Early on in life, Cris Dennison felt a connection with the paranormal world. Later on, she would join with her husband, Brian, to form the DeKalb Area Ghost Researchers.

When it comes to contacting the other side, Cris says she can see, hear and feel with her abilities, while Brian says he has some precognitive dreams.

My mother’s side of the family has psychic ability and when I grew up, my best friend was a ghost, so it was very natural growing up, Cris said.

“I’ll just be in an area and all of a sudden I would be overcome with a sense of sadness,” Cris said.

She called the feeling “displaced emotion,” and said the group they created is a way to inform the public that these experiences are not weird.

“If someone has a problem, we are more than happy to investigate,” Cris said. “Education is the most important thing for me, getting people to not be afraid of things.”

Methods used by DAGR for investigation are research of the area, use of sensitive people and scientific equipment, such as an electromagnetic field detector.

DAGR is made of three different teams: Psychic, technical and research. It has hopes to open a force team to help spirits move on.

“People will always be afraid of things they don’t understand,” Cris said. “It is very natural, nothing to be afraid of.”

Some equipment used by DAGR are voice recorders to detect Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), cameras, wristwatches, dousing rods and paper.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money on getting the basic equipment,” Brian said.

He also said $20 could buy the basic equipment, while $100 could buy a really good kit.

“Students are not only welcomed but also encouraged to come to a meeting,” Brian said.

He also said students with technical, scientific or a photography background might have an even greater interest in what they do because of the equipment they use, but if nothing else, it is a fun hobby.

DAGR meets at 4 p.m. every second Saturday of each month in the basement conference room in the DeKalb Public Library.

Regular membership ranges from 12 to 20 people per meeting, which is not mandatory and there are no membership fees.

If anyone feels he or she might be dealing with a paranormal situation, they can contact DAGR by e-mail at [email protected], phone at (815) 748-4911 or fill out a form on DAGR’s Web site at http://official-DeKalbAreaGhostResearchers.com.

Online membership applications can be found on the group’s Web site.