I wanted to go to this but I was already teaching a workshop.Ghost hunters spin spooky tales at libraryOct 20, 2007 @ 08:25 PMBy Bridget TharpRRSTAR.COMROCKFORD -Ghost hunters from the Southern Wisconsin Paranormal Research Group presented sort of a spooky show-and-tell Saturday at the downtown Rockford Library auditorium. The audience of 25 people sat quietly, some straining to hear the unexplainable noises and whispers recorded during investigations of reported hauntings near the Wisconsin-Illinois stateline. Breathy mumbles at Capone's Bar Next Door in Madison, Wis., which is believed to have operated as a speakeasy in the 1930s by an enemy of the Chicago mob boss Al Capone. It was called The Wonder Bar until the 1990s. A growling "who's there" and the clicking sound of footsteps recorded in a carpeted room at a Milwaukee home. Creepy cow-like moaning and soft voice counting at another home in Watertown, Wis. Founder Jennifer Lauer and Technology Adviser Dave Schumaker of the Janesville-based group shared the science behind their investigations of reported hauntings. The pair recently finished a book, "Investigating the Haunted: Ghost Hunting Taken to the Next Level." The book is available for purchase on their Web site,ParanormalResearchGroup.com. Their ghost hunting toolkit includes measurement instruments to record radio frequency, radiation levels, temperature, humidity and changes in the electromagnetic field. Video and audio recording devices are also a staple. They use a laptop computer to analyze data gathered through gadgetry. The idea is to use science and technology to find practical explanations for hauntings. Some suspected ghostly phenomenon, like cold spots, may have an obvious scientific explanation. Other times, the science makes the case for a suspected haunting. A drop in radiation levels may indicate the presence of a spook, Schumaker said. Video or photos may also help legitimate a ghostly experience. "We keep a very open mind," Schumaker said. "We're not strictly believers, but we're not disbelievers. But that's a good thing. We're on the fence a lot. I've had enough creepy experiences to still keep me on my toes." The presentation fascinated 14-year-old Brandon White, a Boylan High School freshman who attended with his grandmother. He's a fan of the reality TV show, Ghosthunters, which airs on the cable Sci Fi Channel. "They worked really hard to figure out what was real and what wasn't," White said. "I think a lot of people make themselves believe."Staff writer Bridget Tharp may be reached at 815-987-1354 orbtharp@rrstar.com.Copyright ?2007GateHouse Media, Inc.Some Rights Reserved. Original content available for non-commercial use under aCreative Commonslicense,except where noted.