MUFON Michigan Newsletter - 2007 01

Magazine Overview

This is the January 2007 issue of the Michigan MUFON Newsletter, a publication of the Michigan Mutual UFO Network. The issue opens with a "Happy New Year" message from the State Director, Bill Konkolesky, who expresses optimism for 2007 and reminds members to pay their annual dues to continue receiving the newsletter. The cover also features a list of articles inside, including "The Kinross Controversy," "Commander Graham Bethune (US Navy Ret.) Dies," "Brightly Glowing, Structural UFO Photographed In MA," "Scientists Create Cloak of Invisibility," and more.

Words From the State Director

State Director Bill Konkolesky reflects on 2006 as a challenging year but looks forward to 2007 with optimism. He mentions a recent speaking engagement promoting Michigan MUFON and encourages members to pay their 2007 MIMUFON membership dues of $25 per family to ensure continued receipt of the newsletter. Renewal can be done via PayPal, at the January 28 meeting, or by mail. The newsletter also provides contact information for Michigan MUFON, including its P.O. Box and website, as well as key personnel like the State Director, Asst. State Directors, and Newsletter Editor.

The Kinross Controversy: Hoax, Fraud, Men-in-Black or Genuine Discovery?

This article by Dirk Vander Ploeg investigates the mystery surrounding the discovery of a 1953 F-89 Scorpion fighter jet and an unknown object on the bottom of Lake Superior by The Great Lakes Dive Company. The company, whose spokesman is Adam Jimenez, acknowledged the discovery but faced delays in further investigation due to government permission issues. The article notes the disappearance of the company's website and Jimenez's unresponsiveness. The author questions why official organizations haven't pursued the discovery and expresses skepticism, while also acknowledging the possibility of a genuine find. The article touches on attempts by influential individuals and groups to gain partnership or sponsorship, some of whom allegedly used intimidation tactics. The author concludes by stating that while he has doubts, he believes in Adam Jimenez and suggests the website takedown was to avoid overwhelming attention and to plan for the future.

Commander Graham Bethune (US Navy Ret.) Dies

This section is a tribute to Commander Graham Bethune, a retired US Navy pilot who passed away. He is remembered for revealing his encounter with a UFO during the Disclosure Project and for providing a UFO photograph used on the cover of a book by David Twichell and the author. He also spoke about his UFO sighting at the National Press Club and the University of Toronto. The article includes three photographs of a UFO over Nashville, Tennessee, taken in 1989, which Commander Bethune provided. These photos allegedly show a FS-143 saucer with circular columns of light.

Michigan MUFON State Section Directors Meeting Minutes

These minutes detail the Michigan MUFON State Section Directors meeting held on November 5, 2006, in Flint, Michigan. Key discussions included the sale of newsletters and books, plans for contacting non-attending members, removing a former website from mentions, and the availability of Minnesota's newsletters. The group decided to stop mailing invitations to a list of non-members due to low attendance increase. They also discussed issues with the USPS mangling newsletters and decided to experiment with using envelopes. A request for a video copy from the MIMUFON library was approved, with the condition that the requestor join the organization.

Brightly Glowing, Structural UFO Photographed In MA

This article presents a UFO photograph taken by Fredrick N. from Lynn, MA, on December 12, 2006. The photos, taken with a digital camera, show a brightly glowing, structural object. One image is enhanced with false color, revealing a dome-like structure above bottom lights. A "Comment" from "AR," a photographer, praises the photo's clarity and suggests the blue light might be UV radiation, with the tracers rotating counter-clockwise. The comment provides links to related scientific articles about UV light and spectral analysis. The article also includes a quote from American journalist Dorothy Kilgallen from May 1955, discussing British scientists' conviction that flying saucers are extraterrestrial.

Scientists Create Cloak of Invisibility

This article reports on an experiment by scientists from the United States and England who successfully cloaked a copper cylinder, preventing microwaves from detecting it. David Schurig, a research associate at Duke University, described it as an "artificial mirage." The technology works by deflecting waves around an object, similar to how water flows around a rock. While the current cloak is two-dimensional and casts a shadow, researchers are working on a three-dimensional version that eliminates shadows. The concept could potentially be adapted for visible light, though it presents engineering challenges. The research involved scientists from Duke University, Imperial College in London, and SensorMetrix in San Diego, and was supported by various research programs.

We Are Not Alone

This section promotes "WHFR 89.3 FM," a commercial-free public radio station broadcasting from Henry Ford Community College. The station features alternative music and programming, and hosts local investigators and scientists discussing UFO reality. The show airs on the first Saturday of each month at 10:00 AM EST and can be streamed online.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the ongoing investigation and reporting of UFO sightings and phenomena, the importance of scientific inquiry, and the operational aspects of the Michigan MUFON organization, such as membership drives and meetings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, encouraging critical analysis while not dismissing claims outright. There's a clear emphasis on membership and participation within the MUFON network. The newsletter also highlights the challenges and controversies surrounding UFO investigations, such as the Kinross case, and the potential for both genuine discoveries and hoaxes.

This issue of the Michigan MUFON Newsletter, dated January 2007, features a variety of articles related to UFO phenomena, astronomy, and investigations conducted by MUFON.

Articles

Sixteen New Planets Found in Milky Way

The lead article on the cover discusses the discovery of sixteen new planets in the Milky Way by the Hubble Space Telescope. NASA astrophysicists deduce that there are billions of planets in the Milky Way, suggesting the likelihood of life on some of these planets. These newly found planets are located deep within the Milky Way, significantly farther than the 200 planets already identified outside our solar system. The article explains that planets can be found throughout the galaxy and near our solar system, indicating that Earth-like planets with intelligent life are probable. The discovery method involves observing the slight wobble in a star's motion caused by a planet's orbit and the periodic dimming of starlight during planet transits. The information is credited to NASA.

Mexico UFO Sighting

This section details a UFO sighting and photographic evidence from Puebla, Mexico, on October 4, 2006. Renowned Mexican journalist Jose Luis Moreno Reyes was on the Atlixco-Izucar de Matamoros highway to write an article for his website about paranormal events. At approximately 11:45 AM, while preparing to photograph an "Ahuehuete" tree, he noticed a flying object illuminated by the sun's rays. He moved to the center of the road for a better view and took two photos of the object. The witness used a Canon PowerShot A-310 camera. The report is from The Journal of Hispanic Ufology.

Blimp or UFO?

This extensive article by David E. Twichell investigates a UFO sighting by a witness identified as S.W. in Plymouth, Michigan, on August 16, 2006, at 9:43 PM. The witness described a typical disk-shaped object hovering for about eight minutes and was able to take a picture. The witness, driving home from a circus, noticed the object hovering above railroad tracks. She took pictures while talking to her sister on speakerphone. The object appeared translucent and very bright, estimated to be the size of a house. She also observed approximately 4-5 airplanes and a helicopter. Despite the event lasting about ten minutes, it was not reported in local news. Gary Golem, a State Section Director, interviewed the witness, who estimated the object's height at 6-8 poles above the tracks and believed it headed southeasterly. The witness' sister, L.W., found three similar reports online. Another witness traveling from downtown Detroit to Southgate, Michigan, also reported a similar object over the Detroit River around 10:35 PM, describing it as blimp-like but glowing with a bright light and moving at about 45 MPH. This object was observed for about 20 minutes, lost sight of, and then re-spotted. Attempts to photograph it were unsuccessful due to darkness. The witness also noted a man in an adjacent car looking at the object. A co-worker mentioned a Channel 4 news report about strange activity on the 16th, but no reports were found online. The article then explores the possibility that the sightings were of the Sanyo blimp, which was known to be in the Detroit metropolitan area. Amy Caulder from the Lightship Group confirmed that the Sanyo blimp has an internal light system and flies with lights off, but the lettering is permanent. Dr. Bruce Maccabee, a MUFON photographic analyst, examined the photo and suggested it could be an internally lighted blimp, but noted the shape appeared authentic "unknown." Investigations with Mettetal Airport and the Helicopter service found no unusual activity. The article also details sightings in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, where two witnesses reported a bright saucer-like object, and another report from four people who saw an octagonal or saucer-shaped object. The author, David Twichell, attempted computer analysis of the Plymouth photograph, which suggested a copula on top and no gondola on the bottom, differing from the Sanyo blimp. The article concludes that while the Sanyo blimp could account for sightings in the Detroit/Windsor area, the Plymouth object remains an unknown based on the photographic evidence.

Recent Michigan Sightings

This section compiles several recent UFO sightings:

• Chicago: Airline workers reported seeing a dark gray, elliptical-shaped craft over O'Hare International Airport on November 7, 2006. The object hovered motionless, then bolted noiselessly upward, leaving an "eerie hole" in the clouds. The FAA dismissed it as a weather phenomenon, despite employee claims that their bosses and the government wouldn't take them seriously. The object was described as 6 to 24 feet in diameter.
• Clinton, Michigan: On September 8, 2006, a witness and his wife observed a small black, triangle-shaped object in front of the moon through binoculars. It appeared to tumble end over end before disappearing.
• Jones, Michigan: A witness driving on M-60 East reported seeing a glowing orange oval object crossing the road above the tree line. It was estimated to be 8 inches to a foot long at arm's length and appeared to be emitting steam. The object was described as oval and made no noise.

"Out of the Blue" Presentation at January Meeting

This section reviews the documentary "Out of the Blue," which aired on the Sci-Fi Channel. The documentary covers the history of UFO activity, highlighting significant sightings and events, and features interviews with experts. It discusses cases like Roswell, Rendlesham Forest, and the Phoenix Lights, while avoiding sensational topics like alien abduction. The film also delves into the alleged government cover-up of UFO information, citing examples like President Carter's requests for information and the Condon report. The review contrasts the US approach with other governments, mentioning the 1999 COMETA report from France, which concluded that extraterrestrial visitors are the most plausible hypothesis. The review praises "Out of the Blue" as a quality UFO documentary.

MUFON Field Investigator's Training

This is a brief announcement stating that there will be no Field Investigator's Training in January but to watch for details of a March session.

Make Your Meeting Reservations Today!

This section provides information for making reservations for an upcoming Michigan MUFON meeting, including a phone number and email address, with a deadline of Wednesday, January 24th.

Michigan MUFON Meeting at Walli's East Restaurant

Details for a Michigan MUFON meeting on Sunday, January 28, 2007, at Walli's East Restaurant in Burton, Michigan. The schedule includes FI Training, Buffet Lunch, a presentation of "Out of the Blue," and MIMUFON Announcements & Necessary Business. Membership fees are listed, with a special rate for first-time guests. Board members are requested to attend a brief meeting before brunch.

From The Editor's Desk: Another Myth Put to Rest

David Twichell addresses misinformation in UFO research, specifically an article by Bill Knell about an alleged UFO sighting by Walter Cronkite during a 1950s missile test in the South Pacific. Twichell wrote to Cronkite to verify the story. The article describes a large disc-type UFO appearing during the test, hovering, and emitting a blue beam that froze a missile, a guard, and a dog. The missile then exploded, and the UFO vanished. The Air Force explained it as a staged media reaction test. Cronkite, however, was certain the object was not earthly and did not believe the explanation then or when he recounted the story. Cronkite's reply to Twichell states he has no recollection of such an event and would have reported it. Twichell respects Cronkite's opinion but reflects on his own sighting of a huge object over Detroit in 1962, acknowledging that without personal experience, conventional wisdom and hoaxes can lead people to believe we are alone in the universe.

Michigan MUFON Contact List

This section provides a comprehensive contact list for Michigan MUFON State Section Directors, Assistant State Directors, Webmaster, Librarians, Newsletter Editor, and Public Relations Director, along with their phone numbers and email addresses. It also includes instructions for contacting individuals, recommending email as the primary method.

Subscription Form

A form for 2007 Michigan MUFON State Dues and Newsletter Subscription is included, with instructions to mail it with a $25.00 check or money order. It also provides information for members who have not paid their dues and an option to receive the newsletter via email.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings and investigations, astronomical discoveries, and the ongoing effort to separate factual accounts from misinformation and hoaxes within the UFO community. The editorial stance, particularly in David Twichell's "From The Editor's Desk," emphasizes critical evaluation of reports, the importance of verification, and the acknowledgment of personal experiences while maintaining a skeptical yet open mind towards the UFO phenomenon. The newsletter also serves as a platform for disseminating information about MUFON activities, meetings, and contact persons within Michigan.