UFO Newsclipping Service - 1976 03 - no 83

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated March 1976, is a compilation of UFO reports and witness testimonies from various locations across the United States. The cover story, "'IT' is still a mystery — Trip home longer than usual," details an encounter by Mona Stafford and two friends in Kentucky, involving a large, unidentified object that caused a significant time lapse and physical effects.

Key Articles and Reports

'IT' is still a mystery — Trip home longer than usual (By Don White)

The lead article recounts the experience of Mona Stafford, Louise Smith, and Elaine Thomas on January 6, 1976. While driving home after a birthday dinner, they witnessed a fiery object descending from the sky. It transformed into a large, blimp-shaped object with rotating red lights and a brilliant bluish-white light. The object allegedly caused their car to accelerate to 85 mph without the driver's foot on the accelerator, and they experienced a time lapse, finding themselves miles away from their last known location. Two of the women reported burns on their necks resembling sunburn. They reported the incident to authorities, but Mrs. Stafford expressed ongoing distress and a need for understanding.

UFO's plague OC family (By Charles Roberts)

This report details the experiences of Brian Scott of Garden Grove, California, who claims to have been repeatedly taken aboard alien craft since his 16th birthday in 1959. He describes encounters with "balls of light" and a "host" being. Scott recounts a specific abduction in 1971 in the Arizona desert, where he was taken aboard a craft with other beings described as tall, grey-skinned creatures with unusual physical characteristics. He also describes a subsequent experience in 1973 where he felt he was being studied and educated. The article notes that Scott's involvement with these phenomena has led to his wife and child also experiencing "strange maladies," with his daughter hospitalized and requiring an IV for dehydration.

Fargoan's UFO Incident Report: A Case of Feast or Famine (By Bob Lind)

This article focuses on Mrs. Sandra Larson of Fargo, North Dakota, who claims to have been abducted by UFOs in August 1975. Her story gained national attention six months later, with segments on "AM America" and interviews with CBS and NBC. Larson, a cocktail waitress, was traveling to Bismarck when she and her friend and daughter saw luminous balls land in a field. She experienced a time lapse and, under hypnosis administered by Dr. Leo Sprinkle, recalled being taken aboard a craft and subjected to a physical examination by beings described as large, wearing rubber-like suits with bandages over their faces and metal arms. Her daughter Jackie also reported a time lapse and other unusual occurrences, including lights going off by themselves and their dog disappearing.

Strange Objects Seen In Sky In Lincoln County (By Brenda Edwards)

This report compiles several sightings in the Stanford and McKinney areas of Kentucky. Mrs. Donna Coffey described a small object with blue lights that traveled fast and then slowly, flashing on and off. Teresa Campbell and others reported seeing a "saucer" with a "terrible noise" on January 19, which caused a "funny feeling." Ms. Campbell also noted a spotlight and no noise, differentiating it from known aircraft. The article also references the experiences of Mrs. Louise Smith, Mona Stafford, and Elaine Thomas, who reported seeing a "dome shaped object" on January 6, similar to the main cover story.

Deputy spots UFO

A local Sheriff's deputy in southern Campbell County, Wyoming, reported seeing a UFO described as the size of a semi-truck with rotating lights of various colors. Four other people also witnessed the object, which reportedly eluded attempts to track it.

'Cigar' UFO Seen By LV Observers

Observers in Las Vegas Valley reported sightings of a cigar-shaped object flying at extremely high altitude and accelerating to invisibility. Another report described an oblong, rust-colored object. Both objects were seen over Mount Charleston and were described as moving faster than any jet.

Stock I. couple reports seeing UFOs in action (By Wendy Tucker)

Charles and Rosemary Heitmeyer of Stock Island, Florida, reported seeing three unidentified flying objects described as "flying saucer" in shape with square windows and an orangy-red glare. They observed the objects hovering and bobbing before rapidly disappearing. They were unable to identify them as aircraft or natural phenomena.

Trooper Sights UFO

Florida Highway Patrolman Stephen R. Bevis reported a possible UFO hovering over Navarre Beach. He described it as a white light with red and green lights, appearing five to six times larger and brighter than the largest star. Eglin Air Force Base spokesmen also viewed the object and were inclined to agree it might be the planet Venus.

Sighting of UFO Off Navarre (By Cathy Blum)

This article corroborates the report of Patrolman Stephen R. Bevis, detailing a UFO sighting over the Gulf south of Navarre. The object reportedly gave off a bright, sometimes blue-green light, and a red glow. Eglin Air Force Base radar could not track it. The object was described as far enough away to preclude size estimates, but earlier reports compared its size to a large jet plane.

Strange things seen in the air

Two separate sightings of unidentified flying objects were reported by Boca Raton residents. Mel Melanson and his family reported seeing a brilliant red object with a red tail. Another witness described a "great big ring of lights" suspended over the ocean, with 24 or more lights.

Man Sends for Exorcist (UFO Malady?)

This report from Garden Grove, California, details Brian Scott's claims that his wife and child are suffering from "strange maladies" caused by UFO experiences. Scott summoned an exorcist, believing his child's symptoms were brought on by a UFO. Police records indicate Scott had previously reported his family being kidnapped by a UFO.

Blue-Green UFO Sighted

An unidentified flying object was sighted at Eglin Air Force Base, described as hovering for almost two hours and giving off a blueish-green color with a light vapor exhaust. Military police and base radar operators observed the object, but it did not appear on radar screens.

Unidentified Flying Objects In Willard Bring Out Reports

This article compiles reports of UFO sightings in the Willard, Kentucky, area. Witnesses described objects as "tall cigar-shaped," "round, disc-like," and "flying saucers." Some reports mention lights splitting and moving in different directions, while others describe objects that glide rather than fly.

Sky Filled With Wonders: More UFOs

This report from Heislerville and Dorothy, New Jersey, details sightings of objects described as boomerang-shaped with two bright lights. Witnesses reported hearing a low whirring noise and seeing semi-circle red lights on the underside. One witness claimed to see a figure in a small window. The object was dismissed by the Coast Guard as fishing boat lights.

Yolo UFO Sighting

Three young girls in Yolo County, California, reported seeing a UFO described as saucer-shaped with flashing red, white, blue, and purple lights. The object reportedly landed in a field before flying above them. Sheriff's officers searched the area but found no evidence.

Man swears he saw UFO — and deputy sort of agrees

Ellis Whisenhunt of Mill City, Oregon, reported seeing a large, "L" shaped object with two different shapes that moved and changed colors. A deputy sheriff, Donald Brewster, who responded to Whisenhunt's call, agreed that he saw "something" but was hesitant to label it a UFO, describing it as an "apple cut in half" or an "iridescent yo-yo."

They Saw Four UFO's, Police Say

Three policemen in Rosenberg, Texas, reported watching four unidentified objects maneuver over the city for 11 hours. The objects reportedly alternated colors and formed a horizontal pattern.

Strange Object Spotted Sunday

An unidentified flying object was sighted near Gallatin, Missouri, extending from southeast of Gallatin to near Brookfield. Reports from various sources, including police departments, described the object as having an amber color that turned purplish and grew larger and brighter.

UFO Sighting Reported to Police

Rockview state police in Pennsylvania reported a UFO sighting with red and blue lights in the Pleasant Gap area. Similar sightings were reported in the Centre Hall and Hublersburg areas.

Florida Lawmen Say They Chased UFO

Sheriff's deputies and Florida Highway Patrolmen in Lake City, Florida, reported chasing an unidentified flying object flashing blue, green, red, and white lights. The object was described as having a glass dome on the bottom.

Sighting of UFO baffling officials

This report from Woodland, California, details a UFO sighting by Mrs. Vicki Richter, a reserve deputy. She described seeing two objects, one with no discernible shape and another that became brilliant and then faded. Air Force spokesmen at Travis and McClellan bases denied any connection to military activity.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, alleged abductions, and the physical and psychological effects on witnesses. The publication appears to present these accounts without overt skepticism, allowing the witness testimonies to speak for themselves. The editorial stance seems to be one of documenting and disseminating these reports for research purposes, as indicated by the "UFO RESEARCH COMMITTEE - UFO NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE" branding and the disclaimer about direct reproduction being prohibited.

Several articles highlight the difficulty witnesses have in explaining their experiences and the skepticism they often face. The inclusion of law enforcement reports and polygraph tests (as in the Travis Walton case) suggests an attempt to lend credibility to some of the accounts. The publication seems to cater to an audience interested in the unexplained and the possibility of extraterrestrial visitation.

This issue of The Free Press, dated January 5, 1976, focuses heavily on UFO sightings and related phenomena reported by residents across various locations.

Cover Story: Glowing, Orange UFO Described by Area Youths

The main cover story details a sighting by two youths, Todd Beck (13) and Christopher Stump (10), in Trumbauersville on January 1st at approximately 9:30 p.m. While sledding in Stump's backyard, they observed a "vibrating, orange, glowing, circular object with sparks shooting out from the sides." The object hovered in place for about two minutes near the horizon towards Quakertown before fading out in about two seconds. The sky was clear, ruling out a cloud. The youths reported hearing no noise from the object, which they described as "twinkling" like a star with sparks. They mentioned seeing a plane shortly after the object disappeared, indicating the UFO could not have been mistaken for a plane. Stump stated he had no camera with him at the time and recalled seeing a similar UFO described in a recent Free Press article. Both youths admitted to being "scared" and identified themselves as science fiction fans.

More Residents Report Sighting 'Thing' in Sky

This section compiles several other recent sightings:

• Bellefonte: Rodney Wells and his wife, along with four other adults including a state trooper, reported seeing a stationary object near their apartment on Monday night. Mrs. Wells described the object as "sometimes appearing oblong and had revolving lights in the center," with lights appearing green, blue, red, and yellow, and a beam of light coming down. Donald Ecker, a former policeman, observed the object through a rifle sight and described it as "about the size of a thumb held at arms length" with a white light coming from it, looking like a dime or circular. He noted it was not stationary like a helicopter. Wells watched the object for about an hour, and his wife recalled seeing a similar object in September.
• State Police at Rockview: Reported three sightings of an unidentified light in the sky Tuesday night between 6:30 and 9 p.m., with one confirmed by a trooper. These occurred near Pleasant Gap, Centre Hall, and Hublersburg.
• Modesto, California: Several residents reported seeing an unidentified flying object (UFO) early the previous night. However, the Modesto Police Department stated they were seeing a searchlight playing upon the low clouds. Linda Girlinghouse disputed this, stating her mother, sister, and herself saw the object elsewhere. Her sister, Sheila, who did not believe in such things, also witnessed it.
• Cedar Ridge: Karl B. Lanquist reported seeing a blue and red glowing object from his home for more than five minutes before it disappeared to the west. He described it as being "not more than 50 feet above the shrubs and about 300 feet from my home." Lanquist, previously a skeptic, stated, "there is absolutely no doubt that that's (a UFO) what it was." The object made no sound. He found no trace of disturbance the next day. He also mentioned hearing of similar sightings in the Gold Run area by highway patrolmen.
• Gold Run Area: Two highway patrolmen, Norman Chavez and Dale Tuel of Auburn, reported seeing an object hovering over the Gold Run area for hours before it disappeared. They described it as "sort of bounced and moved from side to side."
• Chico, California: Residents reported "hotdog-shaped objects" in the sky. Truckee Highway patrolmen Bill Ruppert and Bob Friddell viewed it with binoculars from a summit in the Sierra, discounting it as an "atmospheric phenomenon" that made stars look peculiar.

UFO Sighted Near Armco

This article reports a UFO sighting on Thursday night in the Flatwoods area. Scott McKenzie (15) and three others viewed a "lighted object hovering in the direction of Armco," described as "like a top turned upside down." They observed it for about an hour, noting "just a bunch of lights" that moved.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the widespread reporting of unidentified flying objects and strange lights in the sky. The newspaper appears to be documenting these reports without explicit endorsement or dismissal, presenting witness accounts and, where available, official or police responses. The editorial stance seems to be one of reporting on these phenomena as they are observed and reported by the public and local authorities.