MUFON Arizona - 1998 08 26 - Vol 07 No 08

Magazine Overview

This document is the August 1998 issue of the MUFON-AZ Newsletter, Volume 7, Issue 8, published by the Mutual UFO Network, Arizona Chapter. The cover features the MUFON logo and the tagline 'The Truth is Out There...'. The issue focuses on UFO sightings, crop circles, and the potential threat of cosmic impacts.

Director's Message

Tom Taylor, State Director, begins by announcing the upcoming annual MUFON-AZ display at Christown mall from August 21-23, encouraging public participation and volunteering. He mentions an upcoming special article in The Tribune about the event. Taylor also notes an interesting sighting reported by Sedona member Gerda Gallob and urges members to attend the upcoming meeting to hear Michael Lindemann speak. He also provides an update on the new MUFON-AZ website and membership cards being developed by Chris Block.

Cottonwood Sighting

Lloyd Thompson, a MUFON-AZ Member, reports a sighting on Saturday, June 6, 1998, at approximately 6:26 p.m. in Cottonwood, Arizona. Two witnesses observed a brilliant white object, described as pumpkin-sized, hanging over Mingus Mountain. The object was visible for about 6-10 seconds before vanishing instantly. The witness, Kay, who had been somewhat skeptical, described the event as extraordinary.

Hovers Travel to U.K.

Ruth and Harry Hover are in the United Kingdom for the month to conduct crop circle research and are expected to share new information at a future meeting.

Arizonans Hunt for Black Helicopter Base

This article details persistent reports of black helicopters over Sedona, Arizona, leading local residents, through the group Citizens for UN Base Disclosure (CUNBD), to search for a secret base. Justin A. Tribble of CUNBD reported that Sedona had been visited by black helicopters multiple times. A document dated April 10, 1998, mentioned 'operational bases in Verde Valley,' 'Area 38 in Casper (sic) Mountain,' and 'Operation White Sword Headquarters.' CUNBD identified these areas as Casner Mountain and Bear Sign Canyon. A local hairdresser named Diane provided information about a possible location near Sycamore Pass, describing black Humvees and night vision equipment used to see an opening into an old volcano where black helicopters are kept. The editor notes the intrigue of 'Operation White Sword,' linking it to NATO's 'Gold Sword 4' exercise.

Blue Fireball in Daylight Startles Arizonans

On Thursday afternoon, June 18, 1998, a blindingly-bright blue fireball was observed by hundreds across the sky south of Phoenix, Arizona. Witnesses described it as a 'blue fireball' or 'reddish or orange streak.' Astronomers suggest the asteroid Oljato may be responsible, as Earth crossed one of its orbits around June 8. The event followed a publicized exploding meteor on June 7 and meteorite impacts in New Mexico and Tennessee.

Arizona Cattle Mutilations

On Monday, July 20, 1998, four cows were found mutilated on a ranch near St. Johns, Arizona. The cows, which were carrying calves, had their blood and eyes missing. Their tongues and those of the unborn calves were also removed. The estimated loss was $10,000. The Arizona Cattleman's Association plans to investigate. Terry W. Colvin reports similar incidents in southeastern Arizona, with cattle, horses, and other animals being killed and mutilated. Robert Marsett described a carcass that smelled of being dead for several days, with coyotes and vultures avoiding it.

Calendar

The newsletter includes a calendar of upcoming MUFON chapter meetings and events:

• Pima County Chapter: August 22, 1-4 p.m., Wilmot Library, with Dr. H.J. Melosh attending.
• Pinal County Chapter: Contact Ken Kerber.
• Yuma County Chapter: Quarterly meetings, contact Joe Murek.
• Maricopa County Chapter: Wednesday, August 26, usual time and place (see page 1).
• Experiencer's Meeting: Contact Dr. Ruth Hover.
• MUFON-AZ UFO Awareness Week: August 21-23, Chris Town Shopping Center.
• Leeds International UFO Conference: September 11-13, University of Leeds, England, featuring speakers like Nick Redfern and Yvonne Smith.
• Roswell 1947 Revisited: September 26-27, Roswell, New Mexico.
• 35th Edition of the National UFO Conference (NUFOC): November 7-8, Days Inn in Bordentown, New Jersey, with various speakers including Karl Pflock and Antonio Huneeus.
• Old West Town at Camp Verde, Arizona: November 20-22, featuring Hopi prophecies and UFO/Star People phenomena.

Weekly Radio and TV Programs

Information is provided on various UFO-related radio programs like 'Dreamland' with Art Bell and 'Mysteries Around Us' with Frank Baranowski, as well as TV shows such as 'X-Files,' 'Sightings,' and 'Strange Universe.' Members are encouraged to notify Mary Hart of any other UFO-related TV programs.

Article Submission and MUFON Membership Badges

An invitation is extended to readers to submit articles and book reviews, with instructions for submitting on diskette in various formats. Orders are also being taken for MUFON Membership Badges.

50+ Years of Arizona Sightings

Jim Ossipov's comprehensive listing of reported Arizona UFO sightings, covering 1946-1997, is available for purchase for $6.00 at meetings or by mail for $7.50.

Mile Wide Asteroid Tracked in Flagstaff

On June 18, a mile-wide asteroid, designated '1998 MQ,' was discovered by Arizona astronomer Ted Bowell and researchers Brian Skiff and Bruce Koehn in Flagstaff. While not an immediate threat, it is being tracked. The article explains the LONEOS project's method of detecting asteroids and the potential risks of near-Earth objects, referencing the dinosaur extinction event.

Reel Science: Asteroids Make a Big Hit

This article by David L. Chandler discusses the scientific understanding of cosmic impacts on Earth, drawing parallels to blockbuster movies like 'Armageddon' and 'Deep Impact.' It explores evidence from geological finds in Australia, historical events like the fall of Rome, and the theory that comet impacts may have caused widespread collapses of ancient civilizations. The article highlights the work of scientists like Luis Alvarez, Peter Schultz, and W. Bruce Masse in researching these events.

Crop Circles Show Up in USA and UK

This section details recent crop circle appearances. In the USA, a 180-foot diameter circle was found in Eltopia, Washington, and a dumbbell-shaped circle in Waverly, Nebraska. In New Jersey, a giant swastika-shaped crop circle was discovered. In the UK, a record number of crop circles appeared, including a 'Kock Fractal Snowflake' pattern in Alton Barnes, Wiltshire, and numerous others in Avebury and surrounding areas. The article also mentions a crop circle found in Latty, Ohio, and the controversy surrounding its investigation.

Magazine Has Intriguing Photos from the Mars Global Surveyor

This section highlights photos from the Mars Global Surveyor, published in Sky & Telescope magazine. It points out intriguing features such as 'Niagara Falls of Mars,' 'Lake Huron of Mars,' 'Twin Pyramids,' and a landform resembling a 'Space Baby.'

Sedona Sighting

Peter Gersten forwarded a report from the internet detailing a sighting by four witnesses in Sedona, Arizona, on Wednesday, July 15, 1998. They observed a large, dark amber-brown triangular object with bright white lights on the corners and a glowing orange-red light in the middle. The object moved at high speed and was compared to a highly publicized UFO sighting over Phoenix in 1997. One witness, Karl, noted the craft's unusual appearance, defying typical arguments against UFOs. Another witness, Michelle, described the craft's color and the impression of slow movement due to its size. She also reported experiencing unusual physical symptoms after the sighting.

Winona, AZ. Sighting

An e-mail to AUFON News describes an experience from years ago involving law enforcement officers in the Coconino National Forest near Winona, Arizona. They observed a bright light that grew larger, revealing itself as a triangular craft with lights on its nose, leading edges, and between. The craft banked, showing two afterburners. Similar sightings have been reported in the Merriam Crater region.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation of UFO phenomena, encouraging member participation in meetings, events, and reporting sightings. It covers a broad spectrum of UFO-related topics, from specific sightings and alleged government activity (black helicopters) to broader scientific discussions about potential extraterrestrial contact and the impact of cosmic events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and information sharing within the UFO community, encouraging members to keep their eyes to the sky and to contribute to the collective knowledge base.