MUFON Arizona - 1999 08 25 - Vol 08 No 08

Magazine Overview

This issue of the MUFON-AZ Newsletter, Volume 8, Issue 8, dated August 1999, focuses on UFO phenomena, investigations, and related topics. The cover headline, "The Truth is Out There," sets the tone for the content, which includes reports on recent sightings, technological advancements, and personal accounts.

MUFON's Mission and Organization

The newsletter reiterates MUFON's mission: the systematic collection and analysis of UFO data to understand their origin and nature. It lists the State Director, Alan Morey, and various County Section Directors and support staff, along with their contact information. An upcoming meeting on August 25, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. is announced, featuring guest speaker Ted Loman discussing "Non-Carbon Based Light Forms Being Present Since 1947." The meeting location is the National Guard Armory in Phoenix, AZ. The MUFON-AZ website is also provided.

Directors Message

Alan Morey, State Director, reports receiving three sighting reports with similarities, particularly the "V" shape description. Helicopters were also noted in two of these reports. He encourages members to support the Chris-Town UFO awareness display. He also mentions ongoing work on the July 4th sighting and announces that Walt Andros will retire as International Director on July 16, 2000, succeeded by John F. Schuessler. The MUFON headquarters will move to Denver, Colorado, by September 1, 2000.

August Book Sale and Raffle

The August raffle includes a video titled "UFOs Are Real" and a hardbound edition of Jim Marrs' book "Alien Agenda." Tickets are $1.00 each.

Media Watch

This section lists recent television and radio programs related to UFOs, including "Dreamland" with Art Bell, "Spacecraft News," "UFO Live," and "Fractal Dimensions." It encourages members to call Teri Acton with any missed program information or to be added to an email list for TV program updates.

Weekly Radio Programs

• DREAMLAND: KFYI Radio 910 AM, Sunday evenings, 8:00 p.m. (also on various other Arizona stations).
• SPACECRAFT NEWS: KFNX radio (1100 AM), Monday's at 10:00 a.m.
• UFO LIVE: KFNX radio (1100 AM), Tuesday's at 11:00 p.m.
• FRACTAL DIMENSIONS: KFNX radio (1100 AM), Thursday's at 5:00 p.m.
• MYSTERIES AROUND US: KTAR Radio (620 AM), Sunday, 10:00 p.m.

Weekly TV Programs

• X FILES: Sunday's at 8:00 p.m. (Channel 10); Weeknights at 9:00 p.m. (Channel 30, FX).
• SIGHTINGS: Wednesday's, 8:00 p.m. (SciFi Channel).
• AFTER MIDNIGHT: Thursday's at midnight (Channel 22).

Calendar

• Pima County Chapter: Meeting on August 21 at Wilmot Library, featuring Helga Morrow discussing "Aliens, Here and Now" and "Montuk."
• Pinal County Chapter: Meetings held every second Saturday of the month at Meghans Restaurant.
• Yuma County Chapter: Meetings are quarterly.
• Maricopa County Chapter: Meeting on Wednesday, August 25, 1999, with admission $3.00 for members and $5.00 for non-members.
• Experiencer's Meeting: On hiatus until September 27, 1999.

Arizona Sightings List

The newsletter promotes the updated compilation "Arizona Sightings 1899-1998" by Dimitri "Jim" Ossipov, available for purchase at meetings or by calling Tom Taylor.

Article Submission

Members are encouraged to submit articles or letters for the newsletter by contacting Teri Acton.

MUFON Membership Badges

Orders are being taken for MUFON Membership Badges, costing $4.50 each. Contact Ruth and Harry Hover for details.

MUFON Arizona Newsletter Now Offers Family Subscription Rate

A special Family membership subscription rate of $25.00 per year is now available, alongside the individual rate of $15.00 per year. Subscriptions should be mailed to Tom Taylor.

Pinal County / Casa Grande September Meeting

The September 18, 1999, meeting in Casa Grande will feature personal UFO sightings from speakers, including Carroll Armstrong, who will share accounts from her great-grandparents in 1903 and her own sightings. The chapter aims to start a scrapbook of sightings.

Pima County Chapter News

Helga Morrow will discuss "Aliens, Here and Now" and "Montuk" on August 21. On September 11, Jilean Sherwood will discuss crop circle phenomenon findings from England. Meetings are held at the Wilmot Library.

Announcement from Borders Books Music Café

Author Paul Christopher will discuss his book "Alien Intervention" on November 3 at Borders Books & Music in Mesa, AZ. The book addresses the interrelationships between the occult, the New Age Movement, and the New World Order. Christopher began his UFO investigation in 1972 and resides in Glendale, Arizona.

Current UFO Cases and Sightings: Local and Worldwide

• Two Bright Amber Colored Lights Seen Over Phoenix (June 9, 1999): The witness observed two distinct amber lights that moved, flashed on and off, and appeared to be about 3/4-1 mile west of the South Mountain antenna farm at an altitude of 3-4000 feet.
• Bright Object Seen South of Phoenix (June 4, 1999): A brilliant white, oval-shaped object with a metallic finish was seen on I-10, vanishing after 15-20 seconds.
• Diamond Shaped Object (June 28, 1999): A family reported a diamond-shaped object with green glowing lights passing over them at an estimated elevation of 1800-2000 feet.
• Vista, California Sighting (July 4, 1999): Three stars formed an obtuse triangle, with the south-most point moving north and gradually dimming.
• Fort Bidwell, California Sighting (July 14, 1999): A bright pure white light appeared and disappeared multiple times, followed by another object that flashed intensely.
• Lake Milacs, Minnesota Sighting (July 3, 1999): A whitish-orange light, initially mistaken for a satellite, exhibited unusual movements, including loops and accelerations, and emitted strobe lights.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Crosses Atlantic - Sparks UFO Reports

This article details the successful test flight of a miniature robot aircraft, the Aerosonde, which flew 2,000 kilometers across the Atlantic. The UAV, funded by the US Navy, landed safely in Scotland. The flight triggered UFO sightings, and defense chiefs consider it a strategic weapon for long-range environmental monitoring. The Royal Australian Air Force has invested in similar technology, and British Army experience suggests UAVs could be widely used on future battlefields.

UFO Cult Disappears in Colombia

Over 100 members of the Stella Maris Church cult in northern Colombia went missing after believing they would be saved from the "end of the world" by UFOs. Relatives accuse the cult leader, Rogelio Perea, of swindling followers. While some believe the members went on a spiritual retreat, others fear a mass suicide or forced disappearance.

Ex-NASA Worker Says Space Agency Knows About UFO's

This section introduces Clark C. McClelland, a former NASA employee who claims to have witnessed numerous unexplainable UFO events during his decades of work at NASA's launch facilities. His credibility is supported by CNI News, which confirmed his NASA background. McClelland claims that former rocketeer Wernher von Braun also confirmed a UFO crash near Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947.

Classic UFO Cases

• Gemini Titan I Launch Observation (1964): During the unmanned Gemini-Titan I launch, RCA tracking teams observed four "visitors" alongside the capsule, puzzling NASA, USAF, and Martin-Marietta. The official explanation was torn particles from the Titan upper stage, which the author found implausible.
• Private Gerry Irwin Incident (February 28, 1959): Private First Class Gerry Irwin, a Nike missile technician, witnessed a glowing object near Cedar City, Utah. He later experienced unconsciousness, memory loss, and fainting spells, leading to psychological evaluations and his eventual listing as a deserter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The newsletter consistently promotes the investigation of UFO phenomena, encouraging member participation in reporting sightings and attending meetings. There is a strong emphasis on collecting and analyzing data, as well as sharing information that may not be readily available through mainstream media. The articles highlight both recent sightings and historical cases, suggesting a belief in the ongoing nature of UFO activity and its potential significance. The publication also touches upon technological advancements like UAVs, framing them within the context of potential future applications and their relation to surveillance and military operations. The inclusion of whistleblower accounts from former NASA employees underscores a theme of potential government knowledge or cover-ups regarding UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and a desire to uncover the truth, encouraging critical thinking and personal investigation among its readership.