MUFON Arizona - 1997 06 25 - Vol 06 No 06

Magazine Overview

This document is the June 1997 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter newsletter, titled "MUFON ARIZONA CHAPTER" with the volume and issue number 6/6. The cover headline is "The Truth is Out There." The newsletter covers various UFO-related topics, including local chapter activities, recent sightings, book reviews, and discussions on prominent UFO cases and theories.

Director's Message

Tom Taylor, State Director, reports that the investigation into the "Phoenix Lights" events of March 13 is concluding, with field investigators determining that three or possibly four objects were involved. These objects were visually observed but not by radar, made no sound, were approximately one mile in length, and were either triangular or V-shaped with four to nine lights. Taylor thanks Jim Ossipov, Richard Motzer, and Ruth Hover for their assistance. He also announces a Section Directors meeting on June 29 in Casa Grande and encourages members to sign up to help with the Christown Mall display during UFO Awareness Week (August 15-17).

New Solar Planetary Evidence

This section reports on a discovery announced by RINS (Riskers International) in Denver, Colorado, regarding a new "face" on the surface of Mars. This finding, labeled the BAR (Burisch Andrews Riskers) discovery, involves exobiologist Mr. Burisch and has been shared with notable figures like Richard Hoagland and Whitley Strieber. The pictures are available on the Riskers website.

Media Watch

Tom Taylor's "Media Watch" column discusses magazine articles on the Roswell crash, noting that while some publications offered little new information, Popular Mechanics implied German and Japanese connections to the Roswell object. Governor Fife Symington is mentioned for seeing unexplained radar blips while working at NORAD. The column also highlights Art Bell's radio program schedule in the Phoenix area and upcoming films "Contact" and "Men in Black." Taylor also mentions an interview he gave to USA Today and a Roswell story in Time magazine.

Richard Hoagland is quoted predicting the Mars Pathfinder's loss and subsequent rediscovery around July 20, along with a diversionary event in Phoenix.

Weekly Radio and TV Programs

A comprehensive list of UFO-related radio and television programs airing in Arizona is provided. Radio programs include Art Bell's "Dreamland" (KFYI Radio) and "Coast to Coast" (weeknights), "Erskin Overnight" (KXAM Radio), and the "UFO-AZ Radio Show" (KTUC) and "Mysteries Around Us" (KTAR Radio). Television programs include "UFO AZ/UFO TALKS" on TCI and Dimension Cable, "Unsolved Mysteries," "X-Files," "Sightings," and "Strange Universe."

50 Years of Arizona Sightings 1947-1997

Jim Ossipov has updated his listing of reported Arizona sightings since 1947. New copies are available for purchase at MUFON-AZ meetings or by mail.

Classified Ads

This section includes ads for a "Learn Safe Photo Preservation" class, "AD SPECIALTIES AND MORE!" offering personalized items and printing services, and a "CROP CIRCLE TOUR" to Wiltshire, England, featuring Lyssa Royal and others. It also includes information on advertising in the MUFON-AZ Newsletter.

Article Submission

An invitation is extended to members to submit articles and book reviews for the newsletter. Instructions are provided for submitting handwritten articles, typed articles, or articles on diskette (preferably in WordPerfect 5.1 or ASCII format).

Calendar

This section lists upcoming MUFON chapter meetings in Cochise County, Pima County, and Maricopa County. It also includes dates for "The UFO Event of the Year" in North Haven, CT, an Experiencers Group meeting, and the 18th Rocky Mountain UFO Conference in Wyoming. The 28th Annual MUFON International UFO Symposium in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is also announced, with the theme "The 50th Anniversary of UFOlogy."

Arizona's 3/13/1997 Major "UFO Show"

This article details a significant UFO event on March 13, 1997, over Arizona, described as a strange cluster of bright, varying-colored lights. Numerous observers reported the phenomenon, which was videotaped and featured on local TV. The article notes that while an Apache helicopter pilot suggested military flares, the movement of the lights was unexplained. The event prompted calls to Luke Air Force Base, MUFON, and the National Weather Service.

Senator Angry Over UFO Book Claims

This article, from The New York Times, discusses Senator Strom Thurmond's reaction to the book "The Day After Roswell." Thurmond, who wrote the book's foreword, expressed anger and regret, stating he was led to believe the book was an autobiography. The book claims the US government derived its power from a crashed alien spaceship and engaged in a cover-up.

Planet Discovered Orbiting Nearby Star

This article from The Arizona Republic reports on the discovery of a Jupiter-size planet orbiting a nearby star, Rho Coronae Borealis. Astronomers believe this discovery boosts confidence in finding more planets, including potentially habitable ones, and helps fill gaps in current planet collection data.

Corso Blows the Lid on Roswell

This section features a review of Colonel Philip Corso's book, "The Day After Roswell." The review highlights Corso's claims of personally seeing alien bodies and wreckage from the Roswell crash. It details his alleged assignment to distribute wreckage to scientists for back-engineering, leading to technologies like fiber optics and lasers. The article also discusses Corso's description of a government cover-up strategy orchestrated by General Nathan Twining to keep sensitive information from both enemies and the public.

MIB and Black Helicopters: Bothering the Wrong People

This article discusses the phenomenon of Men in Black (MIB) and black helicopters, contrasting past encounters with current, more dangerous tactics. The author questions why UFO witnesses are targeted while prominent UFO researchers and authors are not, proposing to survey prominent figures to see if they have been bothered by MIBs or helicopters.

Sighting Event: May 5, 1997, Payson, Arizona

This report details a sighting by two witnesses in Payson, Arizona, of a large, unidentifiable object described as "like three 747 aircraft welded together." The object was dark grey, V-shaped, and had multiple lights. It moved soundlessly and slowly, exhibiting unusual movement patterns. The witnesses were deemed credible, and the object was excluded from conventional explanations like aircraft or weather anomalies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation of UFO phenomena and encourages public awareness and participation in MUFON activities. There is a strong emphasis on reporting and analyzing sightings, with a critical eye towards government explanations and a belief in the significance of UFO events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the UFO phenomenon, with a particular focus on cases and theories relevant to Arizona and the broader UFO community. The issue also touches upon the intersection of UFOlogy with scientific discovery (exoplanets) and historical events (Roswell).