Newspaper Page Text
PAGE 2A
ffiPfeporter
September 17, 2008
Spooky night at Royal Palm?
BY LAURA THACKSTON
Eight ghost hunters from around the
South stayed up all night Saturday at
the Royal Palm Cafe and Inn to seek the
spirits. But a 13-year-old boy from
Forsyth is the one who reports hearing
them.
The teen, who asked not to be named
to avoid teasing at school, says he has
been able to see spirits since he was lit
tle. He said he encountered them at the
Royal Palm on Saturday. He told ghost
hunter Olivia Newton that he was sit
ting in the restaurant when he saw a
black streak go past him. Newton
allowed him to use one of the ghost
hunting team’s devices that allegedly
helps people hear spirits’ voices. He also
wrote down words and phrases he said
he heard while listening to spirits’ voices
rt
A 13-year-old boy from Forsyth, who asked
that his name not be used, listens for ghosts.
through headphones.
The child’s mother said when her son
first told her he was seeing spirits a
while back, she was skeptical. She said
she would ask questions about his
visions in an effort to confuse him, but
his answers were unshakable. Her son
said he used to be scared whenever he
saw spirits, but has come to accept it.
The investigation lasted from about 1-
5 a.m., with the team going around the
building conducting tests. The ghost
hunters and those Forsyth residents
who stayed for the investigation joined
hands and said a prayer of protection
before beginning. All of the lights were
turned off and the group was split into
two sections, with some of the ghost
hunters staying upstairs while others
went downstairs. Ghost hunters led par
ticipants in two electronic voice phe
nomena (EVP) sessions, lighting a can
dle during one and asking the spirit to
make the flame flicker or go out. While
the flame did get really dim a few
times, ghost hunters decided it was like
ly due to a draft in the room and not
from a spirit wanting to communicate.
In each room, residents and ghost
hunters asked the spirit questions, such
as the ghost’s name and reason for
haunting the building. One Forsyth res
ident said she felt something rubbing
against her arm a few times and anoth
er resident’s digital camera kept turn
ing off, something she said it’s never
done before.
After finishing downstairs, ghost
hunters took residents upstairs to a
room where a ghost has supposedly
made a door open and close and poked
someone in the eye. Ghost hunters and
participants did their best to communi
cate with spirits in the room, but noth
ing abnormal occurred. The team also
went to the former Merchant’s Mall and
walked around the rooms to see if any
spirits were there. A participant went
into one of the rooms before hurrying
out and saying she corddn’t go back in
there. She said upon entering the room,
she got an overwhelming feeling that
something really bad had occurred in
there. Newton and the other ghost
hunters went into the room and some of
them felt the same way. Newton said
she felt physically sick upon entering
the room.
There have been varying reports about
the Royal Palm’s history, but none have
been confirmed. The inn was named for
the Royal Palm train that used to stop
in Forsyth en route to Florida, and there
are unconfirmed reports that A1 Capone
stopped for a night at the inn dining the
early 20th century. But local historian
Jane Newton said she doesn’t know
much about the building’s history.
Whatever the case, ghost hunters
returned home Sunday, Sept. 14 and
will review the recordings and pictures
taken during the investigation. While
the investigation wasn’t very eventful,
ghost hunters said that doesn’t mean
spirits aren’t haunting the Royal Palm.
The team said they enjoyed meeting res
idents and hope to return to Forsyth in
the future.
Plan
continued from the front page
they've been in place for
the past month now. It
seems that was a good
idea. Tractor trailers virtu
ally destroyed the bags of
bark, which were spilling
their contents out before
they were taken up on
Monday. And it alerted res
idents about some trou
bling aspects of city plans
for the square. Howard
said it also showed that
traffic would have been
terrible.
Chuck Matich, co-owner
of Ann's Deli on the
square, said the engineer
ing firm was trying to
make changes without citi
zen input.
"It seems like they're try
ing to shove something on
us and not have anybody
involved," Matich told the
Reporter. "They haven't
consulted anybody."
Matich said the bump-
outs would jeopardize the
safety of pedestrians, not
ing that truck drivers pass
ing through Forsyth run
over curbs and sidewalks
regularly. If this driving
space is made smaller than
it already is, some worry
that sidewalks won't be the
only thing run over.
Another resident said he
couldn't see destroying the
square and downtown
businesses to meet some
one else's specifications.
The bumpouts were
designed to make the side
walk ramp comply with the
Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA), as
required by law. Under
ADA, new wheelchair
ramps must have a grad
ual slope. A ramp rising 40
inches in elevation must be
30-feet long ramp and
must include a landing in
the middle.
The streetscape improve
ments would be funded
with a $1 million grant,
which must be matched by
city funds of about
$200,000.
Matich said there are
always strings attached
when the state or federal
governments hand out
money. "Sometimes it's not
worth it,” said Matich, who
said the city should just
refuse the grant. He also
noted the plans would
close six parking spaces on
the downtown square,
which would cost down
town businesses $2,200 in
revenue each year per spot,
according to estimates. And
he noted that the improved
sidewalks on the square
would abruptly end about
10-20 feet down the side
streets off the square.
And there’s another prob
lem. While the grant
includes funds to move the
utility wires underground,
it doesn’t include funds for
new stoplights, meaning
the city’s stoplights would
remain. Howard said three
of the four stoplights on
the square are controlled
by the DOT.
Hugh Cromer, co-owner
of Lawson and Cromer, and
Forsyth resident Jo
Shipman, who is in a
wheelchair, were among
the others who raised con
cerns about the plan.
To address those con
cerns, Howard suggested
that representatives from
the project's engineering
company, Athens-based
The Jaeger Co., work
together with Forsyth resi
dents to design a suitable
layout.
After the meeting,
Howard told the Reporter
the streetscape project may
not be as sweeping as they
would have liked, with
problems with the plan
and the costs of construc
tion going up.
The engineer from
Jaeger, Scott Douglas, who
wasn't part of the original
streetscape design, reas
sured residents that the
firm wouldn't do anything
rash without their consent.
"We will go back and start
looking at our options and
try to figure out another
way to make it happen.
Everyone's concerns will be
taken into account,"
Douglas said.
2007 Honda Civic 2007 Ford Expedition
LX Sedan XLT SUV
$16,459 $17,495
1
2007 Toyota 2007 Nissan
Camry LE Sedan Maxima SE Sedan
$18,974 $21,600
2006 Honda Civic
Si Coupe
$ 17,835
2006 Nissan 2006 Honda 2005 Ford Explorer 2004 Ford
AltimaS Sedan Accord EX Sedan Sport Trac XLT SUV F-150 XLT
$16,944 $17,954 $13,750 $10,954
FORD • MERCURY
(478) 453-9391 OR 800-329-9391
www.butlerfordmercury.com
Forsyth's JP
Donovan is
marrying his
sweetheart
Chrissy Ham this
month. Now he has a
wife to help support. So. he's
even rmre anxious to find you a
great car at the right price.
2008 Ford Crown
Victoria LX
$13,950
2008 Ford Taurus
SEL Sedan
$18,971
2007 Ford Focus
SE Sedan
$12,954
2007 Mazda
Mazda 6i Sedan
$15,925
2007 Ford
Mustang Coupe
$15,954
Monroe County
School Board
District 4
Qualifications
15 Years of classroom experience, first
and second grades
15 years experience as Curriculum
Director, Butts County Schools
C 2 years experience as Principal,
Jackson Elementary School
Served on more than 20 Southern
Association of Colleges and Schools
accreditation committees for
Georgia schools
Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary
Education from Wesleyan College
Master of Arts degree in Education
from Mercer University
Six year Education Specialist degree
from the University of Georgia
Administration certification from West
Georgia College
Extensive professional training in
education administration and
curriculum development
Family & Personal
Information
Married to Jimmy S. Pettigrew for 42 years
One son, Justin
Member Paran Baptist Church
Resident of Monroe County for 42 years