Georgia Sky Watch - 1999 09 - no 14

Magazine Overview

Title: Georgia Sky Watch
Issue Date: September 1999
Issue Number: 14
Publisher: MUFON of Georgia
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Georgia Sky Watch, a publication of MUFON of Georgia news and research, delves into two primary topics: the intriguing 1967 Georgia UFO Incident and the scientific exploration of crop circles. The magazine also provides updates on MUFON activities and upcoming events.

Police Interact With UFOs: The 1967 Georgia Incident

This article, by Michael D. Hitt, details a series of UFO sightings and encounters that occurred in Georgia on October 20 and 22, 1967. Uniquely, all reported sightings involved the law enforcement community, including Georgia Police and State Patrol agencies. Hitt posits that this focus on law enforcement might indicate an interest from an extraterrestrial intelligence in those responsible for controlling the general population, drawing a parallel to a 1967 incident in Ashland, Nebraska, where an officer was asked if he was the 'Watchman over this place.'

The events began at 4:40 AM on October 20, with Milledgeville police officers reporting a bright red object, approximately 25 feet in diameter, moving west. Later, the object reportedly changed color to green and shifted from a ball shape to a four-leaf clover shape, with no associated noise. The volume of reports led the State Patrol office in Thomson, Georgia, to coordinate the information. Reports also came in from McDuffie, Baldwin, Washington, Elbert, Greene, and Laurens Counties.

On October 22, the encounters escalated. Milledgeville Police Chief Eugene Ellis reported his officers were being chased by unknown objects, stating, 'There are no green me and we're not drunk, but we've seen something and we don't know what it is.' Chief Ellis and his officers observed a UFO near the Oconee River, described as half a mile away, cylindrical, about 40-50 feet across and 30 feet high, glowing orange-yellow. The object rapidly ascended and disappeared. Simultaneously, Warrenton police observed a UFO to their west.

Other law enforcement agencies across Georgia reported similar sightings. In Manchester, Georgia State Patrolman Jerry Goldin observed an ice blue object a mile high and a yellow rectangle-shaped object with a red side. Newnan police officers followed an eight-inch ball of light for eight miles at tree-top level, which then pursued them. The object emitted a beam of bluish light that illuminated the roadway.

Warner-Robins Air Force Base reported no radar contact. Reports were received from numerous counties including Coweta, Meriwether, Baldwin, Talbot, Fayette, Taylor, Houston, Bibb, Sumpter, Warren, and Laurens.

Lt. H.M. Spurlin, a GBI supervisor, suggested the sightings could be attributed to mischievous teenagers releasing candles in plastic bags, a claim that Hitt finds less plausible given the scale and nature of the events.

The article cites the University of Colorado's explanation that the police were looking at Venus, but counters this with findings from the University of Arizona's Institution of Atmospheric Physics, which disagreed, noting Venus does not rise from a pecan grove. Further investigation by the University of Arizona indicated that Dublin Police saw an object moving from North to South, from the direction of Milledgeville.

Hitt concludes that, as a police officer, he sides with the Arizona group's findings, finding the 'candle in a plastic bag' explanation insufficient to account for the multiple law enforcement agencies involved.

Crop Circles Part 3 of 3

By Roberta Puhalski, this installment concludes the article on crop circles. It notes that while phototropism can cause plants to bend at the node, this bending is not concurrent with node elongation or expulsion cavities, suggesting a different cause for crop formations.

The article emphasizes that scientific inquiry should explore unknown realities and establish testable causative models. It highlights Dr. W.C. Levengood's 1994 paper, which proposed that crop formations are caused by ion plasma vortices—highly energetic, rotating systems formed in the upper atmosphere due to energy exchange between the ionosphere and electrical storms. These vortices are drawn to Earth and shaped by its magnetic field.

Levengood's research indicates that affected plants show evidence of exposure to rapid air movement, unusual electrical fields, brief extreme heat, and ionization in a thermodynamically unstable system. These features are consistent with ion plasma vortices. The article suggests that these vortices can create complex symmetrical and non-symmetrical patterns upon impact.

It is noted that non-geometric 'randomly-downed' areas of crop also exhibit similar tissue alterations, suggesting the same causative agency. The phenomenon is compared to the intricate patterns found in nature, such as snowflakes.

The article posits that the most logical explanation, based on collected data, is that highly charged, unstable ion plasma vortices are responsible. Microwave radiation, associated with ionized plasmas, emits intense heat, consistent with documented physical changes in formation plants. The presence of an electrophoretic component within a kinetic, oscillating system further supports this energetic system description.

Further Research and Materials

The article references Dr. Levengood's paper, "Anatomical anomalies in crop formation plants," published in *Physiologia Planetarium*. It also mentions research by John Burke of the BLT Research Team, Inc.

An account is given of Peter Sorenson's investigation in 1993 near Cherhill, Canada, where he discovered reddish-brown magnetic material in a crop formation. This material, examined by Dr. Levengood, was found to be pure iron and oxygen, with tiny grains embedded in plant tissue. Spectroscopic analysis revealed it to be composed of semi-molten black and red bubbles. This material was not terrestrial iron ore and had characteristics consistent with meteoric dust.

The article explains that iron meteors entering Earth's atmosphere heat to molten temperatures, and droplets of pure magnetite are blown off, congealing into tiny spheres. This meteoric dust, a result of ablation, settles to the ground. Spiraling plasma descending from the ionosphere gathers this magnetite, creating tighter plasma spirals and stronger magnetic fields. The interaction of microwaves with metal is noted, and the magnetite's lower melting point compared to pure iron, along with rain, likely prevented charring of the wheat.

Proper sampling for meteoric dust involves collecting surface dirt at the formation center, edge, and outside controls. Readers interested in scientific material and lab findings can contact Nancy Talbot at the BLT Research Team.

State Director's Message

Tom Sheets, State Director of MUFON of Georgia, addresses the need for active Field Investigators (FIs) and Trainees. He emphasizes the importance of attending training, functions, and networking to effectively handle the increasing number of UFO reports. Sheets encourages active FIs to take on investigation assignments, working jointly with certified investigators to gain experience.

He highlights the importance of obtaining and studying the MUFON Field Investigator's Manual for full certification. Sheets also thanks members for their contributions and recognizes newer members David Brown, Olivia Newton, and Patricia Gardner, as well as Mary Dee Janssen, recommending her for State Section Director.

MUFON Activities and Events

The magazine announces upcoming MUFON of Georgia events, including a 'Leonids' sky watch on November 17-18th, with scouting for locations like Fort Mountain and Brasstown Bald. A MUFON Public Meeting is scheduled for Sunday, November 14, 1999, in Griffin, Georgia, featuring a computer class, Field Investigator training, and a public session with presentations on UFOs, including a report on West Georgia/East Alabama investigations and updates on current cases.

The UFONET

David M. Brown, FIT, reviews three popular internet sites for ufologists: The UFO Conspiracy (www.geocities.com/Area_51/Dunes/2484/index2.html), UFOCITY.COM, and CSETI.COM (The Center for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence). These sites offer information on UFO sightings, government cover-ups, and related phenomena.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, particularly UFO sightings and encounters, and the scientific analysis of crop circles. The editorial stance, as expressed by the authors and the MUFON organization, is one of serious inquiry, encouraging scientific investigation, data collection, and active participation in the field of ufology. There is a clear emphasis on evidence-based research and the importance of trained investigators within organizations like MUFON.