UFO Newsclipping Service - 1980 05 - no 130

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O. NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, dated May 1980 (Number 130), compiles a series of reports on unidentified flying object (UFO) sightings from various locations across the United States, primarily from February to April 1980. The publication aims to document these events and provide a platform for witnesses to share their experiences.

Key Articles and Reports

Couple Claims UFO Followed Them (North of Fergus Falls, MN - Feb. 4, 1980)

Lori and Darrel Dorn of Lida Township, Minnesota, reported an unusual encounter where a triangular object, lit with white and red lights, followed Darrel Dorn home from work. The object, described as noiseless and shaped like a triangle with concave sides and rounded corners, reportedly slowed down and sped up in sync with Dorn's vehicle. It hovered near their home and then followed their car for about three miles towards Fergus Falls. Marietta Drayton, whose husband owns the farm where Darrel works, mentioned an unusual white light appearing near the farm throughout the winter, but it never moved. The Dorns reported the incident to the Otter Tail County Sheriff's Department, which stated it was the only report received.

UFO's Come Calling Again (Georgetown, DE - Feb. 2, 1980)

Dale E. Hare, a security guard near Georgetown, Delaware, reported an object he could not identify that appeared to break apart and land in a wooded area behind the Sussex Vocational-Technical Center. Hare watched the object for about 20 minutes; it was described as a fixed, white object emitting white and red light. Rev. David Stricker, pastor of Millsboro's St. Mark's Church, also saw the object from a distance, noting its light changed from white to red to blue. He recalled joking that it might be a UFO. The article notes that Millsboro had previously sighted a bluish-gray oblong object in September. Officials suggested the Saturday sighting might have been caused by unusual atmospheric conditions.

Is This REALLY a UFO? (Hopatcong, NJ)

William Bell, 28, of Hopatcong, New Jersey, is seeking to identify a photograph of a saucer-shaped object he received from friends in Michigan. The photograph was reportedly taken sometime in the last couple of years. Bell contacted the Air Force, which referred him to an address in Iowa, and the physics department at the County College of Morris. Staff members there suggested that if it wasn't real, someone went to a lot of trouble. He was also given the address of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a UFO expert at Northwestern University. Bell wants to know for sure if the object is a UFO and intends to investigate further if there's a reasonable chance it is.

Were UFOs Hovering Over Us Last Night? (Binghamton, NY - March 4, 1980)

Several witnesses in Binghamton, New York, reported seeing a blob of orange and yellow lights hovering over the Binghamton Plaza around 8:15 p.m. Witnesses described seeing two to ten lights flying in formation, converging, and then moving noiselessly. Some described the objects as saucer-like and oval-shaped, appearing as far away and as large as stars. Theories discussed include birds with lights and batteries, planes, or balloons. Vivian Arquette of Hillcrest questioned how planes could stop in mid-air or how balloons could line up. The Broome County air traffic control tower reported no unusual radar activity. Robert Aguglia of the Kopernik Observatory suggested a satellite reflecting light or an aurora. Rev. Barry Downing, author of a book on UFOs and religion, suggested these might be genuine UFOs.

UFO Scares City Resident (Wilmington, NC - March 10, 1980)

John Johnson of Wilmington, North Carolina, reported a startling encounter on Saturday night. He described hearing a sound like a jet but saw a brilliant white light hovering over his car. He initially thought it might be a helicopter but stated it didn't sound like one. The object lit up the surroundings, and Johnson got out of his car, fearing it would crash. It remained overhead for about five to ten seconds before taking off. Johnson contacted the New Hanover County Sheriff's Department, and Deputy W.R. Ruefle reported it as a UFO sighting. The New Hanover County airport control tower had no unusual reports, noting that the area is sometimes used for military flights, including helicopters with bright lights.

UFO Goes Out 'Like a Match' (Covington, KY - March 12, 1980)

John Still of Walton, Kentucky, reported seeing a bright, glowing object over the Walton National Guard Armory for two consecutive nights. He first noticed it on Monday night, March 10, around 7:30 p.m., alerted by his dog's barking. He described it as a light so bright the dog pointed its nose straight up. Aircraft were visible in the distance, but the object was stationary over the armory until 9:30 p.m. He saw it again Tuesday night, March 11, for about two and a half hours. Walton Ptl. John Hines investigated and saw a round, yellow, glowing light at about 8-9000 feet. He advised county dispatch and the airport to check radar, but the object was not detected. Hines described the object as getting big and bright, then dimming, and at one point flashing as if coming toward the building. It moved away and disappeared like 'someone blowing out a match.' The Greater Cincinnati Airport Tower reported no object seen, and planes sent to investigate did not report sightings. Still expressed disbelief that it couldn't be picked up by radar or planes.

Fowlerville Gets Visits From 'UFO's' (Fowlerville, MI - March 12, 1980)

Joseph and Laurie White of Fowlerville, Michigan, reported seeing a bright white light following their car eastward from Howell on Monday night. They distinguished it from a plane from Livingston County Airport. The object reportedly followed them, stopped when they stopped, and changed direction when they changed direction. The object then reportedly disappeared when they reached their apartment. Later, a huge object with banks of red and green lights was seen drifting toward their apartment. Mrs. White reported that as she passed a chandelier in the apartment hall, the fixture shattered. The Whites stayed up all night watching the sky. They stated they did not believe in UFOs before this experience.

Scout Leader Claims to Have Seen a UFO (Ray Township, MI - Feb. 9, 1980)

Paul Okoniewski, a boy scout leader, along with two friends, reported a 'loud humming noise' and a large object, about 50 feet in diameter, with yellow and green lights on the front, hovering about 100 yards above them while camping in Ray Township, Michigan. Okoniewski described the experience as similar to the beginning of the movie 'Star Wars,' with a loud vibrating noise. He attempted to photograph the object but the film came back blank, despite using a camera setting that should have captured the lights. He dismissed the possibility of it being a transport plane from Selfridge Air National Guard Base, citing its low altitude and distinct light colors (green and yellow on the front, red and white staggered on the back).

'Too Low, Too Bright' For a Star (Sonora, CA - March 18, 1980)

A brother and sister reported being followed by a 'bright light in the sky' while driving from Merced to Highway 108. They described the object as 'too low and too bright' for a star. The object was joined by three other objects for about 30 minutes before all four disappeared. A Sonora woman also reported seeing a triangular-shaped object in the sky. Marv Taylor, local MUFON director, speculated that the object seen by the woman might have been on its way to join the others. Taylor noted that the objects were flying lower than airplanes and moved quickly, stopping several times. The sighting lasted about two-and-a-half hours.

UFO Sightings West of Mansfield (Mansfield, WA - March 23, 1980)

Doug Tanneberg and Linda and Larry Glessner of Mansfield, Washington, reported seeing a blur of bright light that traveled faster than any airplane and stopped and hovered overhead multiple times. Tanneberg initially thought it was a meteor but became scared when it hovered. He contacted Sheriff's Deputy Jerry Poole, but the object was gone by the time the deputy arrived. Tanneberg described the object as 'not any kind of aircraft' and noted its incredible speed and hovering ability. He speculated it could be an advanced army weapon or an unidentified flying object. The experience was traumatic for Tanneberg, who continues to look out his window nightly.

UFO's Fill North Carolina Skies (Hickory, NC - May 1, 1980)

George D. Fawcett, North Carolina state director for MUFON, reported a marked increase in UFO sightings in western North Carolina. He noted a worldwide peak in sightings in February, with activity in England, Scotland, Africa, Australia, and Argentina, as well as Virginia and South Carolina in the US. Fawcett also discussed 'Retrievals of the Third Kind' (UFO wreckage or bodies) and cattle mutilations. Specific sightings in North Carolina included an x-ray technician seeing a large, soup-bowl-shaped UFO near Valdese, two carpenters reporting a bright object rising vertically near Lake Norman, and a Lincolnton resident seeing a brilliant white object. Fawcett described the witnesses as credible and noted that UFO activity tends to follow a 26-month cycle.

Local Couple Has Close Encounter With UFO (Pineville, LA - March 27, 1980)

Hamilton and Louanna Cunningham of Pineville, Louisiana, reported a close encounter with a UFO on Highway 71. They observed four extremely bright lights that grew closer and lower. The object, described as the size of a passenger jet (about 150 feet), halted and hovered over their car at a height of 50-60 feet. They saw a central core with four arms and blindingly bright lights at the ends. The object emitted a powerful humming roar but did not awaken their baby. It then moved away and disappeared at a 90-degree angle. The Caddo Sheriff's Department is classifying similar sightings around Shreveport as unidentified flying objects. The incident was also witnessed by employees at the Shreveport Regional Airport and the National Weather Service.

Cop Spots 'Diamond in Sky' UFO's Here (Cranford, NJ - April 3, 1980)

Ron Coles, a police officer in Cranford, New Jersey, reported seeing four brightly lit spheres falling in a diamond shape pattern toward the township for about 10 seconds before disappearing. He radioed headquarters, describing the objects as unidentified flying objects that 'popped out of the local atmosphere.' Dr. J. Allen Hynek suggested they might be magnesium flares, but U.S. Defense officials reported no military operations in the area. Coles rendered a detailed illustration of the sighting. Hynek considered it an 'interesting case' due to the witness's credibility.

UFO, Devil Cult Stories Frightening S.C. County (Chesterfield, SC - April 7, 1980)

This article discusses rumors of devil-worshiping cults and UFO sightings circulating in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. Sheriff Ralph Freeman stated that while people are calling with concerns about cult activity, no actual cult activity has been reported. However, authorities are investigating a UFO sighting reported on April 18 by four individuals in Pageland, who claimed a UFO followed them for 20 minutes. Pageland Police Chief William Gibson stated that the witnesses were credible. The article also mentions Jesse Sellers, owner of Selters Community Grocery, who reported customers being frightened by rumors of a cult operating in the Brocks Mill section.

Did U.F.O. Cause Crater In Ground At Valley View? (Valley View, AR - April 12, 1980)

Gaylon Wimpy discovered a shallow depression, six to nine inches deep, in a soybean field behind his residence. Wimpy is certain he did not create it. The depression was found in January, and Wimpy plowed through it, discovering it was shallow. He met with Dr. George Berger and Glen Bradley, who could not explain the depression. Bradley took a geiger counter to the site but found nothing unusual. The Wimpy family did not recall hearing any unusual noises. Robert Gribble of the UFO Reporting Center in Seattle noted that UFO landing sites are usually marked by burned vegetation and scorched soil, which was not the case here, as grass was beginning to sprout. Gribble stated that UFO reports in this area were slow.

Pilot Spots UFO Near Border (Cave Junction, OR - April 10, 1980)

A pilot flying near the California border in the Siskiyous reported seeing an unidentified flying object. The pilot described a 'black object, moving at an extremely high rate of speed' that came directly at his aircraft before veering off and disappearing into clouds. Joe Brubaker, assistant chief air traffic controller, suggested the object might have been the aircraft's own shadow due to sunset and layered clouds. He stated that the FAA does not follow up on such reports unless the object is in difficulty, and that there are too many reports to track down.

Doctor Has Strange Message He Wants World To Hear (Newport News-Hampton, VA - April 11, 1980)

Dr. Leopoldo Diaz claims to have been visited twice by a man from another planet. He shared his message with five women in Newport News, Virginia. According to Diaz, the alien conveyed that humanity is on the verge of self-destruction due to divisions, selfishness, envy, war, and deceit. The aliens, numbering 10,000, are here to help humanity find a better way by promoting love and understanding of God. Diaz stated that these beings intervene individually rather than en masse to avoid terrifying people. He emphasized that 'God is in our fellow human beings.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the widespread nature of UFO sightings across different regions of the United States, the consistent descriptions of objects with unusual lights and flight characteristics, and the challenges witnesses face in having their experiences believed. The publication appears to adopt a neutral stance, presenting witness accounts without overt skepticism or endorsement, and highlighting expert opinions and investigations. The editorial stance leans towards documenting these phenomena and encouraging further reporting and investigation, as evidenced by the inclusion of contact information for UFO organizations and experts.

This issue of FOREIGN NEWS, dated April 1980, presents a collection of intriguing reports and witness accounts concerning UFO sightings and other unexplained phenomena from around the globe. The magazine features a diverse range of stories, from railwaymen in England reporting a UFO to mysterious lights in Australia and Argentina, and even a UFO chase in Spain. Alongside these aerial mysteries, the issue also delves into the persistent legend of Bigfoot and the controversial topic of cattle mutilations.

UFO Sightings and Mystery Lights

The cover story, "Railmen believe they saw a UFO," details an incident at March locomotive depot in England where railway workers observed a bright circular object in the early hours of Monday morning. Witnesses described it as a bright orange circular light that hovered and then disappeared. Police who investigated found nothing.

Another report from Baildon Moor and Ilkley Moor, England, describes "Mystery lights" spotted by police and air traffic controllers as a cluster of red flashing lights travelling slowly. The Bradford Telegraph & Times reported on this, noting that police were no nearer to identifying the object.

In Australia, the "Strange light in suburb" section recounts a pulsating, brilliant orange light seen by residents of Caravonica, Cairns, on a Saturday night. The light was described as intense and pulsating, moving erratically before disappearing.

"UFOS CROP UP HIGH AND LOW" highlights sightings in Wollongong and Darwin. In Darwin Harbor, employees of an insurance company reported a dark, 15m long object with protruding lumps moving in the water. In Wollongong, police received reports of "five glowing lights hovering in a straight line."

Argentina contributes several accounts. In Ing. Huergo, Rio Negro province, Carlos Vommaro reported a "big light" that caused him to lose an hour of memory and reappear 18 kilometers away. The incident was corroborated by mailman Mario Menelit Rumont. Another report from Chaco province describes a UFO giving off bluish and reddish luminosity, seen by many people, which flew, hovered, and then left at impressive speed. A hunter in Colonias Unidas, Chaco, claimed to have observed the "taking off" of a UFO sitting over a tree.

Italy also features in the UFO reports. A sighting in Rome described a UFO giving off a clear bluish and reddish luminosity. In Milano, Mr. and Mrs. Di Salvo reported seeing a strange object with five lights that was saucer-shaped and moved away with a loud noise.

UFO Chase in Spain: A terrified man in La Coruña claimed an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) chased his motorbike for over an hour. He described it as a low-flying luminous oval-shaped object with sparks shooting out.

Mystery Lights in Lavenham: Dick Cheshire reported seeing an object "just like the spaceship in Close Encounters of the Third Kind" over Lavenham, England, describing it as large, triangular-shaped with lights all around and making a low whirring noise.

Weird Light - Was it a UFO? Two housewives in Milton Green reported seeing a strange, orange-red, saucer-shaped light with a grey mist around the bottom. They contacted the British U.F.O. Society.

Mystery light in sky similar to scare UFO: Ken Lawley reported seeing a ball of orange-yellow light near Ottershaw, England, which moved without noise and sped off.

Ottawa UFO Sighting: CJOH newscaster Max Keeping and others reported seeing an oval object with flashing lights over Aylmer, Canada, which they believed could not be a jet, balloon, or satellite.

Bigfoot Reports

The issue also includes several articles on the Bigfoot phenomenon.

Shadowy Creature Keeps to Dark Places in Lewiston: This article details Peter Filicetti's investigation into alleged Bigfoot sightings in Lewiston, NY, over the past 20 years. Filicetti, a part-time police officer, has collected witness testimonies and photographs, including those of a head and feet found by hunters. He describes the creature as stocky, upright, two-legged, with black fur, and notes reports of it making a screaming sound.

Bigfoot rears his hairy head in Iowa again: Reports from Delaware County, Iowa, describe sightings of a creature resembling Bigfoot. Sheriff Bert Elledge has collected numerous testimonies, and a sketch based on witness descriptions has been drawn. Sightings date back to 1973, with recent reports in January 1980.

Big footprints seen on Powderly farm: Footprints, approximately 13 inches long and six inches wide, were found on a Powderly, Texas farm. While some residents and game wardens suspect a hoax, members of the Bigfoot Research Society suggested the tracks might be from a wooden foot.

Experts Studying Remains Of Monkey-like Chinese: This brief report from Peking mentions scientists examining skeletal remains of a man who reportedly looked and lived like a monkey, with a small skull and body covered in hair.

'Beast' at Big Bone haunts trailer again: Jackie Jones of Boone County, Kentucky, reported her mobile home being shaken by a large, fast, and intelligent "beast." The phenomenon has occurred multiple times, with sounds described as a lion and elephant combined.

Legend of the Lake Conway Monster: This article revisits the legend of a creature in Lake Conway, Arkansas, with accounts dating back to 1953. Reports describe a mysterious marine creature and unusual disturbances in the water.

Bigfoot footprints seen on Powderly farm: This article, from the Arkansas Gazette, discusses the Powderly Bigfoot tracks, with members of the Bigfoot Research Society suggesting they are a hoax made by wooden feet.

Cattle Mutilations

Several articles address the issue of cattle mutilations.

Historian says research reveals no history of cattle mutilations: State Historian Myra Ellen Jenkins stated that her research found no historical record of cattle mutilations in New Mexico prior to recent years, questioning the nature of the reported incidents.

Mother Nature, Press Culprits In Area's Cattle Mutilations: Investigator Ken Rommel, a former FBI agent, concluded that "Mother Nature" is the primary culprit, with predation, scavenger activity, and natural decomposition explaining the phenomena. He criticized the press for "creative writing" and suggested that taxpayer money should not be spent further on investigating these incidents. He also attacked the press coverage and theories linking UFOs to mutilations.

Dulce Challenges Report, Rommel Qualifications: Residents of Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, expressed dissatisfaction with Ken Rommel's findings, believing he did not adequately investigate the phenomenon and that natural causes do not explain the incidents. They suspect aircraft involvement and dismiss Rommel's conclusions as a "cover-up."

Schmitt Urges Federal Mutilation Probe: U.S. Senator Harrison Schmitt expressed that Rommel's conclusions did not satisfy some individuals, and he would request continued investigation into cattle mutilations.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent reports of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs and mystery lights) and the enduring mystery of Bigfoot. The magazine presents a wide array of witness accounts, often highlighting the skepticism of authorities and the challenges of investigating such phenomena. There's a clear emphasis on presenting diverse perspectives, from those who firmly believe in extraterrestrial explanations to those who lean towards natural causes or hoaxes. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena as they are presented by various sources, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also including investigative efforts and official statements that often lean towards skepticism or natural explanations, particularly in the case of cattle mutilations.

The magazine also touches upon the scientific and investigative approaches to these mysteries, including the involvement of UFO research organizations and law enforcement. The contrast between eyewitness testimonies and official findings is a common thread throughout the articles.