WWWWF:Spooky
Local resident vigilant in checking out scary locales
It's not exactly X-Files, but it's not as far off as you'd think.
Jason A. Kimbro is a student at Midwestern State University and a fellow journalist with The Wichitan. But that's just the day job. He's been freelancing as a kind of spook snoop, checking out supposedly haunted areas in the community as part of StrangeUSA.com
The 29-year-old father of three just gets a kick out of it.
"It was fun to be in these areas that were supposed to be haunted. I have been with friends who claim to have seen things while I was there but I never saw a thing," he said in an e-mail. "Some of the places, on the other hand, are definately creepy and I get a thrill, sort of an adrenaline pump, whenever I go there."
The dogged Scooby-Doo imitation got started with some buddies.
"I had some friends in the past that were overly involved in paranormal phenomenon but they were able to get me beyond curious," he said. "They told me about their supposed experiences involving spirits and ghosts and I had a hard time believing them. I would go with them on outings doing what they called "spelunking." Why they tagged it with a title for the sport of cave exploring I haven't a clue."
The terms may be weird, but his approach isn't.
"When it comes to the actual "investigation" I just go there and use my senses. One of my majors as an undergrad was psychology and I use this to undermine and psychological effects my brain may be suggesting ( i.e. the feeling of chills which is a common description of a "haunting.")," he said. "I wish I could afford some of the equipment that they sell, even though I am fairly certain they are about as genuine as the time machine on "Napoleon Dynamite."
Despite the terminology, the physiology seems to be a blast.
"I have looked up several websites to find locales in the area that are supposed to be haunted," he said. "Mostly its the rush from being there I enjoy. It's fun to do and it gets me out of the house."