LANCASTER - Since a group interested in paranormal phenomena has deemed the old Garrard County Jail as "active," the county may now have a haunted attraction.

"The jail is listed as a tourist attraction for Lancaster in virtually all the state publications. However, since I have been in office, there has been little, if any, people interested in visiting the jail," said Garrard County Judge-Executive John Wilson.

"We are hopeful that the recent find from the Central Kentucky Paranormal Society will lead to an increased desire for tourists to visit the historic jail and other attractions in Lancaster. Should there be enough of an interest, I am certain the Fiscal Court would make appropriate accommodations."

Michael Wilson, 22, and wife Ruby, who are no relation to Judge Wilson, spent a night at the jail along with five other crew members from the Central Kentucky Paranormal Society.

Michael Wilson said a member of the group is originally from Lancaster and referred them to Judge Wilson, who got the Fiscal Court's approval to have them scope out paranormal activity at the site.

"One of the most ironic things we experienced was a voice saying 'hello' from the visitor's cage," Michael Wilson said. "The camera was set up, and you can see everyone in the group is off in the distance, but a specific voice is up close to the camera, greeting it over and over."

Voices are not usually heard on the spot, Wilson said. Normally, they are picked up on a recorder only, and are not heard until after the fact, like the continual "help me" plea they heard on recordings after they left.

"But while we were there, the base readings and temperatures of the atmosphere went crazy," Wilson said. He and his wife brought by pictures, audio recordings and examples of equipment used during visits, such as a K2 meter that measures energy.

Hi-tech ghost-hunting

The group also uses an instrument to measure electromagnetic fields.

"The theory is that spirits will disrupt that energy field, and you see a difference in the levels when they're present," Wilson said. "This is the first thing we do - figure out what area of the structure is the most active."

Wilson grew up in what he refers to as a haunted farm house on Crawford Hollow Road in Forkland, and that sparked his interest in paranormal activity as a young boy. He says his family heard the continual noises and voices and saw images, so he began to research ways to record the activity, finding gages and other ghost-hunting devices on the Internet.

Although Ruby Wilson freely admits she gets scared easily and unnerved, she says it's difficult not to be in awe of what she sees and hears during some visits.

"You may feel a breeze run past you, or while you're looking in the camera as it is recording, you see 'orbs' of light following certain people around. It's just crazy," Ruby Wilson said.

But neither worries about injury.

"I don't believe spirits can hurt you. They may be able to cause you to hurt yourself, but generally I don't think their purpose is to create harm to anyone," Michael Wilson said.

In some cases, owners may ask the group how to rid a structure of the spirits.

"You would invite a priest in or someone from a church, but we don't get involved in that aspect of it," Ruby Wilson said. "We don't mess with Ouija Boards, seances or psychics. Nothing like that. We're just there to be a witness to the activity."

The Wilsons' group does not charge a fee for its services, and invites anyone to check it out at www.myspace.com/CKPS. People can call (859) 319-9862 to have a structure investigated.