UFO Newsclipping Service - 1993 12 - no 293

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated December 1993, number 293, is published by U.F.O. NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE and edited by Lucius Farish. It compiles various news reports and articles related to UFO sightings, alien encounters, and the broader phenomenon of unexplained aerial phenomena.

Strange Lights Make Eerie Sights on a Rural Road Near Vincennes

This article by Paulette Gray from The Vincennes Sun-Commercial reports on decades of sightings of nocturnal lights, generally orange or white, moving erratically in the sky near Lucky Point, south of Monroe City, Indiana. Jerry Sievers, a field investigator for MUFON, has documented around 250 such reports over 20 years. Sievers recounts a personal sighting on August 22, 1988, of a red light making a loop, followed by a fuzzy orange light and five orange balls. C.B. Bories, president of the Monroe City Town Board, notes that people have seen unusual lights at Lucky Point for years, attributing the associated humming and crackling sounds to utility lines. Sievers suggests an 'electromagnetic anomaly' might be present. He notes a decline in reports since the late 1970s and early 1980s but still receives them, eagerly seeking reports of actual landings, though many such claims are dismissed as coming from 'oddballs.' Serious reports are submitted to MUFON's computerized file.

Study Finds No Abnormality in Sighters of U.F.O.'s

Walter Sullivan reports on a study conducted by four researchers at Carleton University in Ottawa, published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology. The study analyzed 49 people who reported UFO encounters and found no tendency toward abnormality, apart from a pre-existing belief in alien visitations. The survey aimed to explore suggestions that sightings are linked to disorders like epilepsy, sleep paralysis, or a tendency to fantasize, as well as temporal lobe abnormalities. The UFO group tested slightly more intelligent than control groups. About 60% of UFO experiences were associated with sleep. The study indicated that a quarter of 'intense' experiences might be explicable by sleep paralysis, a condition that can cause hallucinations and a sense of presence. The researchers suggest that such cases should be investigated for sleep paralysis, and that the resulting fear can be exacerbated by a belief in extraterrestrial attack. However, most UFO subjects were found to be relatively content, finding comfort in the belief that aliens were concerned with and guiding humankind's destiny.

U.F.O. Fans Ask Not 'If?' But 'How Was the Trip?'

Douglas Martin reports from The New York Times on a UFO conference held at the Ramada Pennsylvania Hotel. The event drew around 1,000 UFO enthusiasts discussing extraterrestrial intelligence and alleged government cover-ups. Granville Angell suggested using more sensitive terms like 'extraterrestrial biological entities' instead of 'grays.' Paul Andrews, president of Whole Life Productions, noted the surge in interest, citing assertions of secret government research with extraterrestrials and unexplained crop circles. New video technology also contributes to the interest. Speakers discussed alleged Martian involvement in NASA probes, cavemen interacting with aliens, and human evolution influenced by alien genes. Gary Schultz spoke on alien technology. Merchandise related to UFOs and crop circles was available. Speakers like Robert O. Dean claimed to have assembled a team of generals and admirals prepared to reveal a global cover-up. Michael Luckman cited reasons for government secrecy: fear of losing allegiance to national leaders, potential alien rule due to superior technology, and public panic. The article mentions President Reagan's alleged statements about facing an alien threat. The conference also featured discussions on the possibility of human evolution being influenced by alien genes. Paul Andrews drew a line at 'channelers.'

Hoosier Says Aliens May Have Impregnated Her

This article by Abe Aamidor from The Star details the case of Debbie Jordan (pseudonymously 'Kathie Davis' in Budd Hopkins' book 'Intruders'), who believes she was abducted and impregnated by aliens. The book cited evidence such as scorched earth and 'positive blood and urinalysis tests.' However, Hopkins admitted in later interviews that he did not possess the documentation for Jordan's claims. A soil analysis of Jordan's backyard, purportedly showing it couldn't hold water, was found by the testing company to hold water, a detail excluded from the book's report. The lab that performed the analysis was run by a relative of Hopkins. Hopkins claimed he used the lab due to its expertise and that any legitimate party could test the soil samples.

UFOs Are in Eye of Beholder

This article by Robert McMorris from The World Herald features Physics Professor Jack Kasher of the University of Nebraska at Omaha, who has come to believe that some UFOs are extraterrestrial craft. Kasher, who has never seen a UFO himself, cites his reading and conversations with people as reasons for his belief. He mentions a case involving a farm near Ottumwa, Iowa, where a farmer's daughter-in-law saw nine circular white lights, and the next morning nine burned spots were found on the ground, with the crops never growing back. Kasher acknowledges that few fellow physicists share his view but notes that many are willing to listen. He also teaches a course on supernatural phenomena and is Nebraska director for MUFON. He admits to reading supermarket tabloids about UFOs and finds the distance problem for interstellar travel surmountable if one accepts advanced alien science or a bending universe. He also mentions the work of Jacques Vallee and Bruce Maccabee.

Out of this world

This article by Chuck Klosterman from The Dakota Student focuses on John Salter Jr., a UND Indian Studies professor who is retiring. Salter is known for his experiences with aliens and UFOs, but he was also a civil rights pioneer in the 1960s, working with Native Americans and Afro-Americans. He recounts being beaten and arrested during the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement and an attempt on his life by the White Citizen Council. Salter claims to have had an alien abduction experience in 1988 while driving with his son from North Dakota to Louisiana. He describes the beings as extraterrestrial life forms from the Zeta Reticuli solar system. He believes aliens are visiting Earth to save society and are a peaceful, democratic culture. Salter states he will continue his fight for social justice and investigation of UFO phenomena after retirement.

Tales told of encounters too close for comfort

This article by Meg Barone from the Connecticut Post discusses UFO encounters. It mentions the case of Travis Walton, who claims abduction in 1975, and Linda Cotile, who claims to have floated into a spacecraft in 1989. Both spoke at the sixth international conference of the UFO Experience. Bud Hopkins, an author and UFO researcher, receives two new cases daily. John White, the conference producer, credits people like Hopkins with changing public attitudes and gaining respectability for UFO research. The article notes an increase in alien activity and people coming forward. Cotile advocates for abductees to speak without ridicule. Adam Malawista shared his experience of being ridiculed for believing in UFOs.

UFOs Eclipse Understanding of Witnesses

This article by Stefan Hard reports on a sighting by three teenagers, Errin Hartigan, Luke Hardy, and Justine Macris, on Vermont Route 36 near the Fairfield-Bakersfield town line. They described a luminous, 'eggplant-shaped' object hovering overhead, initially appearing as a white or yellow-white light with a blue-white glow. They noted variations in brightness, suggesting 'windows,' and that it wasn't moving like an airplane. The object disappeared suddenly when Hardy stuck his head out of the sunroof. They spent about one to three minutes observing it. Another student, Al Gratton, reported seeing a similar strange flashing light in Berkshire the same night. Gratton described the light as moving erratically and being larger and brighter than any light he had seen. Officials from the Vermont State Police and Plattsburgh Air Force Base reported no unusual sightings or activities. Jim Smith, a collector of UFO accounts, noted that Bakersfield used to be a 'very busy place' for UFO activity in the late 1970s, with sightings typically involving bright lights and erratic movements. Tyrone Shaw reported seeing a craft with swept-back wings and orange and purple lights hovering over his house in Bakersfield in 1976.

Westmoreland-based UFO study group disbands

This Tribune-Review article reports that the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained (PASU), founded in 1981, has disbanded. Stan Gordon, who headed the group, cited pending marriage and the increasing cost of operating a UFO group as reasons for its dissolution. Gordon will also resign as state director for MUFON but will continue as an independent researcher and investigator on a limited basis, taking calls from the public and media and investigating local incidents. Gordon has been studying unexplained phenomena since 1959.

UFO-chasers are all business

This article by Chris Hardie from The Tribune profiles brothers Jim and Steve Solberg, who investigate UFO sightings in the La Crosse area. They aim to provide solid, scientific investigation for these occurrences. Jim Solberg, who underwent a liver transplant, became involved in UFO investigation to pursue something interesting. Steve Solberg is convinced of something in the skies, though not necessarily extraterrestrial, suggesting it might be from another dimension. They have investigated three unexplained sightings near La Crosse in the past three weeks, gathering information and sending it to the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). They are open to ridicule but committed to listening to people's experiences.

Close encounters with researchers are on the agenda

This article by Jim Beckerman from The Bergen Record discusses UFO researcher Ellen Crystall, who will be appearing at UFO Conference East in Manhattan. Crystall, who has written a book and founded a research organization, Contactee, describes her own encounter in 1980 in Pine Bush, N.Y., with a 'beige Gumby'-like being. She believes UFOs originate from underground bases at 'hot spots' around the world and are involved in abducting humans for medical research and impregnating women with alien children. She characterizes the phenomenon as 'hostile.' The article mentions other speakers at the conference, including Richard Hoagland, John Lear, Budd Hopkins, and David Jacobs, who will discuss topics such as 'The Monuments of Mars,' flying saucers, and UFO abductions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, alien abductions, and the persistent mystery surrounding these phenomena. There is a clear focus on eyewitness accounts, the challenges of scientific investigation, and the alleged government secrecy surrounding UFOs. The articles highlight the dedication of independent researchers and enthusiasts who continue to seek answers despite skepticism and ridicule. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting these accounts and research findings without outright endorsement or dismissal, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also acknowledging the emotional and psychological impact on those who claim to have experienced these events. The publication itself, the UFO Newsclipping Service, positions itself as a collector and disseminator of such information, suggesting a belief in the significance of the topic.