Magazine Summary
POTPOURRI NEWS
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Summary
This issue of Potpourri News reports on a UFO sighting by Barbara Siewell and her family on Christmas Eve 1978, near Camas, Washington. Siewell described seeing a disc-like object hovering low over the highway, which then changed direction and moved at high speed. The report notes that local police and aviation officials had no official reports of such a sighting and speculated it might have been an advertising plane. The article includes a sketch by Siewell and a cartoon by Joseph Farris.
Magazine Overview
Title: POTPOURRI NEWS
Issue Date: March 26, 1978
Issue Number: 163
Document Type: Magazine Issue
This issue of Potpourri News features a prominent cover story titled "She saw it, too!", detailing a UFO sighting by Barbara Siewell and her family on Christmas Eve 1978. The magazine includes a sketch by Siewell illustrating the object and a cartoon by Joseph Farris.
UFO hovering over Camas
The main article recounts the experience of Barbara Siewell of Springfield, Oregon, who, along with her two daughters and husband, witnessed an unidentified flying object on Christmas Eve. They were traveling en route to Washougal when they observed several lights in the air to the northeast. Initially dismissing them as house lights, the lights began to move directly towards their vehicle, descending low over the highway between Washougal and the river.
Siewell stated that both her daughters and she saw the object, which her husband initially attributed to imagination. She described the UFO as hovering directly over the highway, then turning on its end before flattening out and moving towards Camas at a slow pace. Subsequently, it changed direction and rapidly moved toward the Portland area.
The article references a previous report in the Jan. 11 POST about two adult witnesses who saw a similar object. It also notes that Camas police did not receive any reports of such a sighting, and aviation officials suggested it might have been an advertising plane. The article concludes with "Still...", implying lingering questions about the event.
Information, Data, Commentary and Speculation
This section is attributed to John F. Schuessler, with a P.O. Box address in Houston, Texas. This indicates Schuessler is the compiler or writer of the content, likely focusing on UFO-related phenomena.
Cover Details
The cover features the headline "She saw it, too!" prominently displayed. Accompanying the headline is a detailed sketch of a circular object with a patterned interior, labeled with circles and lines, suggesting a technical or schematic representation. Below this, a cartoon depicts two figures, possibly aliens, with one stating, "Our mission was a failure. Apparently the earthlings don't have a cure for the common cold either." The dateline "POST-RECORD, Camas, WA - Jan. 25, 1978" is visible, indicating the source of the initial report that this article is following up on.
Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance
The primary theme of this issue is UFO sightings and witness testimony, with a focus on corroborating evidence or additional accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and presentation of data, even when official explanations are offered, as suggested by the "Still..." at the end of the main article. The inclusion of a cartoon and a sketch indicates an effort to engage readers with both factual reporting and speculative elements.
"We were just to the west of Camas, before you get to the exit. I saw a few lights in the air to the northeast, but I thought it might be house lights on a hill, not being familiar with the Camas skyline."
Key Incidents
Barbara Siewell and her family reported seeing a UFO hovering over the highway near Camas on Christmas Eve, describing it as a disc that turned on end, flattened out, and moved erratically.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Barbara Siewell and her family see on Christmas Eve 1978?
Barbara Siewell and her family reported seeing a UFO hovering over the highway near Camas, Washington, describing it as a disc that turned on end, flattened out, and moved erratically.
Where did the UFO sighting near Camas take place?
The sighting occurred on the highway near Camas, Washington, between Washougal and the river, on Christmas Eve 1978.
What was the official response to the sighting?
Camas police reported no official sightings, and aviation officials speculated it might have been an advertising plane.
Who wrote about the UFO sighting?
The information was presented in a letter from Barbara Siewell to The POST, and the article was written by John F. Schuessler for Potpourri News.
In This Issue
People Mentioned
- BARBARA SIEWELLwitness
- JOHN F. SCHUESSLERwriter
- JOSEPH FARRIScartoonist
Organisations
- POST
- Camas police
- aviation officials
Locations
- Springfield, USA
- Camas, USA
- Washougal, USA
- Portland, USA