UFO Newsclipping Service - 1990 02 - no 247

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated February 1990, features a cover story titled "Close encounters engross Edgeworth woman" by Tony Soltis. The magazine focuses on UFO sightings, investigations, and related phenomena, drawing from various newspaper clippings and reports.

Evelyn Schurman and PASU

The lead article introduces Evelyn Schurman, an investigator for the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained (PASU). Schurman, who describes herself as a skeptical person wanting to prove things herself, joined PASU to investigate unexplained phenomena. PASU is a volunteer organization composed of professionals who aim to find logical explanations for UFO sightings and other unusual incidents. Founded in 1981, PASU has a historical file of over 10,000 sightings, with 27 categorized as unexplained. Schurman's work often begins with a telephone call, and she has investigated seven cases in the past year, striving for objectivity.

One of Schurman's notable cases involved two women in Squirrel Hill who reported seeing a flat, elongated object with three large flashing red lights hovering for two minutes before disintegrating. The women had different reactions, one wanting to learn more and the other wanting to forget the experience, which Schurman notes is typical.

Schurman also recounts a personal experience shared by her cleaning woman, Mary, who described seeing small creatures with large eyes and ears when an object hovered above her 20 years ago. Mary had never shared this experience except with her daughter, who corroborated the story. Another account involves a neighbor witnessing a UFO over the Ohio River.

The article mentions that the Chestnut Ridge area in southwestern Pennsylvania is known as "Pennsylvania's Twilight Zone" due to frequent UFO reports and sightings of unusual creatures like Bigfoot. The Kecksburg incident in 1965, where a fiery object crashed, is highlighted as a significant UFO event. Stan Gordon, founder of PASU, has made the Kecksburg case a personal project, uncovering documents through the Freedom of Information Act, though the government maintains secrecy.

Schurman also hopes to research a personal experience in Utah involving large three-toed footprints. She believes something strange is happening elsewhere, calling UFO investigation an engrossing hobby.

Rocket Pioneer Dies

A brief article reports the death of Hermann Julius Oberth, a pioneer of the space age who worked with Wernher von Braun on the V-2 rocket. He died at age 95.

Mobile Couple Reports UFO Sighting

This article from the Mobile Register details a sighting by Paul Hannie and his neighbor, who reported seeing a fast-moving, metallic object, similar to one seen in Mississippi. The object was described as round, about the size of a jetliner, changing colors, and flying at an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 feet. Local FAA, National Weather Service, and U.S. Coast Guard offices reported no UFO sightings. Dr. Paul Helminger, a physics professor, suggests that bright planets like Venus and Saturn might be mistaken for UFOs.

UFO Show Recalls Roswell Limelight Days

This article from the El Paso Times discusses the Roswell incident and a television show segment on "Unsolved Mysteries." Sara Whiting, Assistant Director of the Roswell Chamber of Commerce, believes Roswell is unlikely to become a major UFO attraction due to the incident's age (1947). Art McQuiddy, former editor of the Roswell Morning Dispatch, recalls the media frenzy following the initial announcement of a recovered flying saucer and alien bodies, and the subsequent retraction.

McQuiddy believes the military covered up the truth to prevent panic. Walter Haut, a military spokesman at the time, stated he was ordered to write the original release. Stanton Friedman, a Canadian UFO researcher, was scheduled to visit Roswell to collect information.

UFO Expert is Speaker

A brief report from the Flagler Tribune mentions Col. William Coleman, an expert on UFOs, as a guest speaker at a Military Order of World Wars dinner meeting.

Walton UFO Reports Blamed on Weather Balloon

This article from the Daily News reports that a Walton County sheriff's deputy dismissed UFO sightings on New Year's Eve as likely being weather balloons or similar objects. Eglin Air Force Base stated they did not launch any weather balloons or missions that night.

Ufology: An Inexact Science

This article from the Arizona Daily Star explores the field of ufology, featuring Allen Benz, president of the Foundation for UFO Research. Benz believes UFOs are a serious subject requiring investigation. The foundation, organized in 1982, aims to inform the public and support UFO investigators. Benz defines UFOs as "flying objects that remain unidentified after they have been investigated by experts." He estimates 10-30 percent of reported UFOs resist prosaic identification. The article discusses Tucson's history as a UFO research center, mentioning APRO. It outlines three classes of UFO investigators and notes that many highly educated individuals have concluded there is more than just natural phenomena in the sky.

The article delves into psychological explanations for UFO sightings, referencing Carl Jung's theories on archetypes and unconscious fantasies. It also discusses Berthold Eric Schwarz's denial that UFOs are solely products of mental illness, suggesting they may be real phenomena. The piece touches upon the idea of multiple extraterrestrial races visiting Earth and the shift in reporting from sightings to abductions for genetic experiments.

Skeptics are presented as dismissing UFOs as natural occurrences or hoaxes. The article also quotes astronomer William K. Hartmann, who felt there was insufficient documented evidence for extraterrestrial activity. The challenges of distinguishing perception from reality in witness reports are highlighted.

Video Dave Gives Us UFOs on Tape

This article from the Journal introduces Dave Aaron, known as "Video Dave," who collects and edits videotapes of UFO sightings. The article describes a sample reel of amateur footage reviewed by UFO investigators Larry Bryant and Rob Swaitek. The tapes, though of low quality, were seen as valuable documentation. A notable clip showed an oblong object rising over a ridge in Japan.

UFO Evidence Abounds, Author Claims

This article from Gannett News Service discusses Linda Moulton Howe's book, "An Alien Harvest," which posits that ongoing animal mutilations are evidence of extraterrestrial activity. Howe believes the government has covered up knowledge of these intrusions. The article details the nature of animal mutilations, noting the complete draining of blood and specific removal of body parts, which Howe's research suggests were done by a pinpoint heat source.

Strange Encounters Inspire Local Study Group

This two-part series from The Doings features Thomas Stults of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). Stults believes UFOs and extraterrestrials exist and discusses Dr. J. Allen Hyneck's categories of UFO sightings: nocturnal lights, daylight discs, radar-visuals, and close encounters of the first, second, and third kinds. Stults notes that while many reports are misidentifications of aircraft, about 10 percent remain unexplained. He suggests some UFOs may be military aircraft, but others exhibit capabilities beyond known technology. The article touches on government secrecy and the potential public reaction to disclosure.

UFOs Aren't Alien to Insurance Game

This article from the Salt Lake City Tribune highlights the UFO Abduction & Casualty Insurance Co., which offers $10 million policies for individuals who claim to have been abducted by aliens. The company's founder, Mike St Lawrence, operates with a sense of humor, acknowledging the speculative nature of the policies. The article details the conditions for claiming the insurance, including providing alien signatures and spacecraft tag numbers.

UFO Alert!

A brief report from Eugene, Oregon, notes a sighting of five lights moving in coordinated patterns on New Year's Eve, observed by Sherrill Bower and others. Officials from the National Weather Service and Mahlon Sweet Airport had no explanations.

Unexplained Halo of Light Over Field

This article from the Gazette reports on a sighting of a glowing halo of light over a farm field near Wellman, Iowa, by Charleen Miller. The Washington County Sheriff's Department is taking the report seriously. Another anonymous call reported a mysterious light between Wellman and West Chester. The incident is being investigated, and the National UFO Center has been notified.

Unexplained Incidents in Westmoreland County Not So Unusual

This article from the Daily Courier discusses Stan Gordon's work with PASU in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Gordon has documented thousands of strange cases, including UFO sightings, creature reports, and animal killings. The article highlights specific 1989 incidents, such as a sighting in Squirrel Hill and cases where UFOs were reportedly pursued by military jets. It also mentions unusual sightings of multiple objects and triangular formations, some near power stations.

UFO Landing Site Sparks Dreams, but Not Funding

This article from the Pioneer Press Dispatch reports on Tom Weber's proposal for a $25 million UFO landing site in Elmwood, Wisconsin. Weber envisioned a site for extraterrestrial visitors and scientists but failed to raise sufficient funds. The project is now considered unlikely to happen.

Hyneck Describes Strange Encounters of Many Kinds

This is the second part of a series from The Doings featuring Thomas Stults. It elaborates on Dr. J. Allen Hyneck's classification of UFO sightings, including close encounters of the first, second, and third kinds. Stults discusses the challenges of investigating UFO reports, the role of government secrecy, and the potential for public reaction to disclosure. He also provides examples of close encounters, including those reported by airline pilots and military personnel.

UFOs Buff Want to Zap Earthling

This article from the Tribune reports on a seminar by Scott Wolfe, who claims to have evidence of a crashed UFO and alien bodies from the 1947 New Mexico incident. Wolfe sought donations for a "Museum for Intergalactic Understanding." Attendees expressed disappointment, feeling the seminar was a "rip-off" and that the promised military officials were only on a videotape.

DeArmanville Residents Spot Unidentified Flying Objects

This article from the Star reports on residents in DeArmanville spotting peculiar flying objects, described as having bright white lights and sounding like a train engine. Police suggested it might have been an airplane or a train.

'Green Lights' Probably Meteor, Officials Believe

This article from the Arkansas Democrat discusses a sighting of an object with "green lights shooting fire" across Arkansas. Officials believe it was likely a meteor, possibly a Bolide meteor, based on reports and checks with the National Weather Service and Scott Air Force Base.

Camera Captures Multicolored Trail in Sky While Witnesses Watch U.F.O.

This article from the Sentinel reports on a sighting in Gulf Breeze, Florida, where witnesses watched a hovering black disk. Brenda Pollak photographed a multicolored trail, which changed color over 110 times during a multi-second exposure, remaining a mystery.

UFO Encounter Had Ring of Truth

This article from the News describes the experience of Cynthia Vodovoz, who, under hypnosis, recalled a 40-minute period of unconsciousness during a UFO encounter in 1973. The author, Albert C. Persons, shares his own experiences searching for UFOs in Alabama, suggesting that "something out there" exists.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent nature of UFO sightings across different regions and time periods, the challenges faced by investigators in seeking logical explanations, and the ongoing debate between believers and skeptics. There is a strong undercurrent of alleged government secrecy and cover-ups related to UFO phenomena. The articles highlight the personal impact of these encounters on witnesses, ranging from fear and confusion to a deep-seated curiosity. The editorial stance, as reflected in the collected articles, appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into unexplained aerial phenomena, acknowledging the validity of witness accounts while also exploring scientific and psychological perspectives. The publication itself, the UFO Newsclipping Service, acts as a conduit for these diverse reports and viewpoints, suggesting a commitment to documenting and disseminating information on the UFO subject.

This issue of TRUTH magazine, dated January 20, 1990, focuses heavily on unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings and mysterious disappearances, with a significant portion dedicated to the "Bass Strait Triangle."

Bass Strait Triangle: A Black Hole of Mystery

The lead story, "Mysterious Bass Strait Triangle claims untold victims WAS YACHT SNATCHED?" by John Pinkney, highlights the region between Victoria and Tasmania as a notorious "black hole" where ships and planes vanish without a trace, drawing parallels with the Bermuda Triangle. The recent disappearance of the sloop Great Expectations with its six crew members has fueled claims that UFOs could be responsible. The article details numerous historical disappearances, including the famous case of pilot Frederick Valentich in 1978, who radioed about a UFO before vanishing. Other incidents mentioned include the disappearance of Army captains Stutt A.G. Dalziel in 1920, the mail plane Miss Hobart in 1934, and the airliner Loina in 1935, all over Bass Strait, with no wreckage or survivors ever found. The article also touches on a 1942 incident where a RAAF crew reported being pursued by a silvery globe.

UFO Sightings and Encounters

Several articles report on UFO sightings across the UK and Australia:

• UFO buzzes pier: A family in Southend, England, reported seeing a brightly colored UFO hovering over Southend Pier.
• UFOs over the South West?: A Yeovil couple claim to have seen a glowing UFO over Cerne Abbas, Dorset, England, with a similar sighting reported in South Petherton.
• Mystery UFO spotted again: A Broadstone, England, family reported seeing an oblong-shaped flying craft with flashing lights over Poole town centre.
• The hovering light that wasn't a star: Another report from Southend, England, details a family seeing a UFO described as a brilliant white object that changed shape and color.
• Mystery flier baffles man: A man in Wrexham, England, reported seeing mysterious bright red lights in the sky.
• FAMILY IN GRIP OF UGLY ALIENS: Investigator John Pinkney reports on a family in Adelaide, Australia, who claim to be tormented by alien beings, referred to as "Grey Thing" and "The Nurse," which cause time distortions and physical probing.
• Couple's close encounter with a suspected UFO: A couple in Pontypool, Wales, reported seeing a bright, hovering light travelling up the valley, similar to a "flying saucer" seen by local boys.
• Lights, marks point to UFOs?: A man in Sunraysia, Australia, claims to have photographic evidence of UFOs and unexplainable "scorch marks" in a paddock, suggesting UFOs may be drawing water for fuel.
• UFOs stir wonder in Eastern Canada: Reports from Quebec City and New Brunswick, Canada, describe sightings of unidentified flying objects, including ring-shaped forms with lights.

Crop Circles and Other Phenomena

• Secret base in depths, says UFO probe man: Colin Norris, director of the Australian International UFO Research Organisation, theorizes that Bass Strait is a secret underwater base for UFOs and that many disappearances are due to alien kidnappers. He suggests the Australian Government knows more than it reveals.
• UFO BLASTS TV CREW FROM CIRCLE OF CORN: A BBC TV crew recorded a mysterious sound blast at the center of a crop circle in Wiltshire, England, with technicians unable to identify the noise. The article notes a significant increase in crop circle reports in 1989.
• 'Blue ice' from sky crashes into life of Armstrong family: A man in Pennsylvania reports that a large hole was made in his roof by a chunk of "blue ice" falling from a high-flying airliner, a phenomenon confirmed by the FAA.
• Mutilation of cats has neighbors concerned: Humane Society officials in Escondido, California, are concerned about a series of cat mutilations, with evidence suggesting human involvement rather than animal predation.

Legendary Creatures and Searches

• 20 years on the trail of elusive Bigfoot: Bob Brienzo, a high school teacher and amateur Bigfoot tracker, has spent over 20 years searching for the creature, leading expeditions and collecting evidence, though he has yet to have a definitive encounter.
• Politicians taking Ogopogo plunge: Politicians in British Columbia, Canada, are taking the legend of the Ogopogo lake monster seriously after viewing a video of a possible sighting, with calls for scientific investigation and preservation of the creature.
• Son of a wildcatter goes after the legendary abominable snowman: The article reviews Loren Coleman's book "Tom Slick and the Search for Yeti," detailing the efforts of Tom Slick, a San Antonio philanthropist, in searching for the abominable snowman and Bigfoot.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently presents reports of unexplained phenomena, UFOs, and mysterious events with a tone that suggests these are genuine occurrences worthy of investigation, rather than dismissing them as hoaxes or misidentifications. There's an underlying theme of government secrecy or lack of transparency regarding these events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into the anomalous, encouraging readers to share their own experiences. The publication seems to align with the Fortean tradition of collecting and presenting unusual information without necessarily offering definitive explanations, embracing the idea that "there'll always be plenty more left" mysteries.