The figure attended the full event, accepted a commemorative programme, and has not yet been identified. The clerk’s office is asking residents to check their families.

HARLAN’S CREEK, WV — An unidentified apparition was present at Saturday’s Founder’s Day celebration on the Main Street green for a period estimated at between two and four hours, according to multiple resident accounts. The town council has since posted a notice on the community board and the Harlan’s Creek municipal website requesting that any resident who recognises the described figure contact the clerk’s office at their earliest convenience. The notice does not specify what the clerk’s office intends to do with this information.

The apparition was reported by three attendees independently and described, with reasonable consistency, as a pale figure of average height wearing formal attire that several witnesses placed as late nineteenth century in style. The figure was observed near the refreshments table, at one point adjacent to the commemorative wreath laying, and briefly in the vicinity of the pie judging. It did not speak. It did not consume any refreshments. Barry Hutchins, 62, of Creek Road, reported that it accepted a commemorative event programme from a volunteer and held it for the remainder of the afternoon. The volunteer in question has confirmed the interaction and described the apparition as polite.

Community Notice

It stood through the whole thing. The opening remarks, the raffle, the pie. It didn’t win anything, obviously, but it stayed. I thought that showed real community spirit.

— Barry Hutchins, 62, Harlan’s Creek resident

Officials Describe Situation As Administratively Unusual

Mayor Robert Pruitt addressed the matter briefly at Monday’s council session, describing the apparition’s attendance as ‘a reflection of how much this community means to all who have passed through it’ before moving on to agenda item four, which concerned the resurfacing of Alderman Street. He did not take questions on the apparition specifically, noting that the clerk’s office was the appropriate point of contact and that the matter was being handled through the correct channels. He then thanked everyone for coming to Founder’s Day and said the pie entries this year were exceptional. Sheriff Linda Calhoun, reached separately, confirmed that her office had received three reports, that Form DCA-9 had been completed and filed, and that the matter was being handled through the appropriate channels. She used the same phrase as the Mayor. This is consistent with prior practice.

Arthur Bellamy, the Department of Cryptid Affairs field representative assigned to Harlan’s Creek, confirmed that the incident had been logged and that preliminary classification was underway. He described the apparition’s behaviour as ‘consistent with residual attachment patterns’ and noted that its acceptance of printed materials was ‘an interaction type we see occasionally.’ He was asked whether the fact that the figure had specifically attended a civic event honouring the town’s founding was significant. He paused for longer than was comfortable before confirming that it had been noted in the report. He then said he had to get back to the office. He did not specify what he was getting back to.

Sandra Okafor, school administrator, attended Founder’s Day with her family and reported no unusual observations. Photographs taken by her daughter during the pie judging show a translucent figure standing approximately eighteen inches to Sandra’s left. Sandra has reviewed the photographs. She described them as ‘a nice shot, actually — the lighting was good.’ She has not filed a report. The DCA has flagged her account as consistent with prior interactions. Separately, Pip Okafor, recently relocated to Alderman Street and not related to Sandra, was also in attendance and has emailed the WTC tip line a photograph she describes as ‘probably nothing but maybe look at the background near the bunting.’ WTC can confirm the background near the bunting is of interest. We have asked Pip if she would be available for interview. She has not declined.

We’re not saying it wasn’t welcome. Founder’s Day is open to the community. We’re simply asking, for administrative purposes, if it belongs to anyone.

— Harlan’s Creek Municipal Clerk’s Office, written statement

Reverend Gerald Oakes, reached following Sunday service, offered that the Founder’s Day commemoration has always carried a certain weight of history and that it was not entirely surprising that this weight occasionally made itself visible. He said he found the situation ‘theologically navigable’ and wished whoever or whatever attended a peaceful onward journey. He was asked if he had seen the figure himself. He said he had been aware of a presence near the wreath laying and had nodded in its direction out of courtesy. He could not confirm whether the nod had been returned. He said he thought it probably had been. He seemed, on reflection, fairly certain.

The commemorative programme accepted by the apparition has not been recovered from the green or surrounding area. The event volunteer who distributed it described it as a standard folded card printed on cream stock, featuring the town seal and a brief history of the 1887 founding. Whether the apparition has retained it, or what significance, if any, that retention may carry, has not been addressed in official communications. The clerk’s office remains open Monday through Friday, 9am to 4:30pm. Residents with information are encouraged to call during those hours. This is Hal Ridgeway. Authorities continue to urge caution. Reporting continues.