Ohio UFO Notebook - No 17 - 1998

Magazine Overview

Title: Ohio UFO Notebook
Issue: #17
Publisher: MidOhio Research Associates, Inc.
Publication Year: 1998

This issue of the Ohio UFO Notebook delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena, focusing primarily on sightings and events within Pennsylvania and its surrounding regions. It features a mix of historical accounts, contemporary reports, and investigative pieces, alongside practical advice and commentary on the UFO subject.

Cover Feature: Frank and Ernest Comic

The cover prominently displays a "Frank and Ernest" comic strip by Frank Thaves, which humorously suggests that aliens are not destroying Earth because they consider humans an endangered species. This sets a tone that blends serious inquiry with a touch of levity.

Table of Contents Highlights

The issue is rich with diverse articles, including:

• Case Notes – A Glowing Situation by Joseph A. Stets: An investigation into a woman's claim of her skin and hair glowing under UV light, with laboratory testing providing suggestive but not conclusive results.
• High Strangeness in Northern Pennsylvania by Scott Corrales: A historical overview of UFO sightings and unusual aerial phenomena in the region, dating back to 1897, including reports of "airships," "fireballs," and classic saucer sightings.
• Sioux City, Iowa – Daylight "Refrigerator" by Beverly Trout: A detailed account of a family's encounter with a rectangular, metallic gray object observed in daylight, which significantly changed one family member's skepticism about UFOs.
• Does the U.S. Department of Energy Monitor Private UFO Groups? by William E. Jones: An investigative piece exploring the author's suspicion of government surveillance after observing a U.S. Government car at a UFO conference, leading to FOIA requests.
• Practical Advice on How to Handle Childhood Abductions: Guidance for parents on how to support children who report abduction experiences, emphasizing acknowledgment and empathy.
• Bigfoot on the Prowl: A report on alleged Bigfoot encounters in McKean County, Pennsylvania, including a description of a creature and a harrowing incident involving a damaged vehicle.

Article Summaries

Case Notes – A Glowing Situation

Joseph A. Stets of MidOhio Research Associates, Inc. details an investigation into a patient named Tamy, who claimed her face, chest, and groin area glowed under UV light, possibly due to a poorly remembered abduction experience. Initial UV light tests showed no unusual glow. However, spectral analysis using a Spectralflorimeter revealed emission spectra with peaks at 437um and excitation spectra at 278um, similar to the laser dye Coumerin 47. While MORA agrees that Tamy's claim is supported by the evidence, they cannot determine the cause or how the material was placed on her body. Further tests on other individuals yielded varied results. The report concludes that while the glow is real, its origin remains unexplained.

High Strangeness in Northern Pennsylvania

Scott Corrales explores the history of UFO activity in Pennsylvania's Northern Tier. The article begins with an 1897 report of an "airships" and progresses through various sightings, including "fireballs" in 1913. The post-WWII era saw an increase in sightings, with a notable report from Bradford in 1947 of a flattened, discoidal object. The article details sightings in the 1950s and 60s, including a "flying saucer" over Hammersley Fork and a metallic sphere near Dartwell Creek. The 1966 UFO flap in Elk, McKean, and Potter Counties is discussed, along with a CE-2 encounter in 1976. The piece also mentions a triangular UFO over Limestone, NY, and the "Ellicottville boomerang" in 1994. Unusual aerial phenomena, such as a "streetlight" object and strange atmospheric conditions, are also noted.

Bigfoot on the Prowl

This section recounts the legend of a "monster bear" seen at Allegany Creek in 1811, suggesting it may have been a Bigfoot. It references Native American legends and describes Bigfoot as "the man in the pointed hat." The article dismisses folkloric creatures but presents Bigfoot evidence as more solid. A recent encounter from December 5, 1995, describes Greg Eisenman and friends being chased by a creature resembling a man-gorilla hybrid, which allegedly shattered their truck's windshield.

Sioux City, Iowa – Daylight "Refrigerator"

Beverly Trout reports on a significant UFO sighting by Daniel and his mother, Brenda, in Sioux City, Iowa. The object, described as a rectangular, metallic gray shape resembling a refrigerator moving horizontally, was observed at an altitude of about 500 feet. The experience was impactful, particularly for Daniel, who had previously been skeptical of his son's UFO experiences. The object exhibited whirling, distorted "energy bands." The sighting prompted Daniel to become more open to discussing UFOs.

Does the U.S. Department of Energy Monitor Private UFO Groups?

William E. Jones recounts his investigation into a U.S. Government car observed at the 34th annual National UFO Conference in Springfield, Ohio. His FOIA requests initially pointed to the GSA, then to the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratories. The response from the DOE indicated the car was used by a government employee attending the conference on personal time. Jones expresses humility, realizing his investigation did not uncover government surveillance of UFO groups but rather a curious employee attending a conference.

Practical Advice on How to Handle Childhood Abductions

This section offers guidance from an investigator and abductee on how parents should respond when children report abduction experiences. It advises parents to acknowledge the phenomenon, not remain silent, and not dismiss the child's claims. It stresses that parents cannot stop the abductions but can offer support and empathy, reminding the child that they have survived before and will continue to do so. The advice emphasizes the importance of the child facing their own fear.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The Ohio UFO Notebook consistently explores the intersection of unexplained aerial phenomena, personal experiences, and potential government interest. The publication maintains a stance of open inquiry, presenting witness accounts and investigative findings without definitive conclusions, often highlighting the mysterious nature of UFOs and related subjects. There is a clear interest in documenting regional UFO activity and providing a platform for researchers and witnesses. The inclusion of advice on handling abduction experiences suggests a compassionate approach to those affected by these phenomena. The blend of serious investigation with the occasional humorous or anecdotal piece, like the cover comic and the Bigfoot report, indicates a broad interest in the unexplained.

This issue of The UFO Journal, Volume 1, Number 1, published in 1998, focuses on a collection of reported UFO sightings and related commentary. It features articles detailing various encounters, an interview with Apollo astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell, and an insider report.

Similar Flying Saucers Observed by William E. Jones

This section details several sightings of flying saucer-like objects. An August 1973 Indiana sighting described a disk-shaped craft with a cone or spiral-shaped effect. A March 1996 report from Oklahoma described an object appearing as multiple spheres compressed together, observed hovering, descending, fluttering, and spinning, with a 'coiled plasma stream spiraled downward.' The article also references sightings from Canada in February 1968 (Mrs. M. Heggs in Bengough, Saskatchewan) and September 1969 (Sharon Radomski in Edmonton), where similar objects were seen, with one reportedly dropping two box-like items that were never located.

Another sighting from March 1966 near Tulsa, Oklahoma, by a college student, described a saucer-shaped object with a mirror-like exterior, about 50 feet in diameter, with a dark figure visible through a window. The object was observed for about ten minutes.

Four Recent Ohio Sightings by Kenny Young, T.A.S.K.

This article presents four distinct UFO sightings from Ohio.

1. February 5, 1998, Gratis, Ohio: Timothy J. reported a triangular object with lights at each corner and in the center, which made no sound and flew extremely slow. Police logs indicated no contact about this sighting.
2. January 29, 1997, Bellville, Ohio: A female resident reported a 'V' shaped object with a bright front and center light, hovering at a high altitude for 25 minutes. A reddish glow was observed on the rear.
3. August 1977, East of Zanesville, Ohio: A witness observed a large object with multiple rows of lights and a flat bottom and top, making no sound. The object was described as moving slowly.
4. May 1, 1997, Defiance, Ohio: Two witnesses saw a shiny, metallic, rectangular object at a 45-degree angle, which left no exhaust trail and made no noise. It was observed for about 10 seconds.
5. February 28, 1998, Kenwood, Ohio: A witness observed a string of four objects in a line, heading east, described as having the same red color as cell tower lights. Initially thought to be planes, they were later observed to change course. The first three objects made no sound, but the fourth had a noise like a Cessna or muffled sound.

Sightings of Note by Richard D. Seifried

This section provides several notable UFO sighting reports.

• August 1952, Montana: A large disk-shaped object was observed gliding silently at tree top level, described as 'brownish gray' with 'port holes.' It was in view for about 3 minutes.
• Mid-May 1974, Kettering, Ohio: A silver or gray, round or saucer-like object was observed hovering and orbiting the neighborhood for about thirty minutes before disappearing. It was several times as large as the full moon and made no sound.
• October 1974, Oakwood, Ohio: A large white 'cigar-shaped object' covered with millions of white lights was observed heading south.

UFOs Over Council Bluffs, Iowa

This report describes a sighting on August 20, 1977, by four witnesses while driving west on I-80. The object had multiple rows of lights and a flat bottom and top, making no sound. It was described as a huge object, 'as big or bigger than a blimp,' moving slowly from the highway toward the city lights of Omaha during violent thunderstorms.

UFO Sighting in Huber Heights, Ohio

On February 7, 1981, a female witness saw a bright white light behind trees, which she initially thought was a plane. The object approached her house, and as she prepared to take a picture, a red light came on, making her jittery. The object's shape became evident, and it then disappeared.

Pyramid UFO Sighting

In August 1980, a witness and his brother observed a bright silver pyramid drifting downward in Columbus, Ohio. The pyramid was estimated to be 30 feet high and 25 feet across the base.

UFO Near Rosdale, Oklahoma

In November 1990, a high school student hunting deer noticed a white light near the horizon, initially thinking it was a plane crashing. It was about a half-hour before sunrise.

UFO Over Oklahoma City

On January 27, 1993, a 30-year-old man observed a 'big light' or 'form of solid light' to the west over a housing division in Oklahoma City. He estimated it was less than 500 feet away and at an altitude of 180 feet. The craft was shaped like half a Frisbee, giving off a yellowish-orange light, and was estimated to be 200 feet long and 80 feet in height, moving at 20 to 30 mph. It disappeared 'like turning out or off a light.'

La Crosse, Washington Sighting

On December 29, 1994, a mother and her children observed three extraordinary bright lights above a wheat field. They then saw three coal-black, delta-shaped craft with articulating structures, radiating blinding lights. The objects drifted slowly, turned south, and were described as giving off a barely perceptible humming sound.

Bits and Pieces

Dr. Edgar Mitchell, Apollo Astronaut, Speaks Out

Dr. Edgar Mitchell shared his views at a conference in October 1997 regarding government knowledge of UFOs and extraterrestrial technology. He stated that government officials were often naive about the subject, and that files from fifty years ago may no longer exist due to being purged or compromised. Mitchell believes that the evidence for ET presence is building, and that much of what is observed might be reverse-engineered technology in the hands of humans not under government control. He finds the existence of such technology alarming, noting that while it is not currently usable by modern armies, it is understandable from a scientific perspective and thus not entirely beyond reach.

Mitchell also commented on the nature of space-time, suggesting that ultra-dimensions and wormhole travel might not be necessary to explain observed phenomena, and that our three-dimensional or four-dimensional universe might be sufficient.

Another Insider Report

This section recounts a story from a friend named Charlie, who was part of a top-secret group in the 1950s tasked with investigating UFO reports and deprogramming witnesses. Charlie claimed that the group used psychological techniques and drugs to alter witnesses' perceptions to fit a 'correct truth.' He spoke of a spacecraft crash near Ogden, Utah, which was housed and studied at an abandoned military base. Charlie believed the secrecy was to prevent global chaos that would result from proof of alien intelligent life. He stated that he was the only survivor of his seven-person group, with others being dead or incarcerated. Charlie himself was later imprisoned for a crime, which he believed stemmed from his need for freedom, turning him from a patriot to a paranoid.

Scientists and UFOs by Dennis Stacy

This excerpt from an email discusses the perspective that science needs to take a serious interest in UFOs. It questions why a young scientist would leave SETI (Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), considered 'real science,' for ufology, which is often based on anecdotal reports. The author suggests that studying UFOs would require years of sifting through such literature.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around eyewitness accounts of unidentified aerial phenomena, focusing on the physical characteristics of the objects, their behavior, and the lack of conventional explanations. There is a consistent emphasis on the importance of collecting and analyzing these reports, even if they are anecdotal. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting various sightings and expert opinions without definitive conclusions, but with an underlying acknowledgment of the persistent nature of these reports and the potential for advanced, possibly non-human, technology.

This issue of the Ohio UFO Notebook, dated January 27, 1997, delves into various aspects of ufology, including the challenges of scientific engagement, personal abduction experiences, and the global landscape of UFO research.

Articles and Letters

The Scientific Divide in Ufology

The issue opens with a critical examination of ufology's struggle to attract mainstream scientific interest. The author questions whether a scientist studying abductions would need to shift their academic focus, suggesting that the field's public image, marred by controversial topics like the Mars Face, NASA cover-ups, Hale-Bopp, Heaven's Gate, Bob Lazar, Area 51, alien autopsy films, MJ-12 documents, and Roswell crash retrievals, creates a significant public relations problem. The piece contrasts this with the excitement of 'orthodox' science, which is making daily discoveries through new instrumentation like the Hubble Telescope and Mars probes. It poses a question: is it better to have more scientists studying ufology, or more ufologists studying SETI and related sciences?

Letters to MORA

Several letters offer diverse perspectives:

• Donald A. Buchanan from Columbus, Ohio, sends a brief note of encouragement.
• Kenny Young from Norwood, Ohio, expresses skepticism about the Monsanto story but notes its alignment with recovered saucer lore and Corso allegations, while also acknowledging secretive operations by EG&G, Wackenhut, Monsanto/Mound/DOE.
• A letter from the Czech Republic details the writer's adjustment to life there, the difficulty of learning the Czech language, and a personal theory on abductions. The writer believes extraterrestrials are here to gather genetic and natural materials for their own purposes, viewing Earth as a resource. However, they might intervene to prevent catastrophic human-caused destruction of the planet.
• Jennifer Perkins-Kopecká, formerly of Ohio and now living in the Czech Republic, is noted as having experienced abduction-like events. A drawing by her is featured on page 21.
• Alan Zerla from MUFON in Steubenville, Ohio, responds to a report in issue #14 about a sighting in West Carrollton, Ohio. Zerla suggests the reported 'object' was likely a flock of birds, explaining the observed shape changes as individual birds shifting position within the flock.
• Cynthia Hind from Harare, Zimbabwe, writes about her efforts to promote her UFO book, "UFOS OVER AFRICA." She notes the lack of interest and uninformed nature of South Africans regarding UFOs, contrasting it with her own experiences in Zimbabwe. She highlights the challenges of promoting UFO research in remote areas and the economic difficulties due to currency devaluation, which makes books expensive. Despite these hurdles, she emphasizes the importance of keeping records of UFO incidents.

Personal Account of an Encounter

A detailed personal account describes a peculiar early morning experience involving a perceived visitation for 'tissue muscle joint stuff.' The narrator recalls seeing a strange pipe with fire at one end being applied to their arm, followed by a flinch and a cold sweat. Faint electronic beeps were heard. Later, while waiting for tea, the narrator felt a sharp pain on their arm, described as a 'bad spider bite' with no swelling but a hot, tender area. The narrator also notes the return of a 'triangle mark' and a series of dots on their thigh. This experience is framed within a broader sense of being visited during sleep, likening it to a child's belief in Santa Claus, but without the positive outcomes.

New Reports and Publications

• Ohio's Rick Hilberg has released a new report titled "Around and About the Saucer World," compiling UFO sightings and mysteries from his 36 years of study, including cases from Ohio and worldwide since the 1940s. It is available for $9.95.
• "The UFO Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition" by Jerry Clark is reviewed. This updated two-volume, 1,600-page edition features 271 entries from 'Abduction Phenomenon' to 'Jennie Zeidman,' covering cases, theories, organizations, personalities, government responses, and more. It includes 50 UFO organizations and contactee groups and is thoroughly documented with source material. The encyclopedia is published by Omnigraphics and costs $125.00.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue reflects a recurring theme of the perceived disconnect between mainstream science and ufology, with a critical look at ufology's methodology and public image. There's an ongoing exploration of abduction phenomena, with personal accounts and theoretical discussions. The challenges of conducting and promoting UFO research in different global contexts, particularly in Africa, are highlighted. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various viewpoints and personal experiences while also encouraging critical analysis and a connection to scientific investigation where possible. The inclusion of book reviews and encyclopedia entries suggests an effort to provide resources for serious researchers in the field.