UFO Newsclipping Service - 1982 09 - no 158

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O. Newsclipping Service, dated September 1982 (Number 158), is a compilation of various UFO-related news reports from different newspapers across the United States. The publication is co-edited by Lucius Farish and Rod B. Dyke and is based in Plummerville, Arkansas.

Strange Sights in Lincoln, NE

The "Offbeat" column by Don Pieper features a report from a "great-grandmother" in Lincoln, Nebraska, who has frequently observed a silent object hovering in the night sky. She describes it as not being an airplane or helicopter due to its silence and ability to move very fast. This report is linked to other sightings in the area, including one by Randy Ellis and Mike Mike Steinke near Pawnee Lake, and a report from Scott Colborn about a round, silvery object tracked years ago. Additionally, the report touches upon possible cattle mutilations near the Nebraska-Colorado border, with ranchers convinced no predator is responsible, hinting at a potential UFO link.

UFOs Reported in Hamden, CT

The REGISTER in New Haven, CT, reports on July 21, 1982, that two UFOs with orange and blue lights were sighted in Hamden. Policeman Angelo Polzella arrived after the objects had flown away. Leticia Cannon reported the sighting to the National UFO Reporting Center in Seattle, which classified it as "lights" due to the distant viewing. The Center notes that while "lights" sightings are common, "close encounters" involving distinguishable wingless vehicles have been rare lately. A recent close encounter mentioned occurred in California, where an oval-shaped glowing object swooped down within 300 feet of a car.

Sportsmen and Sightings in Maine

The PRESS HERALD in Portland, ME, on July 15, 1982, includes a report from Gene Letourneau regarding a UFO sighting in the Allagash region. Walter C. of North Windhast described an object seen over the Memorial Day weekend as a "comet" or "meteor," round with a long fiery tail, traveling north to south. His family, along with Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark of Calais, witnessed it. Separately, Munroe Rinfret of Skowhegan reported a fish kill at Fish Pond in the Spencer Lake region, suggesting the Fish-Game Department investigate.

Mysterious Object Over Ozark, AR

The SPECTATOR in Ozark, AR, on July 29, 1982, details a mysterious object sighted by local police officers. Deputy Sheriff Keith Duncan observed the object for over an hour and a half. It was also seen by city officer Sally Peck and dispatcher Tim Culver. The object reportedly changed color from white to green to red and moved rapidly, but was not detected by radar.

UFO Sighting on Highway 183, SC

The PROGRESS in Easley, SC, on July 28, 1982, reports an unidentified flying object sighting on Highway 183. An anonymous letter described an object shaped like a water tank with blue-green lights, spotted in a field. The Easley Police Department, Pickens County Sheriff's Department, and Greenville County Sheriff's Department reported no sightings. A UFO investigator from Arizona, Wendelle Stevens, noted that the description matched similar recent sightings and stated that over 100 UFO sightings are reported globally each day.

E.T. in Linden, NJ?

The DAILY JOURNAL in Elizabeth, NJ, on July 16, 1982, questions if police captain Peter Bartus saw "E.T." in Linden. Bartus, a skeptic, reported witnessing two helicopter-like objects whirling in the sky that stopped in midair and then shot upwards at 40-degree angles. At least seven people corroborated the sighting. The objects were described as stopping in midair and then disappearing into outer space.

UFO Reports from Walton, NY

The REPORTER in Walton, NY, on July 28, 1982, covers reports of unidentified flying objects hovering over houses in Webster Brook and Mountain Brook. The objects were described as round, encircled by lights, and making little noise. Police dispatched to investigate found nothing.

A Ray of Light in Kentucky

The MCCREARY CO. RECORD in Whitley City, KY, on July 27, 1982, features a report by Ray Foster of Worley Hill Top Road, who witnessed a bright red light and orange lights hovering over his apple tree and garden plot. He described the object as a "flying saucer," about 1½ times the length of a police cruiser, with a large red light in the center and numerous orange lights around the edge. His mother, Emma, also witnessed the object, which hovered for about 30 minutes before flying straight up into the night.

UFOs in Latrobe, PA

The BULLETIN in Latrobe, PA, on August 30, 1982, mentions Stan Gordon, state director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained, reporting several UFO sightings in the Latrobe and Monroeville areas, along with strange noises in the Derry area. Gordon noted a history of UFO and Bigfoot reports in the Latrobe area, with recent reports of large objects at low levels and unusual lights.

Tracking Down Alien Visitors

The TRI-TOWN TRANSCRIPT in Topsfield, MA, on August 18, 1982, discusses MUFON's investigation into UFO sightings. Marge Christensen, state section director for Essex County MUFON, and investigator Linda Seal, express skepticism but curiosity. They detail a case involving a Beverly resident who, under hypnosis, recalled encounters with short, humanoid alien creatures in a laboratory setting, possibly on a spacecraft. The resident's memories were jogged by a book about UFOs. MUFON investigators are trying to bring UFO study into the realm of scientific research, noting that while many sightings have logical explanations, some do not.

UFO Cited in Madbury, NH

The FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT in Dover, NH, on August 19, 1982, reports on a UFO sighting in Madbury. Peter Geremia, a Seacoast UFO investigator, describes a case where three people saw a bright, roughly 40-foot diameter craft shaped like a "modified flat iron" with lights, hover and pace their car before flying away. Geremia notes that pacing and hovering are typical characteristics of UFOs he has investigated. He also comments on the Rochester "woowoo" sound case, concluding it was likely a tent or tarp, not a UFO landing.

What was that Woo Woo Woo in the night? (Rochester, NH)

Another article from FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT on August 18, 1982, investigates a strange "woowoo-woowoo-woowoo" sound heard in Rochester, NH. Residents described it as extremely loud and unlike any known vehicle. The sound was associated with a circular patch of flattened grass. Initially suspected to be a UFO, the sound was later identified as a janitor accidentally setting off the Elks lodge alarm. The article also touches on the difficulty of investigating such claims and the public's fascination with UFOs, referencing the movie "E.T."

Janitor Causes Woo Woo Woo (Rochester, NH)

This article from FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT on August 19, 1982, resolves the "woowoo woowoo woowoo" sound mystery in Rochester, NH. It was confirmed to be an alarm set off by a janitor at the Elks lodge. The article notes the neighborhood's initial excitement about a potential UFO sighting and the subsequent disappointment. It also mentions the investigator Peter Geremia's conclusion that the flattened grass was likely caused by a tent or tarp.

Scientists Think Glowing Object Was an Asteroid (New York)

The TIMES in New York, NY, on August 26, 1982, reports that astronomers believe a brilliant fireball seen across the East Coast was likely a disintegrating asteroid. The object, described as a fireball with a long tail and sparks, was seen from Massachusetts to Maryland. While most scientists attributed it to an asteroid, reports and photographs of a series of glowing lights near Clark, NJ, about an hour later, remained unexplained and were doubted to be related to the fireball.

UFOs Take Holiday

An article by George D. Fawcett, published around August 26, 1982, analyzes seasonal patterns in UFO reports using the UFOCAT database. It suggests that holidays have little to no effect on the level of UFO reporting activity, with Christmas showing the lowest reporting rate. The study, based on over 100,000 UFO reports, was conducted by Fred Merritt of the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS).

Close Encounter in Conway, AR

The LOG CABIN DEMOCRAT in Conway, AR, on August 31, 1982, details a "close encounter" reported by several residents of the Conway Housing Authority complex. They described seeing two large, bright circles with rows of orange and yellow lights hovering horizontally about 3 feet off the ground. The objects vanished into thin air with a "growing noise." Witnesses, including Ottie Maltbia and Margaret Abrams, were scared and unable to explain what they saw. A Conway policeman, Patrolman Rick Fason, investigated but found no evidence of a landing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue consistently highlights the public's fascination with UFOs, fueled by popular culture like "E.T." and the ongoing efforts of civilian investigators like MUFON to bring a scientific approach to the subject. There's a recurring theme of unexplained phenomena, with many reports lacking definitive explanations, leading to speculation about extraterrestrial origins. The publication also touches on the historical reluctance of governments to disclose information about UFOs, suggesting a potential cover-up or national security interest. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various reports and investigations without necessarily endorsing any single explanation, while acknowledging the persistent mystery surrounding many sightings.

This issue of FOREIGN NEWS, dated July 19, 1982, published by the LANCASHIRE EVENING TELEGRAPH, focuses on reports of unexplained aerial phenomena and mysterious creatures from around the world. The cover story details a family's terrifying encounter with 'mystery lights' above Darwen, England, prompting the father to plan a UFO hunt.

UFO Sightings and Encounters

The magazine features several articles on UFO sightings:

'Mystery light terror for family' (England) A family in Darwen, England, reported seeing a series of bright lights moving erratically, followed by four bright objects appearing from clouds. A hovering object, described as car-sized with a bright front light and rounded back, caused the family to flee. Mr. George Hill, the father, is organizing a UFO search with CBers.

'Motorist shaken after seeing 'silver figure'' (New Zealand) A Christchurch motorist reported seeing a shimmering silver figure on State Highway 1 near Hapuku bridge. The figure had no distinguishable features and glowed with a fluorescent light, hovering above the road. The motorist was terrified and refused to return to the spot.

'Mystery objects sighted at night' (New Zealand) Two separate incidents in Marlborough, New Zealand, are reported. One involved a figure on State Highway 1, similar to the 'silver figure' sighting, described as about two meters high with a fluorescent glow. The second involved an arc-shaped pattern of red lights seen in the sky near Vernon Lagoons, which later changed to white.

'UFO sightings excite group' (Canada) A group in Winnipeg, Canada, is investigating reports of a hovering, disc-like object seen by multiple witnesses, some of whom took photographs.

'Warley Shunt after UFO alert' (England) Reports of a fireball in the sky over Warley led to a police alert and an aerial search, but no wreckage was found.

'Sky lights riddle for police' (Australia) Two police officers in Werribee, Australia, reported seeing red, white, and green lights in the sky, described as streaks with green tinges and a white cross.

'UFO flap reported in Turkey' Newspapers in Turkey reported a series of sightings of bright lights accompanied by electromagnetic effects on televisions and car batteries. Objects were described as moving erratically, scattering lights, and causing car batteries to discharge.

Mystery Creatures and Cryptozoology

The issue also delves into the world of cryptozoology, exploring reports of unknown creatures:

'Are there monsters in Quebec lakes?' (Canada) This article discusses the possibility of real lake monsters in Quebec, referencing a book titled 'Monstres des Lacs du Quebec'. It mentions sightings of large creatures, including one described as a 'big, big fish' and another as a 'long, dark, pillar-like' object.

'NESSIE'S ALIVE!' (Scotland) A coachload of American tourists reportedly saw the Loch Ness Monster, described as three black humps stationary in the water.

A 'religious project' out to kill Bigfoot (USA) Ernest Sproles plans to kill Bigfoot as part of a 'religious project' to provide physical evidence for scientific study. The article discusses the legal implications and the skepticism surrounding such an endeavor.

Psychic-research team works to prove there really is a Buena Foot (USA) A psychic-research team is investigating reports of a 'Buena Foot' (an ape-man) in Buena Park, California, comparing the evidence to other Big Foot sightings.

'Nessie is only one of many' This article explores various reports of unknown creatures globally, including the Mokele-mbembe in Africa, the 'fei fie' (ape-man) in China, and a lake creature in China's Tien Zhi volcano crater.

'Creatures closer than you think' This piece details sightings of various creatures, including a seven-foot ape-like creature in Kentucky, giant footprints in Florida, and a mysterious 'Bardin creature' in Florida.

'Chessie' - Chesapeake Bay creature Several articles focus on 'Chessie', the Chesapeake Bay monster. A couple videotaped a purported 30-foot-long serpentine creature. Smithsonian Institution scientists examined the tape but could not identify the creature, noting that usual explanations seemed inappropriate. The creature is described as similar to the Loch Ness Monster.

'Champ's no snap for cameras' (USA) This article discusses the legend of 'Champ', the Lake Champlain monster, and a tourist's attempt to photograph it, which failed due to camera malfunction. It highlights the town of Port Henry's capitalization on the monster mascot.

Explanations and Theories

'The Bermuda Triangle is no mystery' This article proposes a scientific explanation for disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, attributing them to spontaneous blowouts of hydrocarbon gas from the ocean floor, which can cause ships to lose buoyancy and sink rapidly.

'Scientists seek forgotten worlds' This article introduces the International Society of Cryptozoology, a group of scientists dedicated to investigating reports of unknown or unexpected animals, including dinosaurs, apemen, and sea monsters.

'Nessie theory' A retired Scottish electronics engineer suggests that the Loch Ness Monster may not be an animal but a Scots pine log propelled by natural gas build-up from the loch bottom.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent reports of UFO sightings and the enduring legends of mysterious creatures. The magazine presents these accounts with a degree of seriousness, often referencing scientific investigations or expert opinions, while also acknowledging the skepticism and the challenges of authenticating such phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into the unexplained, encouraging readers to consider the evidence presented, even if it challenges conventional understanding. The publication aims to explore 'The World's Mysteries', taking 'the lunatic fringe and make it believable', as stated by the publishers of Fate magazine, which is also mentioned as a publication dealing with similar topics.