Legends in the ‘Burg

S t o r y b y B r y c e W e e d m a n | D e s i g n b y W i l l Y i

Bigfoot, a ghost and a hole that never ends. What do these three things have in common? They are all urban legends local to Kittitas County.

You probably have heard of an urban legend at one point or another in your lifetime. Maybe it was sitting around a campfire while your friends told scary stories, or just maybe you’ve witnessed one of these so-called ‘urban legends’ yourself. Either way there is no doubt that these stories captivate audiences.

Ellensburg has a few legends at its roots, some of which are native to one of the main focal points of the community — Central Washington University (CWU). Lola in Kamola One of these legends is ‘Lola in Kamola’, a ghost that has been said to haunt the students that live in the residence hall, Kamola.

The Daily Record explains that Kamola Hall was built in October of 1911 and originally functioned as a women’s hall. As one of the oldest buildings still standing on CWU’s campus, you might think that there is a lot of history, and maybe a couple of stories aligned with this all-brick dorm. You would be right.

Lola was a student in the 1940s, according to the article from the Crimson & Black, CWU’s official alumni magazine, “Ask Wellington: Is Kamola Hall Haunted?” The article states that Lola’s fiancé at the time was drafted to the war and was killed; filled with remorse, Lola put on her wedding dress and hung herself from the attic ceiling.

Students have since told stories of odd experiences in the dorm. “Late at night while walking to the bathroom I felt like there was something behind me,” says Ambree Hollenberry, senior Psychology major and former resident of Kamola. “Sometimes I would see shadows disappearing into walls, especially into the lounge near the stairwell on the second floor.”

There have been many stories told of Lola and as the Crimson & Black also points out, someone went so far as to say that Lola is responsible for four deaths in Kamola Hall.

Some have even seen these paranormal activities with their own eyes. “The doors in Kamola were thick and heavy, and I would see them open and close on their own,” says Jadin Pearson, a CWU alumnus, former Kamola resident and current lieutenant in the United State Army.

Bigfoot Next up on this trip through legends in the ‘Burg is Bigfoot. Believe it or not, Bigfoot has apparently been seen around the city limits.

You’ve likely heard of the tall, hairy beast that lurks in the forest, fields or hills. “I’m not saying Bigfoot is real, but when I was up in the hills, I saw something that didn’t look human,” Taylor Stowell, CWU alumna and firefighter for the Department of Natural Resources, says. “It was so tall and it looked ape-like.”

You might believe in Bigfoot, but a TEDTalk in February 2006 by Michael Shermer, aimed to uncover why people believe in things that others believe they shouldn’t.

Shermer tells the audience in his presentation, “Before we say something is out of this world, we should first make sure that it isn’t in this world.”

He also explains how science surrounding Bigfoot uses a lot of words that sound very intelligent, but they are really fillers until people can actually figure out what something (in this case, Bigfoot) is and explain it.

Karisa Terry, senior lecturer of Anthropology, explains that people are still trying to find information about sasquatch (another name for bigfoot), even going as far as attempting to collect hair samples. Legends such as this that have existed over many decades can still grace new followers as people discover what they believe is evidence.

Mel’s Hole

So what’s next? A hole in the middle of Ellensburg that has no end. Mel’s Hole is said to be 80 thousand feet deep with paranormal powers, according to an article from The Daily Record.

Mel’s Hole was made famous because of an interview with an Ellensburg resident named Mel Waters claiming to have seen the hole back in 1960, according to the same article.

Many have searched for the hole and struck out. KOMO 4 News even set out to find the hole back in 2002 and was unsuccessful. Even if the hole hasn’t exactly been seen recently, it remains one of the tall-tales of the town.

Local brewing company Iron Horse Brewery has even gone so far as to incorporate Mel’s Hole into one of their products. “We wanted to highlight different aspects of the valley into our brand,” says Dane Williams, chief risk officer at Iron Horse Brewery.

These legends have become so elusive that they are even being incorporated into local products. If you find yourself believing in Lola in Kamola, Bigfoot or even Mel’s Hole, chances are you are not alone. Additional reporting by Matt Escamilla.

the whole PackAGE

Story by Derek Harper | Photos by Zahn Schultz | Design by Krista Kok

You’ve heard of the ‘Freshman 15’, but what about the ‘Quarantine 15’? Weight gain is inevitable without the proper diet and exercise.

If you want to avoid this plague, consider switching to a whole foods diet now. Your body will thank you later.

Making the Switch When you think about switching up what you eat, don’t let the word ‘diet’ confuse you. Dana Robertson, junior Nutrition major at Oregon State University, makes the point that it shouldn’t be considered a diet, but rather a lifestyle choice.

Switching to this lifestyle means choosing “foods that are as close to their natural form as possible,” according to WebMD.

Annika Vahk, a Nutrition and Exercise Physiology Doctorate Program Professor at Washington State University also mentions that a whole foods diet should be viewed as a lifestyle choice or goal and not a fad or temporary fix.

Robertson recommends making a moderate transition to a whole foods diet rather than taking the leap all at once. Making this slight transition can help lead to better habits down the road.

Ethan Bergman, chair of the Department of Health Sciences and professor of Food Science and Nutrition thinks it’s best to switch to a whole foods diet in moderation.

Increasing fruits and vegetables is beneficial for most everyone, but if you start all at once, it’s not sustainable. He recommends making one change for three weeks at a time before making a second change in diet.

Some look to canned goods as a starting point, but one note to watch for aside from ingredients is iron deficiency. Robertson says, “Iron deficiency is the most common deficiency in the world and is especially common in women,” which makes it important to notice when starting this type of lifestyle change.

In eating healthier and switching to a whole foods diet, it’s best to use small steps.

Your New Diet When selecting the foods that you eat, Robertson suggests varying your fruits and vegetables while limiting red meat consumption.

She also mentions if you drop red meat entirely, you need to make sure you’re getting that iron in other things such as fortified cereals, tofu and dark leafy greens.

Robertson further advises cutting out processed foods because that’s where a lot of saturated fats and sugars come from.

One easy way to know how much something might be processed is by simply looking at the ingredient list. When it comes to limiting these foods, going with less ingredients is almost always better.

Another point you might not think of is lowering your sodium intake. One sneaky place you’ll find sodium and added sugars is canned goods, says Robertson. Make sure to be careful when you go to grab those types of products.

Bergman explains how fruits and vegetables are important because they’re nutrient-dense foods with few calories. “Emphasizing more veggies and fruits, while [also] emphasizing moderation with meat can be positive for reducing chronic disease risk.”

Focusing on meat, Robertson says you should try to avoid processed meats at all costs, especially those with nitrates. Cutting down on meat, particularly red meat, is a common concept that a lot of people might struggle with because they don’t realize they can get that protein from other sources.

Bergman recommends adding more veggies while going one small step at a time at the beginning. “For example, instead of having a snack mid-morning of a cinnamon roll, substitute baby carrots and maybe a ranch dip.”

Vahk adds, “Start with simple swaps for snacks then work your way into meals. Swap processed snacks for minimally processed or whole foods.” This would include fruits, vegetables and nuts.

If you take away even just a little information from this, there are two key steps you might want to follow if you’re interested in switching to a whole foods diet.

Try to make the leap by beginning with small snacks, including fruits and vegetables, and then slowly start cutting out processed foods. Your post-quarantine body will thank you later.