enemy, Satan, who heads an evil, dark empire who controls the world.

So yes, today was a victory for the forces of good in the cosmic war of good versus evil.  I have a deep feeling that what took place today was due more to spiritual causes than physical or human ones.  It is one victory, a very important one, but rest assured, the war goes on.  Don your helmets, tighten your belts, raise your shields, lift your swords and keep up the fight!


For more detailed information on the true war and how to wage it, see Ephesians, Chapter 6.

MSSPI Newsletter Focuses on Mississippi Haunted Sites!

We are very pleased to announce that our good friends and colleagues at MSSPI have just published their first edition of their newsletter Mississippi Paranormal Times.

Editors (and MSSPI co-founders) Angela Burke and Shelly Beard have done a masterful job with it, and we encourage all of you to check it out, subscribe to it and post it in your "Favorites" folder.  There is a sign-up link on the site!  

http://msspiparanews.wordpress.com/2011/04/23/april-2011-team-news/
http://msspiparanews.wordpress.com/category/featured-post/

The featured article in April's inaugural edition is by our own NAPS Team Leader Mike Chapman and focuses on haunted King's Tavern in Natchez. 


NAPS & MSSPI
Natchez Area Paranormal Society & Mississippi Society of Paranormal Investigators
Because of friendships, mutual respect, and similar approaches to paranormal investigation, NAPS and MSSPI work closely with one another and communicate on a very regular basis.  MSSPI is basically considered our "sister" team, and we consult with one another regularly on cases, team building, and public relations/education.  Mike (of NAPS) and Shelly (of MSSPI) are both Area Representatives in the State of Mississippi and in Central Louisiana for the American Ghost Society, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and led by Troy Taylor.

Jesus Christ Rose from the Dead

The tomb is empty...

He is Risen.

Happy Easter!

NAPS Meeting: Eric Glatzer Gives Awesome Talk!

Photo at Left:  Guest-Speaker Eric Glatzer goes over details of the history of The Cedars and The Ghost of the White Lady with NAPS Case Manager Kim Frith during Friday's meeting, which took place at the very haunted Old Adams County Jail.  Just above their heads is the trap door through which several dozen men dropped while being executed by hanging.

Members and investigators of the Natchez Area Paranormal Society got a double treat during Friday night's meeting: they got to hear Eric Glatzer speak about his many experiences with ghosts in the Natchez Area, but also got to do so in the spooky Old Adams County Jail.  We held our meeting in what is now the Conference Room, right underneath the hangman's trap door where the bodies used to swing after the trap was sprung!  This was definitely one of the best meetings we've enjoyed as a paranormal group, and Eric did a fantastic job with a very interesting talk and presented a fascinating paranormal case.

After gathering in the Civil Defense offices where we normally meet, Mike offered the option of moving up to the Old County Jail just next door.  The Old Jail is considered by some to be the most haunted site in Natchez.  Everyone eagerly agreed, so we moved up there and had our meeting, one of the best attended meetings we've had.  NAPS Member Laura Newkirk was also able to attend, who is in town from Dallas, Texas.  Laura owns Benbrook House in Natchez, which we investigated last fall.

We discussed current cases, both public and private, and went over tasks that need to be completed on each.  Dues are all paid up by every active investigator (thanks gang!), and we are currently doing reasonably well financially, despite money draining trips to out of town cases.  Mike displayed the newest equipment to arrive, the MEL ATDD, and showed off some of its functions.  Then we introduced guest speaker Eric Glatzer.

Eric told us much of his background and how he came to move to Natchez from New York.  He then began to share how he had his own very intense paranormal experience at The Cedars Plantation in Church Hill, Mississippi, which is just north of Natchez on Hwy 553 off of the Natchez Trace.  Eric told us how he had an interactive experience one night with a full apparition of a lady in white, while a guest staying on the second floor of the house.  Eric said that once he swallowed his heart, which had risen in his throat, he spoke to it and that she "turned and glared at me as if to say how dare you speak to me!"  Eric said she then turned and vanished!  That event got him on the road to searching for the paranormal and ghost stories. Now he is one of the most knowledgeable people in our area regarding haunted sites and ghost tales. 

Eric also shared some of his research and history of The Cedars, by bringing a couple of volumes of printed material, including the diary of a former owner of the house, which mentions a ghost.  Eric recounted the stories of others who have seen the White Lady.  Eric himself described her as in her mid-twenties, dressed in formal attire that would be very old, but that when he saw her ghost, "the very lower part of her body wasn't fully formed - like I couldn't see her lower leg area."  All of us enjoyed asking Eric questions and having great fun discussing many aspects of the haunting at The Cedars, as well as general ghost hunting types of issues.  He asked us about how we conduct investigations, and we had fun answering his questions also.  Afterwards, we all grabbed equipment and went about the Old Jail investigating and looking for ghosts.  Yes, believe it or not! several of our investigators had encounters, including touches, seeing a mist and feeling strong sensations, including Eric, who said he sensed a feeling of overwhelming emptiness and hopelessness being transmitted in the cell areas. This sensation is often felt there, and we feel is more than simply feeling psychologically empathetic with those incarcerated in the jail, many perhaps unjustly.

Photo at Left: NAPS Affiliated Member Laura Newkirk and Guest-Speaker Eric Glatzer examine some of the cells at the Old County Jail at our meeting Friday night.

Eric and NAPS also discussed and tentatively planned a joint field investigation with all of our field equipment at The Cedars to search for the ghost of The White Lady (and others).  Eric, a professional videographer for television, will video-record the investigation which hopefully will take place in late summer of this year.  Thanks Eric for a truly fantastic evening!

Demonology Studies: The Rite - Book & Movie

Last fall I purchased, read and studied (twice) a book that I found to be very helpful in my always continuing demonology studies.  It is entitled The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist, and was written by Matt Baglio. It is a book I recommend to anyone wishing to further their studies in this field. 

Prayer; the spiritual disciplines; scripture memorization; constantly reading and studying the Bible; reading and studying books and articles by exorcists and demonologists; talking and working with leading people in the field such as Keith Johnson and Bishop James Long; and my own field experiences in demonic cases are all a part of what I do to learn and grow, so I can be effective for those who reach out for my help. My team and prayer support group is a constant source of learning for me also, as we sharpen one another as "iron sharpens iron." My main purpose and energy however, is simply to practice my faith and grow stronger the tie that exists between Christ the Lord and myself.  There comes a balance that must be found in this work, between being and doing.  Faith, strong faith, is the key to confronting the evil one.  It is a struggle between good and evil in which knowledge, truth, and power are manifested in many kinds of encounters.  It is truly a humbling, challenging, and utterly exhausting work.  It is mind and soul bending, it is weighty, but yet it is thoroughly rewarding.  It is indeed, a calling.  He bids select ones of us to come take our place in the battle line, this cosmic battle of good and evil.

In The Rite, the book, Baglio accompanied Father Gary Thomas to Rome and had full access to him as Father Gary trained in the rite of exorcism.  Father Jose Antonio Fortea, whose books I also have studied, called The Rite "one of the best books ever written on the topic of exorcism.  I have read very few books that give a description as appropriate, as precise, or as detailed."

Now, The Rite has been made into a movie, starring Academy Award winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins. The movie takes a bit of artistic license, but in many ways stays true to the book.  It was released early this year, and is set to be released on DVD and Blu-ray on May 17, 2011.   Recently Father Gary Thomas, the priest whose experiences the movie is loosed based upon, commented on the movie.

Photo on Left: The real Father Gary Thomas, who is with Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga, California.

In an interview with CNA on Jan. 19, Fr. Thomas – who currently serves as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga, California –  explained that he served as a consultant for the film,  particularly the scenes featuring exorcisms.  For a week in June last year, he said he was on the movie set working with cast members and producers. The priest added that “to their credit,” the directors and producers wanted the exorcism scenes to be as accurate as possible. “The environment of that movie set was very reverential towards the Church,” Fr. Thomas said. “The producer and the director and the cast whom I worked with at the time were very open.” Fr. Thomas said he recently saw a screening of the film alongside Anthony Hopkins at a New Line Cinema studio in Los Angeles.

In his words, the movie has a “loose” basis in Baglio's book. One discrepancy Fr. Thomas pointed out was that he went to Rome as a 50-year-old seasoned priest with a desire to learn more about the rite of exorcism  – hardly a cynical seminarian in the midst of a faith crisis. Despite the differences, however, he called the film “very good.” “The human side of the priesthood is very well developed,” he said, adding that the portrayal of “the institutional Church comes out very positively.” Fr. Thomas said that given the reality of the subject matter, the experience was very powerful and even frightening for many involved in the movie. He said that Hopkins, a professed Christian, and O'Donoghue – a practicing Catholic who serves as a lector at his parish in Dublin – “very much” believe in the existence of evil and feared possible demonic attacks as a result of working on the film. “The producer and the two key actors all asked me privately if they could be attacked by doing this movie,” he said. “I said, I can't absolutely say yes or no – which lead me to say  'possibly.'”  “I do think that a person can get attacked, and I don't know if they did but they were afraid,” he said. “I just tried to reassure them.”

Fr. Thomas also said that the intensely eery trailers for the film are “deceptive” in the sense that they make it look like a “horror movie,” which he says is inaccurate. “There's some very riveting scenes – I wouldn't say they're scary, but they're a little startling.” Ultimately, however, “this is a movie about faith,” said Fr. Thomas. “People are going to be very surprised.”

It's certainly refreshing in an age where many (most?) Americans have lost their understanding of true evil as personal beings (Satan and fallen angels), to discover that Hopkins and O'Donoghue are traditional Christians.  A great read on that unfortunate reality is Andrew Delbanco's The Death of Satan: How Americans Have Lost the Sense of Evil.  To see the official trailer of the movie The Rite, click here:  THE RITE:  TRAILER

NAPS TEAM MEETING: Friday, April 8 with Special Guest-Speaker Eric Glatzer

Our next Team Meeting will be Friday, April 8, at the Civil Defense Offices on State Street.  Eric Glatzer will be our special guest speaker, and will be telling us the story of "The White Lady of The Cedars" which is about The Cedars Plantation at Church Hill.  Meeting starts at 7:00PM.  Don't miss this one! 

It's possible that we may be part of a video'd ghost hunt at this location.  As you all know, Eric is an excellent filmographer and has done numerous video stories in and around our area.  Guests are welcome!

Update: Welcome Wales, Portugal, Finland, Indonesia, Romania, Serbia, Czech Republic and Saudia Arabia!

Recent visits to our websites in the last couple of days from Finland, Wales, Romania, Indonesia and Portugal, Czech Republic, Serbia and Saudia Arabia raises our total of countries from 42 to 50 in just over six months! With just a few more days to go until April 9, our sixth month anniversary of launching our websites, we are updating our totals as they change. We recently decided to stop and take stock of how far we've come in six months time and as a result, have become aware of how international and widespread our "splash" has been. This is truly exciting and humbling! Our sites are truly beginning to "mature" and we hope to be writing more content in the coming months on theory and approach to paranormal investigating, especially from our unique perspective. Thanks again to our readers for giving us a voice in the conversation, and stay tuned!

Psychic Kid Case in Long Beach, MS

Saturday, five members of our S.O.R. Team traveled to Long Beach, Mississippi to help a twelve year-old girl and her family deal with unexplained phenomena she has experienced since she was three.  I can honestly say that this is one of the most interesting cases I have ever been involved with.  A personal note of thanks to the mother and family of this amazing twelve year-old, for allowing us to come and get involved with what is going on in their lives.  As Maddie's mom and I discussed, we are making a bit of this story public to you in hopes that it may help others who are also experiencing this with one or more of their own children, to have the courage to reach out and get help.  We can help!  As this mom said, "I would like to put on the record that Mike and his team met my family today. I am unable to describe in words what this visit meant to my daughter, husband, brother-in-law, and myself... To you Mike-everyone you had with you was compassionate, warm, and most importantly, comforting to my Maddie. I hope she heeds the advice of your team and learns to see her sensitive abilities as a gift instead of a curse. In my heart, I feel like this was accomplished today. When y'all left, she told me that she does not feel like a crazy (person). She sees her gifts were bestowed upon her from Our Lord Jesus..."

There is much to the story I can't post in a simple forum like this, but I can mention a few things.  Again, we have the complete permission from the parents to present their story to you.  Maddie, from the time she was three years old, has been seeing the spirits of deceased people.  She is also often able to see peoples' auras and read them.  Sometimes she can tell if someone is in pain or hurting.  She says that this (their pain) interferes with their true aura coming through.  Recently, her encounters have gotten more intense and she is seeing two or three spirits regularly, especially the ghost, or spirit, of a little girl.  There also has developed a more ominous side to all of this, in that Maddie is encountering negative spirits in the form of shadow figures.  She has also begun to get scratched and has other paranormal phenomena occurring that points to demonic attraction to her.  

Demons can often be attracted to human spirit activity, like a beacon.  They also could be attracted to Maddie, as they probably have recognized that these human spirits are drawn to her, and they recognize her gift from God in her ability to discern spirits.  I believe that they see her true calling and identity and fear her potential in serving God with this gift.  Our team received a very ominous warning the night before (Friday night) from a powerful demon who appeared to one of our team members and warned him that we should not go to meet this family or get involved in this case.  His wife helped him to get past that attack.  It is the third such warning by demons that we have received before a major case involving demonic spirits.  It is interesting to note that Ed and Lorraine Warren often received similar warnings and attacks before their investigations.  I am humbled that God has chosen me and my fellow team members to come into the life of Maddie and to be both protector/defenders and trainer/developers for her in her gift.  Wow!  We had stopped into a Catholic bookstore on the trip down and bought her a gift, and presented it to her and blessed it.  It was a St. Michael the Archangel pendent.  Maddie had, she believes (and we do too), an encounter with the archangel Michael when she cried out for help one night.  He appeared to her as a bright blue orb and spoke to her in a thick, resonant voice to not be afraid.  We thought the pendant of St. Michael was perfect for her.  We also thought it very unique and special that the two men on our team Saturday that God called upon to go and help her, are both named Michael!

We will be very involved in helping her parents develop Maddie's gift, which we believe is the spiritual gift of discernment of spirits mentioned in the New Testament.  They will provide the love and nurture, and we will provide the parameters, training and mentoring.  Maddie, as well as her parents, are Christians.  We are a Christian paranormal team that believes and depends upon Christ to lead, guide us and give us true insight (discernment).  This child has been examined by medical doctors and psychologists.  She is not schizophrenic.  Her gift is genuine.
   

Thank You for Our Website(s) Success!

Our online presence continues to see remarkable readership and response from visitors all over the world!  April 9, 2011, will mark the six month anniversary of N.A.P.S. launching our multiple website strategy.  We went public with our main website on October 10, 2010.  That site, located at URL http://www.natchezparanormal.com, serves as our "anchor" site and exists to meet the needs and answer the questions of potential clients who feel they may need an investigation done in their home or place of business.  Since that time, we have launched 3 more of our other total of 6 eventual/planned sites, so we still have two more remaining to build and launch.  Hopefully, we will be able to launch our Paranormal Education site and a more expanded and detailed Case Files & Evidence site sometime this year.

In 6 months time, combined visits to our sites have now gone well over the 10,500 hit count with visitors from 47 countries worldwide, and 45 of the 50 United States!  Wow!

Our Current Sites:
Main Website: (for Clients & Basic Team Info) www.natchezparanormal.com
Blog Site: (Team News & Goings-On) www.natchezghosts.blogspot.com  This Site!
Historical Archives Site: (History) www.napshistory.blogspot.com
Demonology Site: (SOR Unit Home Site) www.napsdemonology.blogspot.com

50 Countries We've Received Visitors From:
United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, England, Scotland, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, India, Zambia, South Africa, Egypt, Lebanon, Italy, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Norway, Russia, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, Barbados, Bermuda, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Poland, and Turkey! Also, Portugal, Finland, Wales, Indonesia and Romania! Since: Czech Republic (48), Serbia (49), Saudi Arabia (50), Barbados (51), Spain (52), Nigeria (53), Egypt (54), Trinidad & Tobago (55), Peru (56), Denmark (57), Ukraine (58), Greece (59), Taiwan (60), Albania (61), Iran (62), Kuwait (63), Pakistan (64), Slovakia (65) - as of 6/30/2011.

Only 5 U.S. States Not Heard From:
Alaska, Maine, Montana, Delaware, Wyoming  Update 6/30/2011: Only State not heard from: Alaska!

Visitors from Well-Known Global Cities:
Auckland, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Kobe, Taipei, Hanoi, Ho Chi Mihn City, Mumbai, Calcutta, Kochi, Palermo, Milan, Paris, Kaiserslautern, Moscow, Glascow, Dublin, Limerick, Birmingham, Derbyshire, London, Reading, Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Lima, Saint Michael, Hamilton, Ottowa, Victoria, New York, Chicago, Seattle, Honolulu, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, Washington, D.C., Natchez and many more! 

Top Paranormal Sites: Top 10 and Top 100
On the website topparanormalsites, N.A.P.S., for many weeks, has consistently ranked in the top 100 of ALL genres of paranormal sites worldwide, including Ghost, UFO and Cryptozoology sites.  In addition, we consistently rank around 8th or 9th of all Paranormal Investigators' sites - so a TOP 10 ranking in our category!

Thank you to all of you who drop in and visit, especially our regular readers!  Please let us know how we can serve you better, and what you would like to hear more about!

Of Determinism, Good & Evil, and Spirit-World Reality

"I believe those miracles and many more will return when we have learned from our mistakes - when we realize that the doubts, the fears, and the insecurities...the envy, the resentment, and the other dark feelings which we humans experience almost everyday and which we take for granted as a normal part of living here on earth, must all be kept under control when we are involved in any form of spiritual work, especially ITC (instrumental transcommunication, such as EVP) research.  It is easy for us to say we are in harmony with others, but our hidden doubts, fears, and insecurities say otherwise.  We have to find those dark feelings inside us and bring them into the light to heal.  After all, we humans are spirit magnets, attracting into our lives spiritual influences that resonate with our attitudes.  If we are in doubt or in fear, we will attract spirits into our lives who stir up our doubts and fears.  If we love and trust the people around us, then we will attract spirits into our lives who will support that love and trust."     - Mark Macy,  author of Miracles in the Storm, and The Project; and is one of the world's top ITC researchers 

I couldn't agree more with Mark.  My take: The world in which we find ourselves, is one of human self-determining freedom.  No Augustinian deterministic fatalism here, the world is far too dynamic than to be set inside of some static, chronological trap that tick-tocks us through the maze, to the edge and off into the abyss.  To be sure, this freedom is set within a struggle of blood, bone and tears, but at the end of the tug-and-be-tugged-at day it is we who determine our own destiny - by our choices, our attitude and our decisions, in spite of the bastards who would "have us their way."  And, the not-so-normal-world flexes and pulses all around us, both influencing and being influenced.  So I ask, which invisible pals do you want to be hanging out with?    - Mike Chapman, Team Leader & Lead Investigator of the Natchez Area Paranormal Society, and a Demonologist; he also holds a Master's in Theology and is an ordained minister. 

New NAPS Gear: Experimental Ovilus X and the MEL ATDD

OVILUS X    I have always been rather dubious of the ability of the Ovilus to conduct valid paranormal research, but recently changed my stance a bit.  In the past, I have perhaps been a bit unfair in my (pre)judgement of this device. While I remain a "healthy" skeptic, I have decided to purchase the latest version of the Ovilus - called the Ovilus X.  Why?  Because I truly believe that anything can be manipulated by a spirit to communicate with us.  I also feel that no device should be rejected a priori based merely on the negative pronouncement of others, especially the pseudo-scientists in our field who reject anything that is not, in their minds, solid science.  I'm speaking of those who reject any and all orb evidence as invalid - (which I think is ridiculous - occasionally orbs can be the real deal); reject demons as being real; and reject devices such as this as always being "digital snake oil" which one researcher dubbed the original Ovilus puck. 

If a cell phone, answering machine, or TV can be used by spirits to communicate, then this machine surely can also.  One would have to be extremely closed-minded to deny that.  It doesn't mean that it is a great piece of equipment, but does mean I'm willing to give it a shot and test it for myself.  I think that is the approach all of us should have.  If it's a piece of junk, then I have an expensive paper weight.  If it works, I have another tool in my tool belt to help me - help others.  I have decided to purchase the latest version, the Ovilus X, and use it experimentally to attempt to understand what may be present in a home or on a site.  I understand very well that it has a limited vocabulary, and that it can give you any answer.  However, I think that prolonged intelligent answers that fit the context of the haunting and the question being asked - in my book, would be valid. If the Ovilus gives me an "answer" that fits my question, I understand the odds are 1 in 2,048 (the number of words in its digitized vocabulary) of giving me that answer.  However, if I ask repeated questions - such as two or three or four - and get more answers that fit the context, the odds do not merely double or triple - they go up exponentially into the millions!  Those are odds any reasonable investigator, including my Sheriff's Department fellow-Deputies, would surely take.  I've never met Mr. Chappell or spoken to him, but I'm certainly open to discussing his device with him.  I look forward to receiving the Ovilus X and putting it through some field testing in actual investigations. 


The latest version of the Ovilus, made by Bill Chappell and Digital Dowsing, is the Ovilus X.  The Ovilus X is a Talking ITC device designed for experimental use.  It features an upgraded processor that is faster; an increase in memory to 512 bits; a 2,048 word vocabulary, upgradable firmware; a white noise generator; a low power EM pump with programmable rates; light and sound sync for external cameras; improved proximity detection, and a recessed power switch to prevent accidental power on.  This latest version is not even out yet, but is available for presale and will be shipped in May.  Only a limited number are being built, since they are all made by hand by Chappell and not mass produced.  I have recently been impressed by its use on Ghost Adventures.  In my opinion, they are using it correctly on the show by carefully analyzing returns of the Ovilus that fit the context of the question and in repeated intelligent answers that fit the questions being asked.

MEL ATDD    Another piece of equipment I've ordered that is brand new is the MEL ATDD.  It is so new I could not find a photo of it to use, so the photo to the left is of a standard MEL 8704.  The new MEL ATDD has a row of LEDs across the top front and an additional LED on the very top next to the thermo-coupler (K meter), as well as additional switches.  All of this can be seen on the YouTube video at the bottom of this post.  In addition to its normal features, this MEL Meter has an automatic temperature deviation device, which gives light and tone signals when there is a temperature change in the atmosphere.  This meter has all the normal features of the MEL8704 including the EMF Meter, temperature probe, flashlight and the other standard features. As stated, this model has a new, additional feature. This new feature detects subtle ambient temperature changes in the environment, and converts the hot or cold change into an audible and visual alarm. Each degree change produces a unique tone. There is a one octave step for each degree change which allows the user to quickly differentiate any temperature change even without looking at the display. Blue LED's are used for a temperature decrease, while red LED's are used to show any temperature increase that occurs.

To see Gary Galka's demonstration of this amazing piece of equipment, click here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=q5kr07PIL2Y

The Natchez Area Paranormal Society is constantly upgrading our gear, including experimental devices on the cutting edge of research, in order to field test and validate the equipment and add to our impressive array of equipment so that we can conduct the finest possible paranormal investigations for our clients. 

UPDATE: 4/7/2011
I have received the MEL ATDD, which joins my MEL 8704R and 8704 Vibe, and have begun putting it through some tests and checking it out.  I can already say that this MEL is absolutely awesome, and I can't wait to put it to use in the field!  This is already my favorite, and when used in the proper setting and placement, is going to yield great results.

UPDATE: 7/1/2011
OVILUS X  To read about startling initial field-test results - click here.

UPDATE: 9/12/2011
OVILUS DTD Box Add-On and MEL REM ATDD

MEL-8704 EMF Meter: The Rest of the Story

I have stated before that DAS Distributing is by far my favorite manufacturer of Paranormal Equipment - and for many reasons.  One of course, is the fact that the equipment is not merely "adapted" for use from its original intent and design for the paranormal field.  DAS makes equipment designed from the very beginning to serve us paranormal investigators.  DAS Distributing is run by Gary Galka, who is the inventor of the equipment.  I own every piece of equipment they make (and Gary invents) - including the RT-EVP real time recorder, the P-SB7 spirit box, several static E-Pods, and two MEL-8704 meters, including one that is a Vibe meter.  It is very high quality equipment, and is effective.  But, there is another more human reason I love the equipment and the company.

It is common for us, on ghost hunts, to ask, "Who's got the Mel meters?"  We toss that name around without knowing how the equipment got its name.  I am referring to the Mel 8704 EMF meter that, in my opinion, is the best one made.  Well, here's the "rest of the story":

Gary Galka's daughter was named Melissa.  He had always called her "Mel" for short since the time she was very young.  I can relate to this, because I call my own daughter Ana when her full name is Anastasia.  Several years ago Melissa, or "Mel," was on her way home one evening around midnight.  For some unknown reason, she swerved off of the road and struck a tree.  She sustained horrible injuries that night, which occurred on September 24, 2004.  Mel was born in 1987. She was on life-support until September 28th, before her family made the decision to stop the life support, and she passed away. It was not long afterward that Gary’s new found interest in the paranormal field began.  The MEL 8704, one of Gary's inventions that came out of that, was named for Mel, with the 87 being from the year of her birth, and the 04 from the year she passed away. 

“Most of the proceeds from the product (Mel 8704) go to charities such as Compassionate Friends and other known charity organizations.”     - Gary Galka

The following details about Mel's death are directly from a telephone interview with Vince Wilson: “From the moment my wife and I and two daughters got home,” Gary explained, “Mel began to let us know that she was still around.” Gary explained how Mel began playing around with electronics in the house. The TV, radio and lights would come on and turn off and switch channels by themselves. “We could smell her perfume,” he added, “Over a period of time we could feel her hugs and kisses.” These experiences didn’t just happen to him either. His wife Cindy, and daughters Heather and Jennifer also had these wonderful After Death Communications (ADC’s) as well. They all believe that Mel reached out to them in order to help them heal and move forward with their lives. Within six months of her passing, Gary and his wife began to reach out and help other bereaved parents in their homes and through the formation of grief counseling groups. He began researching the paranormal and related topics to better understand what was going on in this field. After reading several books, and watching a few of the paranormal shows on television it became apparent that most paranormal enthusiasts had to resort to using mainstream gadgets and devices that were typically intended for a totally different purpose. Many were modified or adapted to suit the application of paranormal research. Gary, with over 30 years of test and measurement experience sat down and began to design the Mel-Meter. Not only to help give the paranormal community a push forward, but the biggest accomplishment, as Gary explained with pride is that, “Most of the proceeds from the Mel product series goes directly to grief support charities such as Compassionate Friends and other known charity organizations”.

So now, you too know the rest of the story and much more about the Mel Meter than you probably did before.  Makes you want to go out and get another one doesn't it?

More Meadvilla Clearing

Photo at Left: This is a view looking toward the Meadvilla Cemetery at the base of the ridge point. Note the pre-cleared path, indicated by the arrow. Once the path is fully cleared (which it was after this photo was taken) and the cemetery itself is cleared, one should be able to see the obelisk from this vantage point. The entire area was extremely over-grown. That is quickly changing however.

After another round of working on the path to the Meadvilla Cemetery, I am proud to declare it is now cleared all the way to the cemetery itself! Victory! There is a bit of widening and weed-eating that needs to be done in some areas, and more lopping of overhang along the way, but the path is very clear all the way back to the cemetery. Actually in fact, in the cemetery I was also able to clear a small path to and around the obelisk itself.

So, B.L.C. Wailes' grave has been cleared for the first time in probably many decades. I am happy to be able to have done it, all in honor of the man and the others buried there. It is a quiet, peaceful place for the most part (one can occasionally hear some sounds from the houses along Old Courthouse Road). Hopefully, we can pull-off a team work day soon to clear the cemetery itself. If not, I will work on it a bit at a time.  I am determined to see this through to the end!  It would be very nice to have a four-wheeler to haul the tools back there, as it is now quite a trek hauling a wheelbarrow full of tools. I can say for certain that the hardest part is done, as the last 75 yards clearing the path through "the S curve" was very tough going.  Now comes the "fun" part, clearing the cemetery and marking the grave sites.