MUFON Arizona - 1998 02 25 - Vol 07 No 02

Magazine Overview

This is the February 1998 issue of the MUFON Arizona Chapter Newsletter, Volume 7, Issue 2. The cover prominently features the MUFON logo and the tagline 'The Truth is Out There,' along with meeting details for the Arizona Chapter and contact information for its directors.

Director's Message

Tom Taylor, State Director, addresses the "flood of misinformation concerning new Phoenix UFO sightings," clarifying that recent sightings are not UFOs and that Phoenix is not a "UFO hot spot." He announces that MUFON-AZ will celebrate its third annual "UFO Awareness Week" from August 21-23 at Christown Shopping Center. The upcoming meeting will feature a video titled "Interview with an Alien" hosted by Steven Williams and comments by Frances Barwood, who is running for Secretary of State for Arizona and has publicly questioned the March 13, 1997, Phoenix lights incident.

Media Watch

This section reports on the "take-over" of the organization "Just Cause" by individuals not involved in its operation for over 10 years, now renamed "UFO Historical Review." It suggests supporting a serious UFO organization by sending a $15 check to Barry Greenwood. Peter Davenport of the UFO Reporting Center reported on numerous sightings in the Pensacola, Florida area on the Art Bell "Coast to Coast" program. Whitley Streiber also discussed seeing similar phenomena. Donations to the UFO Reporting Center are accepted. The section also mentions a TV movie, "Alien Abduction of the McPherson Family," and notes that Stanton Friedman was quoted out of context. It recommends the film "Wag the Dog" as an example of how situations can be manipulated.

Program Listings

Radio Programs:

• DREAMLAND: Hosted by Art Bell on KFYI Radio (910 AM) on Sunday evenings, also broadcast on other Arizona stations. Art Bell also hosts "Coast to Coast" weeknights.
• Mysteries Around Us: Hosted by Frank Baranowski on KTAR Radio (620 AM) on Sunday evenings, focusing on hypnotherapy and regression.

Television Programs:

• X Files: Sundays at 8:00 p.m. on Channel 10.
• Sightings: Wednesdays at 8:00 p.m. on the cable SciFi Channel.
• Strange Universe: Mondays through Fridays at 1:00 p.m. & 11:30 p.m. on Channel 45.

Calendar

• Cochise County Chapter: Saturday, February 28, 1998, 1 p.m. at Sierra Vista City Library. Contact Herb Funston.
• Pima County Chapter: Meeting information via June Scherrer.
• Pinal County Chapter: Meeting information via Ken Kerber.
• Yuma County Chapter: Quarterly meetings. Contact Joe Murek.
• Maricopa County Chapter: Meeting Wednesday, February 25, at the usual place and time.
• Experiencer Support Group: Monday, February 23, at 7:30 p.m. in Fountain Hills, AZ. Contact Dr. Ruth Hover.

Conferences:

• March 20-22, 1998: 6th Annual Gulf Breeze UFO Conference, Pensacola, FL.
• April 10-12: 10th Annual Ozark UFO Conference, Eureka Springs, AR.
• June 26-28: MUFON International UFO Symposium, Denver, CO.
• July 3-5: Roswell Days, Roswell, NM.
• August 21-23: MUFON-AZ UFO Awareness Week, Chris Town Shopping Center, Phoenix, AZ.

Classified Ads

An advertisement section encourages readers to place ads in the MUFON-AZ Newsletter. Rates are $5.00 for up to three lines and $10 for business-card sized ads. Ads and payment are due by the first of the month.

50+ Years of Arizona Sightings

Jim Ossipov's comprehensive listing of reported Arizona UFO sightings is available for $6.00 at MUFON-AZ meetings or by mail for $7.50. Payment should be made to Dimitri Ossipov.

Article Submission

An invitation is extended to readers to submit articles and book reviews. Handwritten or typed articles are accepted, but diskette submissions in Word or WordPerfect 5.1 or ASCII format are preferred. Submissions should be sent to Mary Hart.

Cochise Co. Section Report

This section details the meeting schedule for the Cochise County Chapter for 1998, held on the fourth Saturday of each month, with two exceptions. The January meeting focused on scientific methods using Galileo as an example. The report also discusses two calls from individuals with alleged UFO experiences, both of which were deemed to lack credibility and quantitative substance, leading to no further action.

Gelatinous Material Falls on Small Town

This article recounts a mysterious event in Oakville, Washington, three years prior, where a "gelatinous material" fell from the sky. Witnesses reported seeing unmarked black helicopters and a large, silent, triangular craft. Analysis of the gel by Public Health Laboratories in Seattle revealed harmful bacteria and human white blood cells. The event coincided with illness among residents and the death of kittens. The FAA, McCord Air Force Base, and the State Health Department had no explanation. Oakville police chief Gerry Greub investigated after a patrol car was covered in the gel, leading to hospitalization of an officer and townspeople. An explanation from McCord AFB suggested it was from bombing off the coast, possibly jellyfish thrown into the air.

Jim Keith, author of "Black Helicopters Over America," suggests the gel and triangular craft are evidence of military experiments, possibly a "bio-warfare agent."

Alien Attraction

This short piece promotes an "alien head magnet" being sold by Retzer's in Pekin, Illinois, for $1.00 plus P&H.

Family Can't Explain What Flew Overhead

Carl and Irma Compitello and their son Ken reported seeing a large craft with brightly glowing lights fly over their home in the Tanque Verde area. They described it as "huge" and compared its lights to a lantern-style flashlight. The craft made an "enveloping hum" and left a cloud of dust. Its shape was described as asymmetrical with four bright lights. The incident was reported to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, and an investigator from the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization was assigned to check the sighting.

Aircraft is Source of Mystery

This article from the Casa Grande Citizen (June 6, 1978) reports on a mysterious group of dozens of aircraft that flew over Tucson early Monday morning. The aircraft were detected by radar at Tucson International Airport and spotted by a Tucson Police Department helicopter pilot. Authorities from the FAA and local military bases had no explanation for the flights, which were traveling at approximately 300 mph. The objects were tracked from near Ryan Field to the Redington Pass area. Tucson Police Sgt. Douglas Russell confirmed that Officer Timothy Clark spotted several white position lights leaving the city.

Scientists Cast New Doubt on Life-on-Mars Theory

This article discusses new studies suggesting that organic chemicals found in a Martian rock (ALH84001) may be contamination from Earth, not evidence of life. Laboratory studies at the University of Arizona and the Scripps Institute of Oceanography conclude that amino acids and carbon found in the rock likely got there after it landed on Earth and lay on Antarctic ice. NASA scientists, including Everett K. Gibson Jr. and David S. McKay from the Johnson Space Center, maintain that their original hypothesis is not shaken, though they acknowledge a "mystery carbon component" that could be extraterrestrial. Jeffrey L. Bada of Scripps believes his study "clearly disproves" the Gibson-McKay theory.

U-Haul Unveils Out-of-This-World Design

This article reports on U-Haul International Inc. unveiling new artwork for its moving trucks, featuring an 8-by-7-foot alien and a crashed saucer, symbolizing the "Roswell Incident" of 1947. The design will appear on over 300 trucks nationwide. The artwork was unveiled at the International UFO Museum and Research Center in Roswell, New Mexico. The design was created by Steve King. U-Haul plans to introduce about 10 new designs this year as part of a "Salute to America" campaign. Another design will be based on Area 51. The company made contact with Roswell officials in October, and the town, which relies on UFO-inspired tourism, welcomed the idea. The UFO museum attracted 192,000 people last year, and the trucks are expected to generate significant public awareness.

Navajos Decry Human Ashes on Holy Moon

This article from The Tribune (January 13, 1998) reports that Navajo Nation President Albert Hale criticized NASA for sending cremated human remains aboard the Lunar Prospector spacecraft to the moon. Hale stated that the moon is sacred in Native American beliefs and that placing human remains there is "sacrilegious." John Lawrence of NASA acknowledged that different beliefs can clash but stated NASA tries to respect all religious beliefs. Ted Rushton, a spokesman for the Navajo Nation, reiterated that Navajos believe in burying bodies on Earth.

Maoists for Martians: Here, UFOs Make For Serious Science

This article from The Wall Street Journal (November 7, 1997) explores the serious scientific study of UFOs in China. Professor Sun Shili of Beijing's University of International Business and Economics leads the Chinese UFO Research Association, which receives government grants and includes respected scientists. Their goal is to understand UFO propulsion and harness that power for China's energy needs. Professor Sun recounts his own alleged UFO sighting in 1969. The association has grown significantly, attracting college graduates. The article highlights other Chinese researchers, including Gao Ge, who is developing an ellipsoid craft with tiny wings, and Ma Ruian, who envisions energy-saving ships. Liu Zhongkai claims to have invented a magnetic field device that can alter time, potentially extending life significantly. The article notes the difficulty of studying UFOs without direct access to the craft.

Alien Embassy Promises Close Encounters, But No Parking

This article from The Tribune (February 10, 1998) discusses the International Raelian Church's announcement of plans to build an embassy for extraterrestrials, the Elohim, in Phoenix. The Raelians believe the Elohim created humans and will reveal themselves soon. Phoenix is considered a backup location after Jerusalem. The church claims 40,000 active members and $7 million in assets. The article questions the practicality of an embassy without parking and suggests it serves more as a conversation starter for Raelian doctrine. Staff columnist Michael Grady reflects on the nature of belief and the search for answers, contrasting the Raelian approach with everyday life experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the idea that UFO phenomena warrant serious investigation, while also cautioning against misinformation and sensationalism. There's a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry, as seen in the articles on life on Mars and Chinese UFO research. The publication also highlights the importance of community engagement through meetings and events like UFO Awareness Week. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness towards the UFO phenomenon, coupled with a critical approach to unsubstantiated claims and a desire to educate the public. The inclusion of various news items, from local sightings to international scientific debates and even cultural commentary on space exploration, reflects a broad interest in the UFO and related topics.