UFO Newsclipping Service - 1978 05 - no 106

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated May 1978, is identified as Number 106. It is co-edited by Lucius Farish and Rod B. Dyke and published by U.F.O. NEWS CLIPPING SERVICE in Plummerville, Arkansas.

Apparent UFO Reported (Sentinel-Record, Hot Springs, AR - April 19, 1978)

This article details a sighting by Don Joyce, an advertising salesman, his wife Norma Joyce, and their friend Earl Harris in western Garland County, Arkansas. The object, initially mistaken for the planet Venus, was seen flickering, turning orange and blue, and moving erratically. Joyce, a professional photographer, took several pictures with his 200mm lens. The negatives reportedly came out reversed, with the object appearing dark against a bright white background, and the cloudy night sky appearing as a glistening white plain. Joyce's wife described the colors as bright yellow-orange with occasional blue hues, while Earl Harris reported a blue glow with intermittent flashes of goldish-red light. Don Joyce described the glow as 'goldish amber in nature.' An inquiry to the Hot Springs airport revealed no aircraft detected on radar at the time.

Juda man reports observing a UFO (Times, Monroe, WI - April 25, 1978)

Jake Kaderly of Juda, Wisconsin, reported seeing a flying oval, described as dark red with a light red center, while driving on Highway 11-81. He observed the object for about two minutes before it disappeared.

UFO Sighting Reported (Gazette, Janesville, WI - April 17, 1978)

An unidentified flying object was reported by a Footville woman traveling on County B. The object was described as round and having a clear dome on the top and bottom.

UFO sightings reported (Spinal Column, Union Lake, MI - March 1, 1978)

This article compiles several UFO sighting reports from Michigan. A 15-year-old White Lake boy reported seeing a circular-shaped object with two bright white lights and red lights, emitting a humming noise. White Lake police chief Justin Watt noted the boy was credible and that similar reports had been made to Macomb County sheriff's deputies. Mary Ratelle of Milford reported seeing two 'big blobs of light' over Kensington Park, which she identified as UFOs because they were much larger than passenger planes. In another report, Curt Folger of Stanford, Kentucky, sighted a gray, round object with a square top and red, white, and green lights hovering about 200 feet above the ground.

UFOs Sighted Again (Morris County Daily Record, Morristown, NJ - March 13, 1978)

Mike Mahoney of Rockaway Township reported seeing bright, oval-shaped objects described as red and white, moving slowly. Rockaway Township police received similar calls from five residents. A woman also reported seeing two bright objects near Rockaway Townsquare Mall. Mahoney described the objects as having 'halos of lights' and felt a 'weird feeling.' Township police noted that four other callers also saw objects in the same area.

UFO In Marathon (Citizen, Key West, FL - March 15, 1978)

An unidentified flying object was reported to have gone into the water near Marathon, Florida. Deputies Jennie Walterson and Charlie Sprinkle investigated but found no evidence.

UFOs reported in Macomb area (Times Herald, Port Huron, MI - March 8, 1978)

This article reports on five UFO sightings in the Macomb County area. Descriptions varied, including triangular green objects, doughnut-shaped objects, and turquoise lights. Sightings were also reported in the Greater Detroit area and across Ontario. Scientists suggested the objects might have been meteors.

Seeing Is Believing - Malibu Man Describes Triangular Shaped UFO (Times, Malibu, CA - March 31, 1978)

Bruce Buffer of West Malibu described seeing a bright circle of light that appeared to be moving upward. He then heard a low rumbling sound and saw a triangular-shaped vehicle, approximately the size of two 747s, hovering at a low altitude. The object ascended toward the clouds and veered out over the ocean. Buffer reported the sighting to the Sheriff's office, who had no other similar reports at that time. He stated this was his first UFO sighting and that it was 'very eerie.'

Youth Report Seeing UFO (Record, Hickory, NC - March 20, 1978)

Five Hickory youths reported sighting a circular UFO with two tails, described as having bright white lights that turned red, circled with no sound, and then had one tail light turn green before disappearing. They observed the object for about five minutes.

Woman Reports Pulsing Light (Star Bulletin, Honolulu, HI - March 16, 1978)

A Waialua resident reported a strange, 'weirdly pulsing' light that lit up the North Shore area, described as larger than the moon and blinking twice.

'Aliens On Earth!' Review (Courant, Hartford, CT - April 23, 1978)

This is a review of a book titled 'Aliens On Earth!' by Joshua Strickland, which is described as an uncritical look at UFO sightings and alleged interactions with 'ufonauts.' The reviewer found the book to be 'eminently forgettable.'

Contra Costa UFO rates 'credible third kind' label (Tribune, Oakland, CA - April 2, 1978)

This article details an incident where three 14-year-old boys in West Pittsburg, California, reported seeing a flying saucer land and then observed strange, robot-like creatures emerge. The Center for UFO Studies in Evanston, Illinois, considered this one of three credible 'Close Encounter of the Third Kind' cases reported in the US that year. Investigator Richard Haines noted the boys told consistent, detailed stories but there was no independent corroborating evidence. Haines concluded that the evidence did not warrant further investigation, but the incident has become part of the international UFO record.

Youth says he saw UFO's over city (Telegram, Bridgeport, CT - April 10, 1978)

Michael Jacabacci, a 14-year-old from Bridgeport, Connecticut, reported seeing four flying objects described as round and lit, making no noise, above Thorme Street. He stated that dogs in the neighborhood began barking when the objects appeared. His brother also saw the objects before they disappeared.

UFO Sighted In Lincoln County Wednesday (Interior Journal, Stanford, KY - March 2, 1978)

Curt Folger reported sighting a UFO about one mile from McKinney, Kentucky. The object hovered about 200 feet above the ground and was described as gray, round with a square top, and having red, white, and green lights. It also had a window. The Strategic Air Command reported no unusual radar activity in the area.

Authorities can't explain strange Sunday sighting (Press-Democrat, Santa Rosa, CA - April 11, 1978)

A white, round object that flashed across the sky was reported near Sonoma County. The UFO Center in Southern California confirmed a similar report from Saturday. The object was described as round with a tail and moving slower than a jet.

B'ville family reports UFO (Herald-Journal, Syracuse, NY - April 6, 1978)

The Dennis Kiteveles family of Baldwinsville, New York, reported seeing an unidentified flying object with flashing lights hovering above a wooded area. The object was oval-shaped with red, blue, yellow, and green lights. A passenger plane reportedly flew under the UFO. Shortly after the plane's report, the Kiteveles' home experienced a brief electrical power interruption. Radar controllers at Hancock Field reported an unidentified blip. Niagara Mohawk reported brief power outages in the area. The cause of the outages was undetermined.

They're everywhere! (Herald-Journal, Syracuse, NY - April 7, 1978)

This article follows up on the previous sighting in Baldwinsville, reporting another UFO sighting in Southwood, near Jamesville. Two men reported seeing a bright ball of white light that stopped, turned off, and then displayed red, green, and blue flashing lights before disappearing. Teenagers in Southwood also reported seeing three lights hover over a hill. The article also mentions a report from Bridgeport, Connecticut, where a man and his friend saw a cluster of white lights in a field, which they described as a diamond-shaped object.

UFO Sighted by local family (Dispatch, Gilroy, CA - April 5, 1978)

A Morgan Hill family, the Sanfords, reported seeing a 'silver, oblong' shaped object with a series of lights on each side, described as the size of a B and M bus. The object hovered over the Atlantic Ocean before ascending vertically and disappearing. The family described it as definitely not an airplane or helicopter.

Dozens Report Sighting UFO Near City Line (Courant, Hartford, CT - April 11, 1978)

Numerous reports of an unidentified flying object were received by Hartford police. Callers described a white, round, lit object with a rod going through it. One caller reported seeing the object land in Keney Park. Windsor police investigated but saw only a helicopter. The object was described as silent, unlike a helicopter.

UFO Sightings Reported in North County (North County News, Castroville, CA - April 5, 1978)

Three people reported UFO sightings in North County. Lydia and Enda Medina saw a white circular object with red lights flashing heading east. Mary Alice Zapeda saw blue and green lights in the sky that moved back and forth and up and down.

Some Finally Talk, They Saw A UFO (Herald, Sanford, FL - April 7, 1978)

Vicki Bryant reported seeing a strange object in the sky near Sanford, Florida. She described it as noiseless, about the size of a football field, oblong, with a group of white lights and one large blinking light. She recalls it hovering over a cemetery for several minutes. Her husband investigated but the object was gone. The article also mentions Elaine Chapman, who saw a group of helicopters in formation, but Bryant was inclined to believe it was a UFO.

Lakes Police Report (Morris County Citizen, Denville, NJ - April 12, 1978)

This brief report mentions a UFO sighting over Boonton, described as a luminous red ball with rays shooting out, which hovered before taking off at high speed.

Concord Couple Experiences 'Close Encounter' (Union Leader, Manchester, NH - April 25, 1978)

Robert and Norma Lassone of Concord, New Hampshire, reported seeing a 'silver, oblong' shaped object with a series of lights on each side, described as the size of a B and M bus. The object hovered over the Atlantic Ocean before ascending vertically and disappearing. Their children reported seeing a similar object on television.

UFO's and TELEPHONES (Tides and Times, Laguna Beach, CA - April 6, 1978)

Laguna Beach artist Tom Adolph reported overhearing a strange conversation on his phone, possibly related to UFO activity and military involvement. Excerpts mention 'unusually heavy UFO activity,' 'footprints,' and 'radar.' Adolph consented to hypnosis to explore the experience.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the reporting of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. The publication appears to present these reports without overt skepticism, allowing eyewitness accounts to be the primary focus. The variety of descriptions, from lights in the sky to distinct craft shapes, suggests a broad interest in the subject. The inclusion of scientific investigations, police reports, and personal testimonies indicates an effort to document and disseminate information on UFO sightings. The editorial stance seems to be one of presenting the information as reported by individuals and authorities, leaving the interpretation to the reader.

This issue of the TIMES-PICAYUNE, dated April 9, 1978, features a prominent cover story about former astronaut Gordon Cooper's belief in UFO sightings. The issue also includes reports on local UFO sightings in Meriden, Connecticut, and other related phenomena.

Astronaut Cooper Believes UFO Sightings No Joke

The lead article, by Thomas O'Toole, details former astronaut Gordon Cooper's strong conviction that UFO sightings are a serious matter and not to be dismissed. Cooper, now vice president for engineering at W.E.D. Enterprises in Glendale, California, states that he hears credible stories from within the government and believes this information should be released, despite the White House's apparent stance. He is scheduled to appear on 'The Merv Griffin Show' to discuss his views.

Cooper expresses his belief that the government should investigate these stories or refute them. He finds the accounts of alien occupants credible, noting that abductees and those who have had contact consistently describe them as not looking different from humans. Cooper admits he has been struggling to articulate his thoughts but believes there is a good possibility that UFO incidents are real. However, his astronaut colleagues, Tom Stafford and Mike Collins, have stated they never heard Cooper discuss UFOs during their careers, and Chief Astronaut Donald K. Slayton expressed surprise at Cooper's claims.

Police Besieged with UFO Stories

This article by Jack Krost reports on a wave of UFO sightings in Meriden, South Meriden, and surrounding areas. Over a period of days, police received numerous reports of unidentified flying objects. Residents described celestial objects with pulsating red and white lights that moved erratically, hovered, and sometimes appeared to join or separate.

One witness, Gary Boehringer, along with his wife Marcella, reported seeing two red lights with white lights in between, hovering about 500 feet above Old Colony Road. He followed the lights, which led him to the Meriden-Markham Airport. Although he couldn't discern a solid object, the lights appeared to form a single unit before separating and moving erratically. Boehringer described the experience as exciting, though his wife was upset. He noted that the objects made no noise, unlike the planes he heard taking off from the airport.

Police contacted Bradley International Airport to inquire about training flights, but none were reported. The National Weather Service also had no reports of UFO sightings. Boehringer's motivation for reporting was to see if others had witnessed the same phenomenon. He expressed uncertainty about what he saw, stating he had never seen a craft move like that, but did not rule out extraterrestrial craft.

Another resident, David Pelletier, reported seeing a similar group of lights near the airport, described as two separate 'V' formations that blinked alternately. He noted that the objects moved away rapidly when planes took off. Pelletier's friends were initially skeptical, but he believes in other forms of life.

UFO Sighting (Seacoast Area)

This brief report from Portsmouth, NH, mentions that dozens of people in the Seacoast area saw a UFO on Saturday night. A spokesman at Pease AFB stated that no one reported it to base authorities. One witness described the object as a bright, diamond-shaped light that moved easterly and seemed to descend in the Rye Beach area. Travelers on the highway watched the object, and people in southern York County also reported seeing it hover before disappearing suddenly.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the increasing public interest and belief in UFOs, fueled by celebrity endorsements like Gordon Cooper's and widespread witness accounts. The articles highlight the contrast between official skepticism or lack of explanation and the persistent reports from ordinary citizens and even former astronauts. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting these phenomena and the public's reaction to them, without outright endorsement or dismissal, but with a clear indication that the topic is gaining traction and credibility.