MUFON Arizona Chapter

Magazine Overview

This document is the MUFON Arizona Chapter Newsletter, Volume 5, Issue 4, dated Wednesday, April 24, 1996. It is published by MUFON Mutual UFO Network and focuses on UFO-related news, investigations, and events within Arizona and beyond. The issue includes a director's message, reports on specific sightings and cases, media watch updates, a calendar of events, and letters from members.

Director's Message

Tom Taylor, State Director, opens the newsletter with a message highlighting the previous month's meeting featuring Richard Motzer's presentation on Art Bell's radio interview with Richard Hoagland regarding his press conference. Taylor expresses disappointment that major news networks like CNN and C-Span did not cover the conference, citing excuses such as 'not newsworthy' and 'no available cameras.' He notes that C-Span set up a special information line that provided only excuses when callers pressed for information on coverage. Taylor emphasizes that the public should decide the validity of Hoagland's claims, not the networks. He also announces new section directors for Cochise County ('Whitey' Reese) and Mojave County (Chance Vallon), and appeals for volunteers in the Sedona/Oak Creek/Flagstaff area. The upcoming meeting features Jim Dilettoso as the speaker, who is an expert in video analysis and will present footage from unusual locations like the North Pole and Korea. Taylor encourages members to submit articles, book reviews, and sighting reports for the newsletter.

Program Announcement

The newsletter announces a program featuring Jim Dilettoso as the speaker on multiple UFO cases and witnesses. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, 1996, at 7:30 p.m. sharp, at the National Guard Armory located at 5636 E. McDowell Road in Phoenix, Arizona.

Key Personnel and Contact Information

The newsletter lists key personnel for the Arizona Chapter, including Tom Taylor (State Director), Paul Ankney (Asst. State Director), Doris Barley (Acting Yuma Co. Sect. Dir.), Mary Hart (Newsletter Producer), Jim Ossipov (Maricopa Co. Sect. Dir.), Richard Motzer (Field Investigator), and Chance Vallon (Mojave County Sect. Dir.), along with their contact details.

Media Watch by Tom Taylor

Tom Taylor provides a roundup of recent media coverage related to UFOs. He mentions a '60 Minutes' segment on Area 51 focusing on toxic waste and a report of a gigantic flash of light from Tempe, which was later identified as a rocket explosion at White Sands Proving Grounds in New Mexico. He also notes a broadcast from the ASU planetarium featuring Comet Hyakutake and mentions that the piece of metal from Roswell has undergone testing and is composed of silver and copper. Taylor highlights an article from the Yuma paper about the Roswell metal, provided by Doris Barley. He also discusses MUFON's involvement in a demonstration related to the movie 'Independence Day' and mentions an article on H.A.A.R.P. in 'Art Bell's After Dark' magazine, as well as a sighting on 'Sightings' and related programs.

Weekly Programs

• A list of regular UFO and paranormal-related programs is provided, including:
• DREAMLAND: KFYI Radio, Sundays at 8:00 p.m., hosted by Art Bell.
• UFO AZ/UFO TALKS: Channel 22, Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:00 a.m., and Fridays at 9:00 p.m. in Prescott.
• The Extraordinary: Channel 15, Mondays, 12:30 - 1:30 a.m.
• Encounters: Channel 10, Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
• Unsolved Mysteries: Channel 12, Fridays at 7:00 p.m.
• X Files: Channel 10, Fridays at 8:00 p.m.
• Sightings: Channel 15, Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 p.m.
• Paranormal Borderline: Channel 45, Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m.
• Late Night Cosmic Contact: Channel 63 TCI Tucson Public Access, Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:30 p.m., starting April 18.

Article: Metal brought to museum to verify its authenticity

This article from the Associated Press reports on a mysterious piece of metal with intricate lines brought to the UFO Museum in Roswell, New Mexico. Administrators believe it may be proof of an alien spaceship crash nearly 50 years ago. The piece was brought by a local citizen, and Max Littell of the museum stated they would do everything possible to determine its origin. The article references the Air Force's explanation of the 1947 crash as Project Mogul and the controversy surrounding the destruction of documents related to the incident. Museum officials plan to send photos to someone who claims to have seen debris from the crash and will take the metal to a metallurgist for analysis.

Article: Autopsies find routine explanations for deaths of farm animals

This Associated Press article from San Juan, Puerto Rico, discusses the 'chupacabras' phenomenon. Government veterinarian Hector Garcia states that autopsies have found routine explanations for the deaths of farm animals, attributing them to stray dogs. However, another veterinarian suggests that some cases indicate a rare beast. The article notes that the name 'chupacabras' means 'goat sucker' and debunks claims that animals were 'sucked dry' of blood, as cardiovascular systems were intact. Garcia estimates that the reported number of deaths increased due to heightened awareness inspired by the mystery.

Article: UFO mystery is now solved: It was a missile

This article from The Arizona Republic reports that a smoky white curlicue observed in the skies of eastern Arizona was created by a 40-foot Hera missile launched from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. A missile-range spokesman confirmed the event, explaining that the rocket motor's burn created a contrail illuminated by the sun.

Letter from Dimitri to T. David Spencer

Dimitri Ossipov, Maricopa County Section Director, writes to T. David Spencer, expressing pleasure at the return of Spencer's 'Current Cases' column. Ossipov notes that while Spencer's cases are reliable, the lack of specific locations is a significant omission that hinders the analysis of the cases. He questions whether this omission is deliberate and asks for correction.

Reply from T. David Spencer

T. David Spencer replies to Dimitri Ossipov, acknowledging his interest and commitment to publishing cases monthly. He explains that due to 'special sensitivity' and concerns about potential leaks to the FBI or other government agencies, he controls public access to case details and does not maintain connections to networks. Spencer states that no published MUFON report identifies witnesses without their express consent. He clarifies that the North Central Texas cases require sensitive handling due to the risk of deducing individuals in small farming communities, making such omissions necessary.

Article: Possible UFO Sighting in Lake Denison Area

This article details a sighting by Yvon Beaulieu, a retired science teacher, and his wife in the Lake Denison area on Thursday evening, December 7, 1995. Beaulieu describes a lighted object, approximately the size of a house, with white lights in front and a turquoise blue trail, flying at low altitude without noise. He firmly believes it was a UFO and not a meteorite, recalling a similar phenomenon witnessed over 30 years prior in St. Jean-sur-Richlieu. Beaulieu has contacted the Mt. Mégantic observatory and the University of Montreal but received no satisfactory explanation, with the university suggesting it was a meteorite. He invites anyone else who witnessed the phenomenon to contact him.

Article: Chupacabras Mystery Deepens: Vets Disagree on Evidence

This article, by Karl Ross, further explores the chupacabras phenomenon. It contrasts the views of Hector Garcia, who attributes the attacks to stray dogs, with another veterinarian who suggests a rare beast is responsible based on post-mortem examinations. The article details the forensic evidence, including bite marks and unusual wounds, and notes the government's efforts to demystify the phenomenon while acknowledging the 'hysteria' it has caused. It also mentions that independent researcher Jorge Martin claims more cases than acknowledged by local authorities.

Article: Suspense builds in lumberyard

This brief report describes a mysterious diamond-shaped object that landed at Waltham Dry Kilns in Quebec. Employee Hector Brochur described it as a small, silver-colored 'star' that lifted off the ground when approached. Environment Canada and local officials stated the object did not belong to them.

Article: NASA denies lunar cover-up

This article from The Arizona Republic reports on NASA's response to claims made by Richard Hoagland, a science writer, and his team. Hoagland presented findings of 'ancient artificial structures on the Moon,' based on enhanced photographic evidence. NASA spokesman Doug Isbell denied these claims, stating that no evidence of artificial structures was found during the Apollo program. Isbell affirmed NASA's interest in finding signs of life on Mars through its exploration program.

Calendar

• The newsletter includes a calendar of upcoming events:
• April 20, 1996: Tucson group meeting at Wilmot Library.
• May: Yuma group meeting (date not confirmed).
• May 3-5: 2nd Annual UFO Research Conference in Greenville, South Carolina.
• May 19, 1996: "Humanity's Extraterrestrial Origins" at the National Guard Armory in Phoenix.
• June 27 - July 8, 1995: "Preparing for Contact in England" crop circle tour.
• June 27-29, 1996: 17th Rocky Mtn. UFO Conference in Laramie, Wyoming.
• July 5-7, 1996: MUFON's 27th International Symposium in Greensboro, North Carolina.
• July 18-21, 1996: International Tesla Symposium in Colorado Springs, CO.

Classified Ads and Article Submission

Information is provided for classified ad rates and submission guidelines for articles and book reviews. Members are encouraged to submit content, with a preference for diskette submissions in WordPerfect 5.1 or ASCII format. Contact information for Tom Taylor and Mary Hart is provided for submissions.

MUFON-AZ on the World Wide Web

An announcement states that the MUFON-AZ Newsletter is available on the internet at http://www.xroads.com/~noack/mufon.html.

Subscription Information

Details are provided for subscribing to the MUFON-Arizona Newsletter for $15 per year. Payment should be made to Tom Taylor and mailed to his address in Tempe, AZ.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation and reporting of UFO phenomena, encouraging member participation and the sharing of information. There is a clear stance against media censorship or downplaying of UFO-related events, as seen in the director's message regarding the Hoagland press conference. The publication also addresses controversial topics like the chupacabras and alleged alien artifacts, presenting information from various sources while maintaining a critical yet open perspective. The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of public access to information and the need for thorough investigation, while also acknowledging the need for discretion and witness protection in sensitive cases.