UFO Newsclipping Service - 1985 12 - no 197

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated December 1985, number 197, is a compilation of articles and reports related to UFO phenomena. The primary focus is on "Close Encounters of the Montachusett Kind," detailing bizarre UFO encounters in Leominster, Ashburnham, and Westminster, Massachusetts. The publication includes reports from various newspapers across the United States, covering sightings, investigations, and personal accounts.

Close Encounters of the Montachusett Kind

The lead article, based on information from Ray Fowler's books on the Andreasson Affair, delves into the experiences of Betty Andreasson. Her story, which began with a childhood encounter with a 'bee'-like light in Leominster, Massachusetts, escalated to a documented abduction in South Ashburnham in 1967. Under hypnosis, Betty recalled encounters with four entities, led by 'Quazgaa,' who communicated telepathically, examined her, and provided her with a blue book to study. The article highlights the rigorous investigation by a team of 12 researchers, including hypnotic regression sessions with Dr. Harold J. Edelstein, lie detector tests, and a psychological examination by Dr. James Cornell, all of which reportedly supported the authenticity of her experiences.

Betty's account includes details of being taken aboard a spacecraft, undergoing a physical examination involving a probe, and experiencing a religious encounter with a Phoenix in an alien realm. The aliens allegedly conveyed messages about humanity's self-destructive tendencies and the existence of 70 different alien races on Earth. The article notes correlations between Betty's experience and other reported close encounters, such as the Betty and Barney Hill case.

Mysterious Choppers Pose More Questions

This section reports on mysterious black helicopters sighted near Betty Andreasson's homes in Massachusetts and Florida. UFOlogist Ray Fowler suggests these might be operated by an unknown secret agency investigating UFOs, noting that the CIA and Air Force also investigate UFOs, with official documents aligning with many reported cases. The National Security Agency is also mentioned as a rumored entity involved in UFO investigations.

Channel 3 to Explore UFO Reports

A news item from Sonora, California, announces that television station Channel 3's "Evening Magazine" will feature UFO reports. Sonoran Mary Taylor, a field investigator for MUFON, spent time with the show's film crew, exploring experiences of lost time, possibly related to encounters with space visitors. Martha and Ernest Throne, who experienced this phenomenon in 1978, and a woman identified as Kathy, were interviewed.

UFO Sighting in New Market

A brief report from Huntsville, Alabama, details a county patrol car dispatch to the New Market area following a resident's report of a strange object with three lights moving erratically in the sky. Deputies searched the area but found nothing, filing a misdemeanor report.

La Habra man tries to cash in on reward

This article from La Habra, California, features John DeHerrerra, a UFO tracker who has spent 30 years investigating unusual phenomena. DeHerrerra claims to have "absolute proof" of extraterrestrial encounters and is attempting to claim a $10,000 reward offered by Southern California Skeptics for proof of a paranormal ability. However, the organization, led by Al Seckel, claims DeHerrerra has failed to produce evidence upon request. DeHerrerra believes many UFOs are intelligent machines rather than living entities and is frustrated by the skeptics' refusal to give him a fair hearing.

Weird UFO awes firefighters

A report from Orland Park, Illinois, describes an unidentified flying object sighted in the northern skies by three firefighters. The object was described as "weird" and not like a typical aircraft or weather balloon. It climbed into the sky until it disappeared from view.

Reagan to Gorbachev: Threat from ET's would unite Earth

This report from Lincoln, Nebraska, mentions President Reagan's private discussions with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev at the Geneva summit. Reagan reportedly suggested that a threat from an alien race could unite humanity, forcing nations to forget their differences.

Flying saucers broken?... Sky stays empty for UFO spotter

An article from Evansville, Indiana, profiles Francis Ridge, a UFO investigator in Mount Vernon, Indiana. Ridge, a representative for MUFON, notes a significant drop in UFO reports locally and worldwide. He has developed a "MADAR" unit (Multiple Anomaly Detection and Automated Recording) to measure electromagnetic events. Despite the slow period, Ridge remains dedicated to collecting reports and investigating sightings, noting that in 1984, 11 out of 26 reported incidents were UFO-related.

Sane, sober and seeing lights in sky

This piece from Danbury, Connecticut, describes a sighting of unusual lights in the sky witnessed by numerous people, including the author, Lisa Sforza. The lights moved quietly and slowly, changed direction and color, and hovered before moving out of sight. The event led several witnesses to believe they had seen a UFO.

Sept. 9 'plane crash' reports linger

Reports from West Ghent, New York, detail lingering questions about an "unfounded report" of an explosion on September 9th. Residents, including Barbara McCagg, are convinced they saw a plane crash, despite airport reports of no missing aircraft. The incident involved a fiery object tumbling through the sky, followed by a white flash and a distinct line across the sky. The lack of official explanation and the secrecy surrounding the event have fueled speculation about illegal drug runs or other clandestine activities.

Central Ohio shares a border with the outer limits

This article from Dayton, Ohio, explores various strange occurrences in central Ohio, including reports of Bigfoot-like creatures, UFO sightings, and other unexplained phenomena. Larry Tillman, a founder of Phenomena Research Organization (PRO), states that people are reporting these events to PRO instead of local law enforcement. Reports include Betty Powell's account of feeding Bigfoot-like creatures and witnessing a UFO land in a creek, and Peggy Tussing's sighting of disc-shaped aircraft. The article suggests a possible link between UFOs and Bigfoot sightings, with theories about UFOs dropping off Bigfoot creatures.

An artist and UFO detective

This article from Hyannis, Massachusetts, profiles Budd Hopkins, an artist and UFO investigator who believes UFOs are conscripting human subjects for a large, unexplained research experiment. Hopkins has interviewed hundreds of alleged abductees, focusing on the case of Debbie Davis, whose family may be part of a genetic experiment. He describes the difficulty in obtaining scientific validation for abduction claims and relies on common sense, psychological testing, and witness corroboration. Hopkins notes the striking resemblance between drawings of UFO creatures made independently by two of his abductees.

Mysterious lights made him a UFO believer

This personal account from Yonkers, New York, details the author John Lovejoy's multiple sightings of strange lights and objects in the sky, starting from childhood. His experiences, including seeing formations of gold, saucer-shaped objects, orange objects darting about, and a green fireball, have led him to believe in UFOs. He recounts how his wife, initially skeptical, became a believer after witnessing a similar phenomenon. The article also touches on the difficulty of explaining such sightings, with official explanations often dismissed by witnesses.

Kecksburg's UFO Mystery Unsolved

This report from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, revisits the 1965 Kecksburg UFO incident. Despite eyewitness reports of the military retrieving a large object, the Air Force has never confirmed its recovery. The article highlights the secrecy surrounding the event, the disappearance of military records, and the ongoing efforts by amateur investigators like Stan Gordon to unravel the mystery. The official explanation of a meteor is questioned due to the object's abrupt turn and the military's unusual response.

UFO hunters keep their eyes on the sky

This article from Houston, Texas, features Ralph Dalton and Colonel Donald Ware, UFO investigators from northwest Florida. They are part of MUFON and have received training in UFO investigation techniques. The article notes a decline in UFO sightings worldwide but emphasizes their continued dedication. It also touches on the history of UFO reports in the United States, from "great airships" in 1896 to "foo fighters" in World War II, and the public's perception of UFO phenomena.

Priest studies heavens

This piece from Madison, Wisconsin, profiles Father Tom Cloherty, a Catholic priest who has been interested in UFOs and intelligent life on other planets since childhood. He believes in the possibility of extraterrestrial life and finds it compatible with his religious beliefs. Father Cloherty has studied UFO reports and lectures on the topic. He notes the decrease in reported sightings and suggests that a hostile environment, including military orders to shoot down UFOs, might be a factor. He also mentions the Barney and Betty Hill case as a key example of contact theory.

Photograph of a UFO is the real thing

This article presents what is claimed to be the first documented evidence of a UFO photographed by a U.S. satellite, released by the government. The photograph, reportedly taken near Vladivostok, shows a dark, squarish object. The article includes testimony from experts who have authenticated the photograph, though it notes the object's appearance is somewhat ambiguous.

Police officer reports 2 UFOs

This report from Boxboro, Massachusetts, details two sightings by police officer Stephen Trefry. He describes seeing bright yellow lights hovering over trees and later a pair of round lights moving sideways. Trefry expresses his belief that "there's something out there" and regrets not getting a picture.

Strange lights blaze across Alaska night sky

This article from Anchorage, Alaska, describes multiple sightings of strange lights and phenomena in the night sky. Witnesses reported multi-colored lights, fragments breaking off, and objects moving at high speeds. Official explanations, such as meteor showers, were met with skepticism by witnesses.

UFO sighting reports aren't so far-fetched

This article from Madison, Wisconsin, recounts the detailed sighting of a triangular, silent craft by a woman who wishes to remain anonymous. The craft, described as black with lights and a silver streak, made a sharp turn and avoided power lines. The report emphasizes that the witness is not considered a "crackpot," and her story is corroborated by a similar sighting by another individual and a police officer's past experience.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, alien encounters, abductions, and the ongoing investigation into these phenomena. There is a consistent effort to present these accounts as credible, often citing witness testimony, hypnotic regression, and the work of dedicated investigators. The publication seems to lean towards the belief that UFOs are real and represent a significant, perhaps even existential, mystery. Skepticism is acknowledged, but the articles often challenge official explanations and highlight the persistent questions surrounding UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, seeking to document and understand these unexplained events.

This issue of FOREIGN NEWS, identified as issue number 39 from volume 106, dated August 1, 1985, is published by THE POLL and focuses on reports of unexplained phenomena. The cover headline, "E.T. - please call Vancouver," highlights the theme of extraterrestrial encounters.

UFO Sightings and Reports

The magazine features a wide array of UFO sightings from various locations. A poll conducted in Vancouver, Canada, revealed that 64% of those interviewed would be too concerned about damaging their reputation to report a UFO sighting. In Whitby, England, two visitors to the Sandbeck Hotel reported seeing strange lights. The Leckford UFO mystery in England is also discussed, with experts analyzing a strange substance found at the site.

Johannesburg, South Africa, reported a UFO sighting by journalists, described as a large, round object resembling a hot-air balloon. Oxfordshire, England, experienced a spate of sightings in September 1985, including a swept-wing aircraft with unusual lights, a satellite-type light, orange-yellow discs, silver discs, and round shining objects. A sighting in Abingdon involved a huge, metallic-textured object with airliners passing underneath.

Australia also contributed reports, with a mystery UFO sighting near an aircraft carrying Premier Wran and Minister Jack Hallam over the NSW north coast. The object was described as 'extremely bright and spherical' and was photographed. The Sydney Meteorological Bureau reported an 'object' hovering at 100,000 feet. A Mirage fighter jet was deployed to identify a radar contact.

Italy saw a fresh spate of UFO sightings, with reports from Ancona, Pordenone, Valdagno, and Vicchio. These included unidentified flying objects with various shapes and lights, a cigar-shaped object, and a bright, spherical object making strange evolutions. A truck driver in Vicenza photographed a flying saucer. In Pordenone, two policemen spotted an object flying at high speed, and an Army pilot noted a geometric shape on the ground, possibly a UFO trace.

Bigfoot and Other Mysterious Creatures

The issue extensively covers reports of Bigfoot and similar creatures. In East Pennsboro Township, Pennsylvania, a creature described as hairy, stinking, and possessing 1.5-inch fangs was reported. Police Chief James J. Corbett investigated and later revealed it was a hoax perpetrated by a man in a homemade ape suit.

In Lancaster, California, Lyle Geary reported seeing two huge, hairy creatures resembling Neanderthals, estimated to be 10 and 8.5 feet tall. The dormant California Bigfoot Organization (CBFO) is reforming with the ambitious goal of live capture, estimating it will cost $500,000.

Wisconsin is the subject of reports about the 'Windigo,' also known as Bigfoot. Sightings date back to the 1920s, with descriptions of an upright ape-like creature. The Chippewa legends of 'Windigos' are also discussed, portraying them as powerful giants. A report from Milwaukee details a sighting of a large, hairy creature running on two legs.

Other Unexplained Phenomena

The magazine also touches upon other mysteries. The 'Champ' legend of Lake Champlain is explored, with similarities drawn to the Loch Ness Monster. A 1977 photo of 'Champ' is presented, showing a dark creature with a long neck and humps. Theories suggest it could be a reptile like a plesiosaur or an aquatic mammal.

A blimp mystery from August 16, 1942, involving the Navy airship L-8, is recounted. The blimp was found empty after its crew went missing during a routine patrol. The Bermuda Triangle is mentioned in the context of three fishermen vanishing.

An article discusses the 'Panspermia' theory, suggesting that life on Earth could have originated from interstellar organisms. Experiments simulating interstellar conditions hint at the possibility of bacterial spores surviving long journeys.

Scientific and Technological Mysteries

Detours on the Trail of Mysterious Hum' reports on a low buzzing sound heard in San Francisco, with experts unable to identify its source. Theories ranged from a diesel generator to a CAT scan machine.

'Perpetual motion machine?' discusses inventor Joe Newman's machine, which he claims produces more energy than it consumes, despite contradicting current scientific principles. The article notes that engineers who examined it were convinced it worked.

'Mysteries of Sirius Are Deepened' delves into a sixth-century manuscript describing Sirius as red, suggesting the star changed color more recently than previously thought. The lore of the Dogon tribe of Mali concerning Sirius is also mentioned.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the existence of mysterious creatures like Bigfoot and lake monsters, and broader unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena, presenting various accounts, theories, and investigations, while acknowledging the skepticism and the challenges in proving their existence. The magazine seems to lean towards presenting evidence and witness testimonies, even for controversial topics, and encourages further investigation and public discussion.