UFO Newsclipping Service - 1982 04 - no 153

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O. NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, dated April 1982 and numbered 153, is a compilation of UFO sightings and related news from various publications across the United States and Canada. The service, co-edited by Lucius Farish and Rod B. Dyke, aims to gather and present reports of unexplained aerial phenomena.

Cover Story: UFO Sighting Gives Woman 'Eerie Feeling'

The lead story, reported by Billy Fields for the Leaf-Chronicle in Clarksville, TN, details an encounter by Patricia Reder on February 2, 1982. Mrs. Reder described seeing a bright red light through her bedroom window around 10:50 p.m. Upon investigation, she saw a brilliantly illuminating object in the sky with bright red lights. She described it as round, about the size of a dining room tabletop, and hovering over the house across the street for about a minute without moving left or right. Four or six red lights, like spotlights, were arranged on the bottom of the UFO and aimed at the ground. The object then appeared to fall straight toward the ground behind her neighbor's house. Mrs. Reder expressed an 'eerie feeling' and stated that she was amazed and couldn't believe what she was seeing. She mentioned that her neighbor did not see the UFO. She also noted that UFOs sometimes leave marks on the ground, but she did not check for any, partly due to her neighbor's dog.

Other Notable Sightings and Reports

'A Large, Black Disk' from Bladenboro, NC: A letter from Daniel Edwards describes an event on December 17th, where his dog's furious barking alerted him to a huge light resembling fire in the pine forest. Upon investigation, he saw a large, black disk with hundreds of small red lights rotating, slightly larger than a Greyhound bus. He perceived dark, shadowy figures around it but fled in fear. The object then ascended rapidly and silently into the sky. Edwards hesitated to report it for fear of being labeled 'the nut of Bladenboro.'

Area Teen Spots UFO in Escanaba, MI: Melinda Zemper reports on Tammy Utt, a 17-year-old from Soo Hill, who saw a flying object resembling an upside-down cake pan on February 10, 1982. The object followed her car for about two miles, stopping when she stopped and diving for the ground like an eagle. It landed on a side road, filling it up, and then jumped back into the sky before landing again. Utt described windows around the bottom and red lights. She became a believer after this experience.

UFO Sighted in Todd County, SD: Leslie Fool Bull reported an object shaped like a turtle shell with a search light underneath and legs, seen on October 20, 1981. It shone lights on people working on a car and was observed again north of the river. The object reportedly took off silently, traveled southeast, circled, and returned from west to east.

'Around Town' in Hampton, NH: Tom Jenkins reports on sightings of a strange object in the northern sky near the beach area. A resident described the object as tall and narrow with red and green flashing lights, remaining stationary over the ocean. Similar sightings were reported on January 24, 31, and February 1, 1982.

Briar Mountain Area: A Hotbed of UFO Activity: Pat Patera reports on ongoing UFO sightings in the Norway-Vulcan area, with lights hovering, darting, and projecting beams. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, director of the Center for UFO Studies, has investigated reports from the Briar Mountain area, particularly a flurry of sightings between October 1976 and March 1977. Witnesses described saucer or disc-shaped objects, some with reddish-green edges, and craft with red lights and blinking multi-colored lights. Some reports involved close encounters where employees were reportedly chased by the devices. The area has been a UFO hotspot for three decades.

Area Man Spots UFO - Ready to Go with 'Them' in Franklin, MA: Anne King reports on Donald B. Daddario's sighting on February 27, 1982. Daddario saw a glowing, powder blue light in the sky that zipped ahead and hovered. He described it as oval-shaped and not like a plane. The object then turned bright red and darted away. Daddario was excited and ready to go with 'them' if they saw him. He also recalled seeing strange tracks in the snow years prior that were never explained.

'Alien visit? Or Russian rocket?' in Clark County, WI: Gary Slaats reports on numerous sightings of an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) on February 24, 1982. Traffic officer Chuck Urban described a bright, white moving object that was visible for 30-35 minutes. The object was described as a 'large white light' and was bright enough to drive without headlights. While some witnesses reported different colors, Urban noted no oscillating lights or noise. The passing of the UFO coincided with the re-entry of a Russian rocket, but Col. Fred Watkins of the North American Air Defense Command Post stated the times did not match, and the rocket's re-entry was a brief, three-minute event.

Oakland Policeman Reports Seeing UFO in ME: Stephen Collins reports on a sighting on March 1, 1982, by an Oakland police officer, Sgt. Ralph Sabins, and another man, Dan Savage. They saw a bright light in the sky that moved without discernible engine noise, causing power lines to shake. The light moved over Messalonskee Lake and headed northeast. A woman also reported strange creaking noises in her house at the same time.

'No UFOs, 'Feds' for help' in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: Maureen Scurfield reports on Ed Barker, head of the Manitoba Centre for UFO Study. Barker states that the Canadian government provides no funding for UFO investigations, despite hundreds of reports annually. He estimates that about 90% of reports are explained as natural phenomena, and only about 1% are from 'kooks.' Barker believes the government may be trying to develop new aircraft or weapons, or that UFOs represent a security problem they cannot handle. He also explains that planets near the horizon can appear to wiggle and change color due to atmospheric refraction.

'Searching for the truth about UFOs' in Gastonia, NC: This article discusses the history of UFO investigations, including Project Blue Book, and the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the NSA's refusal to release UFO files. It mentions that the French government concluded UFOs exist and are not natural phenomena, and that Russia is also active in duplicating UFO technology. The article questions whether UFOs are extraterrestrial vehicles and emphasizes the ongoing search for truth by civilian researchers and government agencies.

'The day a UFO jumped over a cow' by Bob Pratt: This narrative recounts an incident on March 1, 1974, near Memphis, TN, where five small, circular objects landed among cows. One cow repeatedly ran at the objects, which would float over it. The witness, Carra Williams, described the objects as flat on the bottom and oval on top, about two feet in diameter, appearing white on the ground and silver when airborne. Her husband, John, attempted to shoot one, and afterwards claimed it took his picture. The next morning, the cow was found dead in the lake, and shortly after, John Williams died of a heart attack.

'No light shed on, UFO light in sky' in Christchurch, New Zealand: This report details a sighting by four Air New Zealand cargo loaders on January 27, 1982, of a fast-moving orange and white light that hovered overhead for about 14 minutes. No aircraft were known to be operating, and the object made no sound. The Meteorological Service and the Air Force could offer no explanation.

Area residents report possible UFO sighting in Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada: Spectators reported seeing an unidentified object hovering over pulpwood yards on February 3, 1982. The object was described as 'wobbly' in flight, made of aluminum, and traveled rapidly northwest. It was also described as oval-shaped and hollow on the bottom, moving at high speed.

Pembine couple saw something they can't explain: Pat Patera reports on Dan and Cheryl Ross's sighting on March 5, 1982. They heard a high-pitched sound and saw a phosphorescent glow of a pie pan-shaped disk with two large, glowing yellow-tinted lights. The object floated silently over a swamp and moved in a 'humped effect.' Dr. Kenneth Schellhase investigated, noting the sighting resembled other reports but was unusual for the initial noise followed by silence.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistence of UFO sightings across diverse geographic locations, the consistent descriptions of unusual aerial objects (disks, lights, strange shapes), and the frequent lack of official explanations or government funding for investigations. There is a clear emphasis on witness testimony, with many individuals expressing their conviction despite potential ridicule. The publication seems to advocate for the serious consideration of UFO phenomena, highlighting the efforts of civilian researchers and the perceived secrecy or disinterest of governmental bodies. The editorial stance appears to be one of documenting these events and encouraging further inquiry into what remains unexplained in the sky.

This issue of FORTEANA NEWS, dated January 16, 1982, is Volume 1, Number 1, published by GLOBE-DEMOCRAT. It features a cover story about "Giant footprints found in Herculaneum" and includes articles on cryptozoology, a strange ice fall, and theories on the origins of life.

Giant footprints found in Herculaneum

Giant footprints were discovered in the snow near the Herculaneum sewage treatment plant. Police workers noticed them about 8 a.m. on Friday. The prints were described as being the shape of bare human footprints, with five toes, but more than twice the length of an officer's foot. Jim Evans, administrative assistant for the sewer district, stated the footprints were about 20 inches long and 5 to 5 1/2 inches wide. He suggested it might have been a prank. The prints led through the fence around the plant, went in a complete circle, and then back through the fence.

Society Formed to Bring Them Back, Alive

This section introduces the International Society of Cryptozoology, a new scientific group formed to promote scientific inquiry, education, and communication among people interested in animals of unexpected form or size, or unexpected occurrence in time or space. J. Richard Greenwell, secretary and treasurer, mentioned that "unexpected" animals include the monsters of northern lakes, the mokele-mbembe of Africa, Bigfoot of the American Northwest, and the abominable snowman (Yeti) of the Himalayas. The society's initial research projects include evaluating tape recordings from Loch Ness and examining a photograph from Lake Champlain. Bernard Heuvelmana was elected president, Dr. Roy P. Mackal vice president, and J. Richard Greenwell editor of the society's journal, Cryptozoology. The society's address is 1220 East Copper St., Tucson, Ariz. 85717.

'HAILSTONE' SOURCE LIKELY AN AIRLINER

In Norman, Oklahoma, a 30-pound chunk of ice that fell from the sky over Tecumseh was not considered a hailstone. Dr. Peter Ray, chief of meteorological research at the National Severe Storms Laboratory, suggested it was likely "blue ice" from an airliner's leaky lavatory. Mark Weaver, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration, agreed that while 30 pounds is large for 'blue ice', it is a plausible explanation. Meteorologists retrieved a 4-pound chunk of the ice, and analysis was planned to determine its origin. The ice fell without any storm activity, making it impossible to be a hailstone of that size.

Odd calls complicate officer's day

Officer Ernest Keck of the Texarkana, Ark., Department of Public Safety responded to two unusual calls. One involved a woman reporting a "monster half man, half animal" consuming her chicken, which Keck suspected was a transient. The other call involved Keck returning to the station with an artificial leg, which he summarized as part of a "that kind of day."

Charles asks to see monster film

Prince Charles has requested a private showing of a film reportedly featuring a Loch Ness-type monster. Marine archaeologist Sydney Wignall, who made the film in Loch Morar, Scotland, last year, has received a letter from Buckingham Palace. Mr. Wignall, who is also an adviser in underwater archaeology, hopes to finance another expedition.

-No fiction, according to Hoyle-

This article discusses the latest theory on the origins of life from Sir Fred Hoyle, Britain's leading astrologer. Hoyle proposes that life on Earth was intentionally planted by an advanced civilization in deep space, with 'seed pods' of life sent to the galaxy. He argues that evolution experienced sudden jumps due to this 'topping up' of biological material. Hoyle's theory extends his earlier idea that biological matter is common in space and reaches Earth. He attacks Darwin's theory of natural selection, suggesting it would lead to extinction rather than development. The article notes that Hoyle's ideas have earned him a reputation as a scientific rebel, partly due to his science fiction writing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings and mysterious creatures. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena with a degree of skepticism, presenting witness accounts and expert opinions, while also acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes or natural explanations. The inclusion of Sir Fred Hoyle's radical theory on the origins of life suggests an openness to unconventional scientific ideas.