UFO Newsclipping Service - 2003 05 - no 406

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO Newsclipping Service, dated May 2003 (Issue #406), delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, crop circles, and extraterrestrial beliefs. The cover prominently features the headline "CIRCLES GET CLOSER," suggesting a focus on crop circle research.

Crop Circle Research and Scientific Inquiry

The lead article features Nancy Talbott, a crop circle expert, who discusses her research with the BLT Research Team Inc. Talbott emphasizes a scientific approach, moving away from sensationalist conclusions. Her team's studies have revealed significant alterations in plant seeds and structures found in crop circles, including mineral crystals requiring intense heat to form. She proposes a theory that highly charged atmospheric plasma systems, possibly in conjunction with meteoric dust, might be responsible for creating these formations. Talbott also mentions the work of biophysicist William C. Levengood, who has patented a machine that replicates certain effects observed in crop circle plants using electrical pulses, potentially increasing agricultural yields.

Talbott clarifies that she does not believe crop circles are created by Extraterrestrials (ETs), but acknowledges that the ET idea "might" come into play if natural explanations are exhausted. She will be speaking at the upcoming Ozark UFO Conference, which also features speakers like Linda Moulton Howe, Timothy Good, and Wendelle C. Stevens.

UFO Sightings and Eyewitness Accounts

The issue compiles numerous UFO sighting reports from various locations:

• Pennsylvania: Researcher Stan Gordon reports that 2002 was an active year for UFO sightings and mysterious events across the state. He has been researching these phenomena since 1959. Specific incidents include large footprints in Waynesboro, an elongated object hovering over Clarksburg, sightings of giant birds (Thunderbirds) in Wyoming County, and Bigfoot sightings in Derry Township. Gordon continues to investigate the 1965 Kecksburg UFO crash incident.
• Kecksburg UFO Mystery: The Kecksburg incident is being revisited with support from the SCI FI Channel and the Coalition for Freedom of Information (CFI), advocating for a federal investigation and a public accounting of the event.
• British Columbia, Canada: A survey indicates that Terrace and Houston are among the top locations for UFO sightings in Canada. Brian Vike, a UFO researcher and founder of HBCC-UFO, is actively investigating reports. Sightings include a large disk-shaped object and bright lights in rectangular formations. Vike is also involved in a TV show for Canada's Life Network.
• Scotland: A couple in Aberdeen reported seeing a hovering red light that chased their car along the A90, describing it as a large, glowing object with flashing lights.
• England: Reports include a white, glowing, rounded object seen over Ilkeston, a possible UFO captured on video near Runcorn, and a rod-shaped object with lights seen over the Clyde near Ardentinny.

UFO Believers and Organizations

• Roy Timm, a retired farmer and author, has organized a group for UFO abductees and witnesses in Pendleton, Oregon, aiming to provide information, discussions, testimonials, and support. Timm believes the government is covering up the existence of aliens.
• Judy Messoline is organizing UFO Watch 2003 in Hooper, Colorado, featuring speakers like nuclear physicist Stanton T. Friedman.
• Vic Connor, a former ISU computer science professor and MUFON section director, lectures on UFOs, stating that perhaps 57 different species of extraterrestrials visit Earth.

The Raelian Movement

An article profiles George Roehr, a retired electrician who believes extraterrestrials created life on Earth and is a member of the Raelian religion. The movement, founded by Claude Vorilhon (Rael), teaches that humans were created by benevolent extraterrestrials called Elohim. Raelians also believe in achieving immortality through cloning, with Clonaid claiming to have cloned the world's first human baby. The movement aims to build an embassy in Jerusalem by 2005.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the persistent presence of UFO sightings, the scientific investigation of unexplained phenomena like crop circles, and the diverse beliefs surrounding extraterrestrial life. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting information from various sources, including eyewitness accounts, expert research, and organizational efforts, while maintaining a degree of skepticism and encouraging scientific inquiry. The magazine highlights the ongoing efforts to uncover the truth behind UFO phenomena and related events, emphasizing that many sightings remain unexplained and that people continue to witness unusual things in the sky.

Title: Word for Word / The Rendlesham File
Issue Date: December 8, 2002
Publisher: The New York Times
Cover Headline: Let There Be Lights: Britons Get One Less Thing to Worry About

This issue of The New York Times features an in-depth look at the declassified "Rendlesham File," a collection of documents pertaining to the famous 1980 UFO sighting in Rendlesham Forest, England. The article, "Let There Be Lights: Britons Get One Less Thing to Worry About" by Scott Veale, explores the contents of the file and the British government's response to the incident. The magazine also includes several other articles on UFO sightings, Bigfoot, and other unusual phenomena from various locations.

The Rendlesham File: A Government Response

The main article focuses on the 178-page Rendlesham File, released by the British Ministry of Defense. Contrary to the expectations of conspiracy theorists, the file is described as a "less-than-sizzling record of the government's patient campaign to calm anxious, curious or suspicious letter writers while dispelling rumors of encounters with alien beings." The article highlights a letter from Lt. Col. Charles I. Halt, an American officer stationed at R.A.F. Woodbridge, detailing the events of December 26, 1980. Halt reported seeing unusual lights, a metallic, triangular object hovering and maneuvering through trees, and animals going into a frenzy. He also noted radiation readings of 0.1 milliroentgens in the area where the object was sighted.

The Ministry of Defense's response, as detailed in the file, was generally skeptical but open-minded. They acknowledged the sightings but offered potential explanations such as the Orford Ness lighthouse beam, ball lightning, or meteorological balloons. The ministry stated that they did not have an organization solely dedicated to studying UFOs and that their interest was limited to "possible defense implications." They concluded that there was "certainly no evidence that alien spacecraft have landed on the planet."

Despite the government's measured response, the file suggests that "something strange was afoot in Rendlesham," and that "the truth is still out there."

Other Sightings and Phenomena

The issue also includes reports from other publications and researchers on various unexplained events:

• Ilkeston, England: Researcher Omar Fowler theorizes that aliens might be eyeing Ilkeston as part of a world tour, citing a string of sightings of huge flying triangles. He mentions the 1994 Belgian Air Force chase of these objects.
• Burnaby, Canada: Several people reported seeing a "strange, cylinder-shaped object" flying over the city. Witnesses described it as a "massive silver vessel" and a "giant silver bullet."
• Gwynedd, Wales (1875): An account from 1875 describes sightings of "certain lights, eight in total, moving in horizontal, perpendicular and zig-zag directions."
• Rainham, England: Investigators launched a probe after claims of two UFOs spotted in one night, including a "pulsating spacecraft up to 400 metres across" and a "triangular craft casting a huge shadow."
• Salta, Argentina: Several reports detail a "THING THAT FELL FROM THE SKY" in August 1995, described as a cylindrical object that exploded and caused the earth to shake. Another report from Rosario de la Frontera describes a "STRANGE HAIRY BIPED" terrorizing a family, with eyewitnesses describing a large, hairy animal standing on two legs with red eyes and powerful arms.
• Providencia, Chile: Multiple witnesses reported seeing "several unidentified flying objects" hovering over the city, described as a large circular object of intense brilliance accompanied by other smaller objects.
• Temuco to Freire, Chile: An electrical engineer reported being followed by a "strange white light" that nearly hit his pickup truck, describing it as "pure light" and moving at "incredible speeds."
• Lihuel Calel department, Argentina: Concern grew among ranchers due to the discovery of repeated animal mutilations, with descriptions of missing body parts and cauterized wounds.
• New Square, N.Y.: A story about a "talking carp" that allegedly spoke in Hebrew, shouting apocalyptic warnings and claiming to be the soul of a revered community elder. This event sparked debate within the Hasidic community.
• Post Falls, Idaho: An article about Tom Akren, a retired sheriff's deputy and curator for the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO), who is dedicated to tracking Sasquatch sightings and evidence.
• Touchet Valley, Washington: An article about Bigfoot tracker Paul Freeman and his contributions to solving the mystery of Bigfoot, including plaster casts of footprints and an anthropologist's assessment.
• Pennsylvania: A notice about a paranormal conference in Gettysburg, bringing together ghost hunters, UFO buffs, and Bigfoot believers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, the possibility of extraterrestrial life, and other unexplained phenomena such as Bigfoot and mysterious animal mutilations. The editorial stance, particularly regarding the Rendlesham File, is that while strange events occur, the government's approach has been to seek rational explanations and manage public perception rather than to confirm or conceal alien contact. The inclusion of diverse reports from different regions and time periods suggests an interest in the breadth and persistence of these phenomena across cultures and history. The articles often highlight eyewitness testimony and the challenges of scientific verification in these cases.