UFO Newsclipping Service - 1989 04 - no 237

Magazine Overview

This issue of the U.F.O. NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, dated April 1989, is issue number 237. It focuses on reports of strange lights and unidentified flying objects (UFOs) from various locations in the United States, primarily from late 1988 and early 1989. The magazine features articles, letters to the editor, and news clippings detailing witness accounts, official investigations (or lack thereof), and public reactions to these phenomena.

Reports of 'Strange' Lights Given by Many (Standard News, Mountain View, MO - Nov. 9, 1988)

This article by Dick Jackson details numerous reports of strange lights seen in the sky in Missouri during late October and early November 1988. Over 30 people, including law enforcement officers, teachers, and students, reported sightings in an area stretching from West Plains to Houston. The lights were often described as stationary, appearing in formations of two to six, and disappearing and reappearing in different locations. Colors ranged from white to reddish-orange, similar to a sodium street light. Some witnesses reported hearing jet sounds before or after the sightings. Two teachers north of Birch Tree described six orangish lights aligned vertically, with a red ball of light descending and returning. The Texas County Sheriff Department also received multiple reports of bright lights. The FAA stated that while military operations occur in the region, there were no specific operations north of West Plains in the preceding weeks. A spokesman for the National UFO Reporting Center in Washington State confirmed similar reports from Quincy and Springfield, Illinois, but could not identify the phenomena.

Those Strange Lights Were... (Daily Quill, West Plains, MO - Nov. 4, 1988)

This article by Julie Warner addresses the sightings of bright yellow lights in the sky over West Plains, Mountain View, and Peace Valley. Captain Ken McNevin, public affairs officer for the Missouri Air National Guard, explained that these lights were likely from maneuvers by the 131st Tactical Fighter Wing flying F-4 Phantom jets out of St. Louis. The wing had recently acquired new flares to confuse heat-seeking missiles, which they were ejecting. These flares, along with the tail pipes of jets flying in formation, could appear as stationary lights. The practice maneuvers were taking place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 5:30 and 8:00 p.m. in the Merimac Military Operations Region. One witness who encountered the lights near Teresita expressed concern about the low altitude of the jets and the potential for accidents.

Air Traffic Controllers Report UFOs (The Associated Press - March 26, 1989)

This brief report from Fort Collins, Colorado, details an incident where air traffic controllers at the FAA's en route center in Longmont were startled by false targets appearing on their radar screens. Kevin Cain, a safety chairman for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, stated that numerous 'UFOs' appeared on radar displays, looking like actual aircraft. An FAA spokesman attributed the issue to a problem with transponders that automatically send information from aircraft to the center.

They're Back: UFOs Sighted in DeKalb (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 2, 1989)

Susan Stockman reports on numerous sightings of a mysterious aircraft over DeKalb County, Alabama, on a Friday night. Reports came in from Lickskillet, Grove Oak, and Sand Mountain. Witnesses, including law enforcement officers, described an object hovering above treetops or streaking through the sky. One woman from Grove Oak watched a low-hovering, bright white light for over an hour through binoculars. She described the craft as shaped like a banana with red lights on each end and a white light in between, outlined in green lights. Fyffe Assistant Police Chief Fred Works confirmed the craft was hovering when officers arrived and then moved away. The object was estimated to be at an altitude of 1,000 to 1,500 feet. Similar sightings were reported in Crossville, Geraldine, and Collinsville. A resident of Lickskillet claimed to have shot at the craft. Officials in Huntsville, Birmingham, and Maxwell Air Force Base could not explain the sightings. The woman who first saw the craft reported seeing it again the following night.

UFO Sighting Described By Battle Mountain Woman (Independent, Elko, NV - Feb. 1, 1989)

Elaine Goldman describes an object she and two relatives saw while driving west on Interstate 80 near Battle Mountain, Nevada. They first noticed it as a bright light, which they later realized was not a star, airplane, or helicopter. Goldman described the object as 'kind of like an oval,' with a red glow and two short streams of smoke emanating from its center. Flashing red lights were at each end. The object was motionless hundreds of feet above the interstate and disappeared after 10-15 minutes. A check with the FAA in Elko yielded no reports of UFO sightings for that date.

Martian or Military? UFOs returned to Fyffe Friday night (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 2, 1989)

Susan Stockman reports on a second wave of UFO sightings in Fyffe, Alabama, occurring on Friday night, similar to sightings on February 10th. Residents reported seeing a round, bright object with red and green flashing lights, appearing at treetop level. Rhonda Gibson and her sister, Jill Worley, described the object as 'just sitting there' before it disappeared. Fyffe Police Department received about 40 calls from residents who saw the object. Witnesses also reported an unusual amount of aircraft activity, including military planes. Kathy Green, another witness, described the object from her home. Philip J. Klass, an editor for Aviation Week and Space Technology, suggested that most UFO sightings can be traced to celestial bodies like Venus or Mars, with atmospheric distortion or eye stigmatism contributing to misperceptions. He also suggested the 'disappearance' could be due to Earth's rotation or clouds. However, Fyffe residents do not believe their sightings were of stars or planets, and military bases denied conducting exercises in the area at that time.

Some Say UFO is as Big as a Football Field (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 16, 1989)

This article continues the coverage of UFO sightings in Fyffe, Alabama, noting the town's increased media attention. Rhonda Gibson and Jill Worley's account of seeing the object hovering over treetops is revisited. The article mentions that Gary Coker of Skirum reported seeing an extremely large object with red and green flashing lights and two white lights hovering five miles away, which vanished in seconds. Another man five miles away described an object the size of a football field hovering over his chicken house, with two white lights underneath and red and green lights outlining the sides. He described the object as metallic blue. MUFON director Jeff Ballard suggested some sightings might be aircraft, planets, or stars, but many Fyffe residents remain convinced they saw something else.

3,500 people descend on Fyffe to see no-show UFO (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 9, 1989)

Susan Stockman reports on the large influx of visitors to Fyffe, Alabama, on a Friday night, hoping to see the 'Fyffe Flying Banana' UFO. An estimated 3,500 people traveled from across the Southeastern United States. Despite the crowd, the UFO did not make a significant appearance, with only vehicle lights visible. Unofficial reports indicated a sighting between Macedonia and Grove Oak around 9:00 p.m. The town experienced a traffic jam, and media descended to cover the event. Representatives from MUFON and unconfirmed reports of FBI and Air Force investigators were present. Residents who saw the craft do not find the situation comical and continue to search the skies.

UFO Watching? (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 9, 1989)

This brief piece accompanies a photo of people watching the sky in Fyffe on a Friday night, noting that some were there out of obligation or for a night out, while others were actively searching for the UFO.

UFO Or What? (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 16, 1989)

This article discusses a series of four photographs taken by Teri Baker of The Weekly Post, showing a UFO. The object appears to be a white streak of light in the photos, which were taken with a two-minute exposure time. The article notes that the object moved slightly during the exposure, while an airplane moved significantly more. The photographs are presented as evidence that the object does not move like conventional aircraft.

Tabloid Reports Liberace seen in Fyffe UFO (Times Journal, Fort Payne, AL - March 8, 1989)

Dennis Benefield reports on bizarre UFO-related stories, including a British tabloid's claim that entertainer Liberace descended from a UFO in Fyffe, Alabama. Other reports include a physician claiming extraterrestrials predict increased UFO sightings in Alabama and a New York resident believing UFO sightings are alien spacecraft. Fyffe Assistant Police Chief Fred Works was interviewed by the BBC and expressed frustration with sensationalized media reports, particularly from 'Inside Edition.' The article also mentions that sightings increase during economic downturns and national crises.

UFOs in Wytheville: Authors still seeking answers (Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, VA - Feb. 24, 1989)

This article discusses the book 'Don't Look Up!' by Danny Gordon and Paul Dellinger, which details UFO sightings in Wythe County, Virginia. Gordon, initially a skeptic, became convinced after numerous reports and his own sightings. He claims to have experienced threats and had negatives of his photos stolen. The article mentions that many witnesses were ordinary people, and their accounts were not sensationalized. Despite efforts to get information from the Air Force and MUFON, Gordon faced ridicule and deception. The article highlights the frustration of those seeking answers about unexplained aerial phenomena.

Section native says UFOs are real (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 9, 1989)

Susan Stockman interviews Phillip Griffin, a native of the Section area, who believes UFOs are real and that extraterrestrials are observing humanity. Griffin draws parallels between the Fyffe sightings and those in Gulf Breeze, Florida, suggesting they are related and that the visitors are observing human reactions. He theorizes that the Fyffe sightings will last about a week and a half. Griffin also discusses the difficulty humans have in accepting the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth, comparing it to belief in God. He suggests that extraterrestrials could offer solutions to global problems like war and disease.

-Sand Mountain Tales (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 16, 1989)

Ellarie Martin shares personal anecdotes about UFO sightings, including one from eight years prior in Florida where she and her husband saw a large round 'saucer' and later a bright light streaking across the sky. She also recounts her sister's experience in Pensacola about 34 years ago, witnessing a cigar-shaped UFO with lights and experiencing a blackout. Martin expresses frustration with the government's consistent refusal to acknowledge the presence of these vehicles and criticizes those who want to shoot them down.

Dubois: Federal government lies, keeps alien info secret (Monroe Courier, Trumbull, CT - Feb. 9, 1989)

Brian P. Dumas writes a letter to the editor expressing his belief that the federal government is withholding information about UFOs. He dismisses explanations like weather balloons and blimps, suggesting that alleged sightings might be secret experimental aircraft like the F-117A stealth fighter. Dumas argues that the government has a vested interest in keeping the UFO issue obscure and that the truth about alien visitation might be too much for the public to handle.

How the UFO sightings have affected some people (Weekly Post, Rainsville, AL - March 16, 1989)

Susan Stockman interviews residents of Fyffe, Alabama, about their experiences with media attention following UFO sightings. Donna Saylor, who initially described the object as 'curved like a banana,' expressed regret over the description due to media sensationalism. Kathy Green found the attention exciting and felt more aware of the sky. Fyffe Assistant Police Chief Fred Works noted that his job has involved more interactions with the media. The article highlights how the constant media attention has become a burden for some witnesses.

Townsfolk in Alabama puzzled by UFO sighting (State, Columbia, SC - Feb. 16, 1989)

Dave Moniz reports on UFO sightings over Fyffe, Alabama, where officers from five law enforcement agencies witnessed two large objects. Assistant Police Chief Fred Works described one object as a giant, upside-down banana with red, white, and green lights, and the second as traveling at an estimated 300-400 mph and being silent. Stan Gordon, a UFO tracker, notes an increase in unexplained sightings in Pennsylvania. Paul Johnson, a chemistry professor, suggests that about 90% of UFO sightings can be explained as misidentifications, but acknowledges the remaining 10% remain unexplained. The article touches on the sensationalism surrounding UFOs in media.

Woman tells of too-close encounter with aliens (Chronicle, Houston, TX - March 19, 1989)

Dwight Silverman reports on Joan Burns, who believes she has been abducted by aliens multiple times. Her experiences, detailed through hypnosis sessions with MUFON investigator Robert Morgan, include encounters with thin, grayish figures with large heads and eyes. One dramatic abduction in July 1979 involved her husband being put to sleep while she was taken aboard a craft. The article also discusses the alleged 1947 Roswell UFO crash and the controversial MJ-12 document, which purports to be a secret government briefing on the incident and the recovery of alien bodies.

Accidental Tourists? Area Hosts Alien Callers (Dispatch, Blairsville, PA - Feb. 2, 1989)

Christine Kindl reports on the increase in sightings of unexplained phenomena, including UFOs and Bigfoot, in the Chestnut Ridge area of Pennsylvania. Stan Gordon of the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained notes that nearly 44% of reports in 1988 were unsolved. Verna Yanity describes seeing a helmet-shaped spacecraft with flashing lights and no noise. The article suggests that magnetic fields or geological conditions might contribute to the high number of sightings in certain 'window areas.' It also mentions a witness's encounter with a Bigfoot-like creature.

Locals still believe in the Duley Lake UFOs (World, Wenatchee, WA - Feb. 12, 1989)

Patricia Wren writes about the persistent belief in UFOs in the Duley Lake area of Washington, following the 1984 incident where a multi-ton chunk of earth was removed from a wheatfield. Locals have reported strange lights in the sky for at least 30 years. Rancher Rick Timm and his brother Pete discovered the hole and the displaced earth. Theories for the phenomenon range from seismic waves to experimental aircraft. The article notes that many sightings are unexplained and that residents are reluctant to discuss them with reporters.

Take the muzzle off of government workers (Times, Washington, DC - March 13, 1989)

This letter to the editor by Larry W. Bryant, Director of the Washington Office for Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS), discusses his legal battle to access government information on UFOs. Bryant argues that the government has a right to deceive the public about the UFO problem and that citizens have the right to know what the government knows. He believes that admitting the existence of UFOs would not destabilize society and that the public is ready for the truth. Bryant is seeking the right to criticize government UFO policies without reprisal.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the prevalence of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs and strange lights), the difficulty in obtaining official explanations, and the role of media in sensationalizing or investigating these events. There is a clear stance that many sightings are not easily explained by conventional means, and a skepticism towards official government explanations, with allegations of cover-ups and withheld information being common. The publication seems to lean towards the belief that these phenomena are real and warrant serious investigation, while also acknowledging the sensationalism and hoaxes that often surround the topic.