Does Raymond have a ghost

By Elizabeth Gabriel

Homer included on board agenda

A ghostly apparition floated through the Madera County Board of Supervisors chamber Tuesday, moaning and saying its name was Hoooooooooooommmmmmmmeeeeerrrr.

District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler of North Fork was out of his seat at the time.

Supervisors were reviewing a request by Mickey Burrow of Pacific Haunting Investigations in Fresno to spend a day and night at the old Raymond Fire Station.

Homer, the ghost, is said to cling to the station. The stories on why he's there vary. One says he was a man who killed his wife then committed suicide before the station was built in the 1950s.

There are stories of things such as trash cans being moved when no one was in the building, arms holding down a sleeping firefighter, even people from other stations who refused to sleep inside -- when they were assigned to Station 15, they put their sleeping bags outside.

Mud flaps on some of the equipment at Raymond Station sill features a ghost. There was plaque commemorating the ectoplasmic mascot, but the firefighters took it with them when they moved to the new station, hoping Homer would move with them.

Supervisors were asked to allow Pacific Haunting Investigations to spend 24 hours at the station and approve a "hold harmless" contract. It says the paranormal investigations company assumes all risks, injuries or damages during the time participants spend at the station.

Supervisors unanimously approved the contract -- once Wheeler was back in his seat.