UFO Newsclipping Service - 1985 06 - no 191

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated June 1985, presents a collection of articles and reports on unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and related phenomena. The publication aims to document and analyze sightings, research efforts, and witness accounts, reflecting a growing interest in the subject within both the scientific community and the general public.

Are They Worth Studying?

This lead article by David Lore explores the debate among scientists regarding the study of UFOs. Ohio State University astronomer Walter E. Mitchell Jr. expresses fascination and sees possibilities in the field, noting that in the 1970s, scientists became less rigid about fringe phenomena. He believes that while extraterrestrial visitors are a far-fetched idea, it's not beneath scientists to pursue it. Mitchell points to a 1976 poll by Stanford University astronomer Peter Sturrock, where 53 percent of respondents thought UFOs deserved scientific study. Sturrock himself founded the Society for Scientific Exploration to investigate mysteries. John D. Kraus, professor emeritus of electrical engineering, also endorses UFO research. However, Tim Berra, a zoologist, questions the pursuit of UFOs, comparing it to searching for dinosaurs in Africa and asking when the absence of evidence becomes evidence of absence. Robert Dixon, assistant director of the Delaware telescope, wishes there was a way to design a scientific experiment for UFO research.

Unknown Visitor Brings Area National Attention

This article from the PILOT (Rockport, TX) reports on a UFO sighting that gained national attention. A bright light, described as red with a white halo or twice the size of a streetlight, was sighted in Rockport, TX, around 5 a.m. on two consecutive mornings. Pauline Nelson described it as about twice the size of a streetlight and not appearing to move. Sheriff's deputies confirmed sightings on Monday but not Tuesday due to cloud cover. A Lamar woman reported losing power in her car as the object passed. The incident was picked up by the United Press International wire service, leading to media inquiries from across the US and Canada.

Lecturer, Healer Says She Spent Three Hours on a UFO

This feature from the Herald (Bradenton, FL) profiles Lydia Stalnaker, a UFO contactee and faith healer. Stalnaker claims she spent three hours aboard a spacecraft and was examined by beings she refers to as 'angels from God.' She learned this through hypnosis and initially had trouble believing it. She recounts being told she was chosen by God to receive seven powers, including extrasensory perception and prophecy. Stalnaker also claims to have healed a television cameraman of cancer during a live appearance on the David Susskind Show. She now conducts group healings and seminars, sharing her experiences and reaffirming her faith.

Area UFO Sightings Increase

This report from the Register/Herald (Beckley, WV) details an increase in UFO sightings in the area. At least four residents reported seeing unidentified flying objects on Tuesday. Charles Hilton described a white object with flashing lights and no noise. Howard Jones and his family also saw a similar object. Mark Aliff and Leon Cole reported a white light with a long tail that seemed to dissolve into pieces. A National Weather Service representative stated they received no reports matching the descriptions and could not confirm if the object was a meteor.

When UFOs Light Up The Sky, Look Out Below

This article from the Press (Bristol, CT) discusses a series of UFO sightings reported in the area. Police received numerous calls about low-flying objects and unidentified flying objects over Pine Lake and Hub 6 Plaza. Patrolman David Carello described an object as 'huge and silent, about two stories high with lights that are not flashing.' Airport officials could offer no explanations, and no unconventional aircraft were reported. The article references Project Blue Book, which terminated in 1969 after investigating 12,681 reported sightings, concluding they posed no threat and showed no evidence of advanced technology.

Island of Life?

This piece by David H. Menke from the Courant (Hartford, CT) explores the existence of extraterrestrial life and UFOs. Menke discusses the scientific possibility of other civilizations and the implications of proving their existence. He questions whether visitors from advanced civilizations would invade or observe discreetly. He also touches upon the psychological and societal impact of confirming extraterrestrial life.

Flying Objects Spotted in Fayette County Sky

This report from the Herald (Beckley, WV) details two UFO sightings in Fayette County. The first involved a bright light moving at approximately 500-600 miles per hour. The second report described a long, white, thin light. Officer G. E. Koone of the Fayette County Sheriff's Department noted that the sightings were approximately seven miles apart and that he had no explanation for the flashing lights.

PASU Investigates UFO Sightings

This article from the Butler County News discusses the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained (PASU), a volunteer organization that investigates unusual occurrences, including UFO sightings and cryptozoology. Director Stan Gordon states their goal is to bring credibility to these reports. PASU teams investigate incidents, take samples, and interview witnesses. While many cases have logical explanations, some remain unexplained. The article also mentions PASU's involvement in investigating Bigfoot and mountain lion sightings.

UFOs: one of the rather-not-knows

This opinion piece from the Standard Times (San Angelo, TX) reflects on letters received about UFO sightings. The author expresses uncertainty about UFOs, not fully believing nor disbelieving. He outlines four possible reasons for UFO reports: jokes, mental problems, honest mistakes, or genuine sightings. The author is particularly struck by a recurring emblem drawn by multiple witnesses, suggesting a shared experience.

Hynek Gathers 1,000 UFO Encounters of 'Best' Kind

This article from the Sun-Times (Chicago, IL) reports on Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a renowned UFO enthusiast, who is compiling data on 1,000 'unique' UFO sightings. Hynek, who coined the term 'close encounter of the third kind,' aims to gain more respect for UFO research by presenting his findings to the scientific community. He notes that most interesting UFO cases occur in rural areas at night and with few witnesses.

UFO Scare in Wetmore Area

This report from the Republican (Kane, PA) details reports of a helicopter buzzing houses and sightings of unidentified flying objects in the Wetmore area. State police investigated the complaints, and a check with the Federal Aviation Administration suggested the sightings might have been related to National Guard helicopter maneuvers.

UFO Mystery Solved - It Was a Submarine Testing Missiles

This article from the Times (Seattle, WA) explains that two brilliant streaks of light seen by observers were likely test missiles fired from a submarine. While the Air Force initially denied launching missiles, the Navy later confirmed a submarine exercise off the California coast.

Flying Saucers Again

This piece from the Deseret News (Salt Lake City, UT) recounts multiple sightings of unidentified objects over southeast Salt Lake City. Witnesses described them as 'white and disc-shaped' or 'saucer-shaped.' The Federal Aviation Agency discounted the reports, stating no towers spotted anything and no weather balloons were in use.

UFO Over New Haven?

This article from the Register (New Haven, CT) features a 20-year-old man, Pasquale Riccitelli, who claims to have photographic proof of a flying saucer. He took pictures of a mysterious object near his home, which an airport official later described as the best saucer shots he had ever seen.

Flying Fireball Eyed

This brief report from the Star (Indianapolis, IN) mentions the Royal Canadian Air Force tracking a mysterious flying object described as a 'ball of fire' that shifts direction.

Strange Objects Sighted Over Grand Junction

This report from the Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) details sightings of strange, white, cone-shaped objects hovering in the sky over Grand Junction, following earlier reports of strange lights in the Delta-Cedaredge area.

Man Bites Dogma: Fish and Widgets in the Sky

This article from the Evening Star (Washington, DC) profiles M. K. Jessup, author of 'The Case for the UFO's.' Jessup believes intelligence exists in space, possibly in 'navigable contrivances' he calls 'widgets.' He distinguishes between life and intelligence and suggests that UFOs may be solid structures or nebulous forms. He also speculates that Russia may have captured a UFO and that space occupants might have come from farther out in the universe or been displaced from Earth.

'Saucer' Stampede

This report from the Yorkshire Post Correspondent describes four anglers in Somerset who witnessed a 'weird and frightening' aerial object that caused a herd of 50 cows to stampede. The object was described as a red light that hovered and then accelerated away.

Strange Sky Object In Ring of Lights Reported by Fliers

This article from the Sunday Advertiser (Boston, MA) details a pilot's report of an object with a cluster of bright lights moving at extremely high speed over the Pacific. Other pilots also reported similar sightings.

'We're in touch with a UFO'

This piece from the Banstead Herald (Surrey, England) introduces the British Astronomy Operational Group (BAORG), a local group studying UFOs. BAORG claims to pick up signals from unused frequencies, which they believe are from UFOs. They report witnessing a UFO land and a second, smaller craft crash. They also claim to be receiving transmissions on a frequency not used by civilian or military traffic.

Bright light puzzle

This report from the Sunday Tasmanian (Hobart, Tasmania) asks for information about a bright red light that hovered outside a house and moved erratically. Investigator Mr. Keith Roberts of Hobart is seeking witnesses.

Plugging into things you can't explain

This article from the Evening Press (Dublin, Ireland) features Owen McQuail, who discusses his lifelong interest in the supernatural and unexplained. McQuail believes that what was once considered supernatural can often be explained by science. He is currently exploring the concept of the 'Electro-Magnetic-Superspectrum' as a potential explanation for UFOs and hauntings.

Family spots UFO

This article from the Times (Oxford, England) reports on the Walters family who witnessed a UFO emitting green and red light near their village. They described the lights as stationary and emitting star-like rays. Police dismissed similar sightings as a helicopter or atmospheric conditions.

Saucer-Like Jets Hinted; Early Scares Discounted

This article from the Evening Star (Indianapolis, IN) discusses a U.S. Air Force announcement stating that while no evidence of 'flying saucers' had been found, new aircraft developments could create the 'illusion' of such objects. The Air Force is developing vertical-rising aircraft, and an artist's conception of a disc-shaped aircraft is included.

Buzz'd' by Saucer Say 4 Teeners

This report from the Indianapolis News details an incident where four teenagers claimed to be 'buzzed' and 'bombed' by a large, saucer-shaped object with lights. They described it as moving at high speed and making no noise. The Putnam County Sheriff's office had received similar reports.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the ongoing debate about the reality and scientific validity of UFO sightings, the personal experiences of witnesses, and the efforts of various organizations to investigate and document these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness, presenting both skeptical and believing viewpoints, and highlighting the persistent nature of UFO reports despite a lack of definitive proof. There is a clear emphasis on collecting factual data and encouraging scientific inquiry, while also acknowledging the more sensational and anecdotal aspects of the subject.

This issue of The Examiner, dated April 30, 1985, features a dramatic cover story about a fisherman's survival at sea, alongside a collection of articles on UFO sightings, mysterious phenomena, and cryptozoology.

'Ghost Light' Saves Fisherman

The lead article recounts the harrowing experience of Randy Morrison, a 34-year-old fisherman, who survived 18 hours in the icy waters of Milbanke Sound after his boat, the Pacific Traveller, capsized during a 70-knot storm. Morrison credits a mysterious 'ghost light' for saving his life, a light that the coast guard later told him could not have been there. He describes the terrifying ordeal, including hallucinations of ghost boats and the extreme cold, for which he resorted to urinating in his survival suit to stay warm. He was eventually rescued by the Canadian Coast Guard Cutter, Racer.

UFO Sightings and Investigations

The magazine presents several reports of UFO sightings from around the world:

• Australia: Two young canecutters in Bundaberg reported being illuminated by a spotlight from a cigar-shaped craft with a phosphorous trail and windows, feeling like 'insects under a microscope.' The article also mentions other testimonies of UFOs in Australia, including a farmer followed by a beam of light and a family on Fraser Island being illuminated by a gigantic aerial craft.
• France: In Lozere, several people observed a bright red luminous object in the sky, which reappeared later. Police and witnesses in Boniac also observed a slowly flying object with red ribs and an octagonal lozenge shape. The police checked with the weather bureau, which ruled out a weather balloon, and informed CNRS.
• France (Perigourd): Two incidents were reported in the Sorges region. One witness described four luminous circles interwoven with each other, with another circle above them, at medium altitude. Another witness saw intermittent lights blinking on and off, not resembling airplanes, helicopters, or stars.
• Portugal (Lisbon): A UFO was seen emitting a very bright light, changing color from metallic blue to red, for over an hour before disappearing. An air traffic controller at Lisbon Airport could not pick it up on radar.
• Italy (Trieste): A nightwatchman in Trieste reported seeing six unidentified flying objects with varied colored lights and different shapes performing maneuvers, some flying in formation. This sighting is linked to a perceived reawakening of ufological activity.
• Chile (Antofagasta): A UFO reportedly caused a blackout in a large section of the town. Witnesses described a dish-shaped object emitting yellow and white lights, which also affected the hands of watches and radios. The Chilean Telephone Company corroborated a fall in voltage during the event.

Cattle Mutilations

An article from Denver, Colorado, discusses the ongoing mystery of cattle mutilations. Lou Girodo, the chief investigator for the district attorney's office, admits that spaceships are considered in relation to these mutilations, though many city folks find it hard to believe. The report details a case near Trinidad where an 800-pound Hereford steer was found mutilated, with its tongue, stomach, genitals, and intestines missing. The rancher had previously seen two white, bright, pulsating lights hovering above the ground. Investigators note the absence of coyote tracks near the carcass and the unusual nature of the wounds.

'Impossible' Energy Machine

Joseph Westley Newman, an inventor from Mississippi, is fighting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a patent for his 'impossible' energy machine. Newman claims his device produces more external energy output than external energy input. He has been battling the patent office for five years, with the office labeling his machine a 'perpetual motion machine.' Newman has brought his 9,000-pound prototype to Washington, seeking to prove his invention works and to protect other inventors from similar injustices.

Cryptids and Unknown Animals

Several articles explore the possibility of undiscovered or legendary creatures:

• Dinosaur in the Congo: Herman Regusters and Kia Van Dusen, a Seattle couple, are planning a return expedition to the Congo Basin to document a dinosaur-like creature they claim to have seen multiple times in 1981. They refer to the creature as 'Mokele-Mbembe,' meaning 'one who stops the flow of rivers.' Despite skepticism and logistical challenges, they remain determined to find evidence, citing native reports and the isolated ecosystem of the Congo River basin.
• Bigfoot: Professor Grover Krantz, an anthropologist, believes he has found a way to locate Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, by identifying areas where they might spend the winter based on their need for fat reserves. He is seeking funding for an expedition and emphasizes the need for physical evidence, such as skeletal remains, to convince the scientific community.
• Nebraska Serpentine Monster: A reconstructed 'serpentine monster' has been built in Walgren Lake, Nebraska, as a promotion for the city's centennial celebration, based on sightings from the 1920s.
• Malaysian River Monster: A creature known as the Lawas Monster, with a neck like a drum and cow-like eyes, has reportedly been sighted again in a Malaysian river. Wildlife experts suggest it might be a rare sea cow.

Mysterious Phenomena

• House Soakings: The Johnsons' nightmare in Fountain Valley, California, involved unexplained water soakings in their house for three months, with no discernible source found. The phenomenon ceased as abruptly as it began.
• Fish Falling from Sky: A man in Fort Worth, Texas, reported that dozens of small fish dropped from the sky into his backyard, a phenomenon that meteorologists attribute to forming tornadoes lifting objects from water bodies.
• Mushroom Cloud Sighting: Pilots reported a mysterious mushroom cloud over the sea east of Japan in April 1984. Scientists are baffled, with theories ranging from meteor disintegration to volcanic eruptions, but the event's characteristics do not fully align with known phenomena.
• Mysterious Hole: A 'cookie-cutter' puzzle in Washington state involves a large chunk of earth that was uprooted and landed intact several feet away. Geologists are investigating, with theories including earthquakes, methane gas explosions, or even a hoax.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the unexplained, the mysterious, and the potentially undiscovered. It highlights eyewitness accounts of phenomena that challenge conventional scientific understanding, from aerial sightings to terrestrial cryptids and inexplicable events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting these accounts and the ongoing investigations without definitive conclusions, encouraging readers to consider the possibilities beyond established norms. The recurring theme is the persistent human drive to investigate the unknown and to seek explanations for events that defy easy answers. The magazine seems to lean towards presenting evidence and theories that support the existence of phenomena often dismissed by mainstream science, such as UFOs, cryptids, and unexplained energy events.