MUFON Arizona - 1997 05 28 - Vol 06 No 05

Magazine Overview

This document is the May 1997 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter Newsletter, Volume 6, Issue 5. It covers local MUFON activities, UFO news, and related topics. The issue features a meeting with Joyce Murphy discussing UFO sites, an update on the Phoenix Lights investigation, and a report on the Hale-Bopp comet watch. It also includes a "Media Watch" section detailing relevant TV and radio programs, and articles on remote viewing and the passing of Clyde Tombaugh.

Director's Message

Tom Taylor, State Director, announces new local MUFON appointments, including Dimitri "Jim" Ossipov as Assistant State Director and Ken Kerber as Pinal County Section Director. He expresses gratitude for their contributions. Taylor discusses the Phoenix Lights, noting that Councilwoman Emma Francis Barwood has requested an investigation. He recounts a lengthy conversation with Ms. Barwood and mentions that the TV program "Extra" covered a meeting related to this. Taylor urges MUFON members to contact their local council members and the Mayor to support Councilwoman Barwood's initiative. He also promotes the upcoming "UFO Awareness Weekend" at Christown Mall, seeking volunteers to staff the MUFON-AZ booth.

Tour of V.L.A. to be Rescheduled

The planned tour of the Very Large Array (VLA) outside Socorro, NM, has been postponed due to summer heat. Rescheduling will likely involve flying to Albuquerque and renting vans. A signup sheet will be used, and the cost will cover airfare and van rental for a one-day trip.

Media Watch by Tom Taylor

Tom Taylor reviews recent UFO-related media. He highlights Frank Baranowski's "Mysteries Around Us" radio program featuring a UFO Round Table with Wendelle Stevens, Jim Dilettoso, Bob Dean, and Tyler Pauley. He also mentions Art Bell's "Strange Universe" program and Bob Dean's opinion on the authenticity of an alien shown on the program. Taylor notes Dr. Stephen Greer's report on "grays" presented to the U.S. Congress as a positive development. Upcoming movies "Men in Black" and "Contact" are mentioned. The section then lists recent and upcoming TV and radio programs covering UFO topics, including "Dreamland," "Coast to Coast," "Erskin Overnight," "UFO-AZ Radio Show," "Unsolved Mysteries," "X-Files," "Sightings," "Strange Universe," and "Dark Skies." It also provides contact information for NBC Programming Department and Columbia/Tristar Television regarding concerns about "Dark Skies."

Weekly Radio Programs

• DREAMLAND: KFYI Radio, 910 AM, Sundays 8:00 p.m. Hosted by Art Bell, featuring UFO guests. Aired on various Arizona stations.
• Coast to Coast: Hosted by Art Bell, weeknights at midnight, often featuring UFO topics. Repeats Saturdays at 8 p.m.
• Erskin Overnight: KXAM Radio, 1310 AM, Saturdays 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., with Jim Keith as special guest.
• UFO-AZ Radio Show: Tucson area on KTUC, 1400 AM, Sundays 10:00 p.m.
• Mysteries Around Us: KTAR Radio (620 AM), Sundays 10:00 p.m., hosted by Frank Baranowski.

Weekly TV Programs

• UFO AZ/UFO TALKS: Scottsdale TCI Cable, Channel 28, Thursdays 4:00-5:00 p.m. Also on Dimension Cable, Monday/Tuesday 9:00 a.m. and Prescott Channel 13, Friday nights 9 p.m.
• Unsolved Mysteries: Fridays at 7:00 p.m., Channel 12.
• X-Files: Sundays at 8:00 p.m., Channel 10.
• Sightings: Wednesdays, 8 p.m. and 12 midnight (SciFi Channel).
• Strange Universe: Every weeknight at 11:00 p.m., Channel 45.
• Dark Skies: Saturdays, 7:00 p.m., Channel 12.
• Late Night Cosmic Contact: Saturdays, 9:00-10:00 p.m., Channel 61 (TCI Tucson Public Access). Hosted by Chris Maynard.

50 Years of Arizona Sightings 1947-1997

Jim Ossipov has updated his compilation of Arizona sightings since 1947. Copies can be purchased at MUFON-AZ meetings for $5.00 or by mail for $6.50. Contact Tom Taylor for details.

Classified Ads

• LEARN SAFE PHOTO PRESERVATION: A class costing $10.00, including supplies. Call Pat at 488-8516.
• AD SPECIALTIES AND MORE!: Offers personalized items like pens, mugs, and keychains, along with graphic design and printing services. Discounts for MUFON members. Contact Roy Schott.
• CROP CIRCLE TOUR: A tour to Wiltshire, England, from July 31-Aug 10, 1997, with Lyssa Royal, Shari Adamiak, and Mr. Busty Taylor. Contact Royal Priest Research for prices and info.

Article Submission

The newsletter encourages members to submit articles and book reviews. Handwritten or typed articles are accepted. Computer-generated articles should be in WordPerfect 5.1 or ASCII (DOS text) format. Submissions can be mailed to Tom Taylor or faxed to Mary Hart. Internet submissions can be sent to [email protected].

Calendar

• Cochise County Chapter: Meeting June 28, 2-4 p.m. in Sierra Vista. Contact Herb at 520/378-3024.
• Pima County Chapter: Meeting June 21, 1997, 1 p.m. at the Wilmot Library. Contact June at 520/326-0078.
• Yuma County Chapter: Meeting June 1 at Desert Lakes Clubhouse. No meetings for the rest of the summer. Contact Bobbie Jones.
• Maricopa County Chapter: Meeting May 28, usual place and time (see page 1).

Upcoming Events

• June 7, 1997: Controlled Remote Viewing Training in Phoenix. Contact Pete at 971-9277.
• June 21-22: "The UFO Event of the Year" in North Haven, CT, featuring Stanton Friedman and Dr. John E. Mack. Contact John White.
• June 26-28, 1997: 18th Rocky Mountain UFO Conference in Laramie, Wyoming.
• July 11-13, 1997: 28th Annual MUFON International UFO Symposium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, themed "The 50th Anniversary of UFOlogy."
• August 10-16: International UFO Congress, 1st Annual "Summer Seminar" in Laughlin, NV.
• August 15-17: UFO Awareness Week display at Christown Mall.
• January 23, 1998: Experiencers Group meeting. Contact Dr. Ruth Hover.

Scientists Mystified by Object Sighted in Midwestern Sky

Reprinted from the Orange County Register, this article describes a mysterious glowing ball of light traveling close to the speed of light, spotted and videotaped in the Earth's upper atmosphere. The footage, appearing for about 3/100 of a second, has scientists puzzled. Dean A. Morss, assistant professor at Creighton University, is heading a project to videotape luminous electrical phenomena called sprites. The object was observed in western Kansas by scientists who were observing thunderstorm activity. Navy Lt. Paul McCrone videotaped the image on August 22. Scientists Morris B. Pongratz and Dean A. Morss commented on the object's unusual speed and behavior.

Remote Viewing Comes to Phoenix: An Update

This section provides updated information on a Controlled Remote Viewing (CRV) class to be offered in Phoenix on June 7. The class costs $1,000 for a three-day program and includes classroom instruction and private work with Lyn Buchanan, a former CRV trainer for the U.S. government's STAR GATE project. The class requires a minimum of ten enrolled participants. Information is available from Pete Creelman or Problems > Solutions > Innovations. The PSI website and email address are also provided.

Cochise County Activity Report 4/97

No new sightings were reported in April 1997. Two open cases remain of interest, but lack of evidence prevents closure. The chapter's investigator training program continued, focusing on scientific fields related to UFO investigation. Topics discussed included airport traffic procedures, celestial motions, distance vs. size problems, and viewing of aircraft.

Comet Watch

A MUFON-AZ Hale-Bopp Comet Watch event was held west of the White Tank Mountains on Saturday, April 29. Despite an astronomy group already being at the site, attendees observed Hale-Bopp and its tail. Bill Goodman answered questions about the comet's visibility. The event included observations of three "shooting stars" and three satellites. Future outings to observe celestial events and possibly UFOs are planned.

Independence Day and the New World Order

This editorial by Bob Thrift speculates on the increase in UFO and paranormal topics in the media, suggesting it might be preparation for something. The movie "Independence Day" is analyzed as a pro-government, pro-military propaganda film that promotes world unification as a necessity for survival and portrays aliens as dangerous. The editorial posits that a staged alien invasion could be used to seize control of world governments under the guise of necessity. It references a channeled communication from "Sasha," a Pleiadian, through Lyssa Royal, suggesting that "powers that be" might stage an extraterrestrial event to regain control.

Clyde Tombaugh Passes: (January 17, 1997)

This article by Virgil Staff reports the death of Clyde W. Tombaugh, discoverer of the planet Pluto, at age 90. It details his early life, his development of telescopes, and his hiring by the Lowell Observatory in 1929 to search for Planet X. Tombaugh's discovery of Pluto on March 13, 1930, is described. The article also mentions his academic career and his two UFO sightings, one in 1949 and another a year or two later, describing a "geometrical group of faint bluish-green rectangles of light."

John Mack Cleared

This article by Virgil Staff reports that Harvard Medical School closed its investigation into Dr. John Mack without issuing a censor. The investigation aimed to determine if Mack's research exemplified rigor and professional standards and if it constituted an inquest into human subjects. Mack, author of "Abductions: Human Encounters with Aliens," has stated that aliens have "invaded our physical reality." The faculty urged Mack to adopt a more scholarly approach and refrain from letting enthusiasm circumvent faculty standards. Dr. Arnold Relman, committee chairman, stated the committee's function was not to describe the truth of Mack's claims but to assess professional standards. Mack's lawyer termed the challenge a breach of academic freedom. The article notes Mack's Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Lawrence of Arabia and his founding of the psychiatric department at Cambridge Hospital.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes MUFON's mission of investigating UFO phenomena through scientific methodology. There's a strong emphasis on encouraging member participation in meetings, events, and article submissions. The "Media Watch" section reflects an interest in how UFOs are portrayed in popular culture and news media. The editorial "Independence Day and the New World Order" suggests a critical stance towards potential government manipulation and propaganda related to UFOs and alien invasion scenarios. The overall stance is one of open inquiry, scientific rigor, and vigilance regarding information presented to the public.