UFO Newsclipping Service - 2006 01 - no 438

Magazine Overview

This issue of the UFO NEWSCLIPPING SERVICE, Number 438, dated January 2006, is edited and published by Lucius Farish. It presents a collection of articles and reports related to UFO sightings, crop circles, and government investigations into unexplained aerial phenomena.

The Mystery with the UFO Story

Donna Hunt, the editor/publisher, shares personal accounts and local stories of UFO sightings in the Denison, Texas area. She recounts experiences from friends and neighbors, including a sighting in the late 1800s and a more recent event in 1956 involving multiple witnesses. Hunt also mentions a former Perrin Airman, Chandler Yergin, and a Denison High graduate, Jonathon Oden, who has an interest in the unexplained and notes Denison's historical connection to the term 'saucer'. The article touches upon early sightings in the Bonham area dating back to 1843 and a cigar-shaped object seen in 1897. Hunt expresses a wish for photographs to document these stories, concluding that the witnesses are observant rather than weird.

Letters: Designed by E.T.

Donald Ware writes a letter suggesting that 'intelligent design' describes the origin of the human species, incorporating the capacity for intellectual growth. He references the Urantia Book and genetic engineering, proposing that humans were genetically engineered from Homo erectus and later upgraded by 'gods of old' and Adam and Eve. Ware believes humanity is now ready to join a galactic society.

Orland Park Man Tracks Local Sightings

This article by Rose Panieri introduces Sam Maranto, the regional director of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) for several Illinois counties. Maranto dedicates his nights to investigating UFO sightings, coordinating and corroborating reports. He emphasizes that not every strange light is a UFO but believes that even a handful of authentic sightings make a substantial case for UFO existence. Maranto aims to educate skeptics, drawing parallels to astronauts' experiences and advancements in anti-gravity technology. The article also mentions the 'Men in Black' and Maranto's dedication to his work.

Reported Incidents (Illinois)

The National UFO Reporting Center's website is cited, indicating 1,035 UFO sightings in Illinois. Specific incidents are listed with dates, times, locations, and brief descriptions, including sightings in Tinley Park, Romeoville, Plainfield, Joliet, Lemont, Bolingbrook, and Shorewood.

Presidentially Speaking

This section includes quotes from former presidents regarding UFOs: Ronald Reagan's sighting in 1974, Jimmy Carter's observation in 1969, and Harry Truman's statement in 1950 about flying saucers not being of earthly construction.

Robert Pratt, Newspaperman, Author of UFO Books, Dies at 79

This obituary by Michael Browning reports the death of Robert V. Pratt, a former newspaperman and author who became a passionate advocate for UFO research. Pratt wrote for The National Enquirer and published books on UFOs. Despite never seeing a UFO himself, he interviewed over 2,000 people with UFO experiences. He was recognized as an Honorary Brazilian Ufologist. His wife, Faith Pratt, is mentioned as not sharing his belief but remaining married to him for 50 years.

Police Have Chased UFOs

This article details two classic UFO chase cases. The first occurred on April 17, 1966, near Ravenna, Ohio, involving sheriff's deputies chasing a glowing disc-like object. The second involved a retired Circleville police officer, Glenn Howard, who witnessed an egg-shaped, orange glowing object being chased by police cruisers in 1980.

UFOs Over Northern Illinois

Several anonymous residents shared their UFO stories. One account from Ron, a businessman, describes a barge-sized, oblong-shaped UFO sighted in Will County in July 1984. Maranto comments on this sighting, noting that witnesses often report feeling calm and mesmerized.

The Tinley Triangle

This section details a sighting by T.J. in Tinley Park, Illinois, on August 21 and October 31, 2004, involving a massive, triangular, glowing object. The sighting was witnessed by hundreds and recorded on video. Police and engineers offered explanations like experimental aircraft, but Maranto disagrees.

Other Sightings

An account from Shorewood describes a UFO sighting in 1972. Another witness, F, from Wilmington, had his children spot a hovering disk in 2004, leading to his training with Maranto. The article also mentions a Herald News article about Halloween sightings.

Police Have Chased UFOs (Continued)

This section continues the discussion on police involvement with UFOs. It mentions a sighting by Dave Burlile, an Ohio State Highway Patrolman, in 1958. It also references the 'Robertson Panel,' formed by the CIA in 1953 to investigate UFOs, which concluded that any threat was psychological rather than physical.

X Prize Hype: Hope or Hoax?

Fred Wilcoxson of Alamogordo criticizes the X-PRIZE as a 'hoax,' claiming anti-gravity technology has been usable since the 1920s and that governments have kept it secret, hindering space commercialization and leading to unnecessary deaths. He believes the military established a UFO base in O'Gronde in 1941 and suggests the Roswell crash might have originated there. Wilcoxson claims anti-gravity flights occurred in 1932 and that moon bases were established for resource mining.

Mystery Surrounds Crop Circles at Garsington

This article focuses on crop circles appearing in Garsington, Oxford, and the interest they generate. Michael Soper, a member of Contact International, notes that while many crop circles are hoaxes, some are difficult to explain. He mentions that about 20% of crop circles are attributed to eddies in the Earth's magnetic field, with the rest being man-made. The area is noted for its ancient legends and myths.

MoD Releases Secret UFO Sighting Details

This report states that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has released details of eight UFO sightings in Kent, England, over the last four years. Chris Rolfe, a UFO investigator, believes there are more unreported sightings. The MoD has compiled a database of UK UFO sightings and previously destroyed reports after five years. Rolfe suggests that while some alien civilizations might visit Earth, their intentions are unknown, and some scientists believe aliens may already live on Earth in another dimension.

What is the Truth About Britain's Greatest UFO Mystery?

This article by Nick Pope, former British Government UFO Project leader, discusses the Rendlesham Forest incident. He recounts a comment made by Baroness Thatcher in 1997, hinting at government secrecy regarding UFOs. Pope details the events of late Christmas night, 1980, when US Air Force personnel witnessed a metallic, triangular craft. The article mentions strange markings on the craft, indentations at the landing site, and radiation readings. It also touches upon the possibility of radar tracking and a former RAF radar operator's account. Pope concludes that despite the evidence, the truth remains elusive.

Our Own Triangle?

This article highlights a triangular area in Cornwall, England, known as the 'Penzance Triangle,' as a hotspot for paranormal activity, including UFO sightings and ghost encounters. Research indicates visitors are twice as likely to spot a UFO and three times more likely to encounter a ghost in this region compared to other areas in the UK. The article mentions other paranormal hotspots in Yorkshire and Norfolk and discusses potential factors contributing to these phenomena, such as historical trauma and ley-line intersections.

Flying Saucer Seen While at Afternoon Tea in the Garden

Roger Levett, a parish councillor from Teston, England, reported spotting a flashing, strange object hovering in the sky while having tea. He described it as a proper unidentified flying object, possibly a weather balloon or similar, but not a conventional aircraft. Neither Headcorn Aerodrome nor the Met Office could provide an explanation.

UFO Reported Over Shanghai

Several people reported seeing a UFO in Shanghai between 4:30 pm and 9 pm. Descriptions include a visible object for about 5 minutes, a bright oval object flying west, a thumb-like orange oblong object hanging in the southeast sky, and a bright red dish-like object in the western sky. Officials at Hongqiao Airport had no knowledge of the object.

Light Shed on Strange 'UFO'

RAF experts were called after reports of a UFO in Doncaster, England. However, the object turned out to be a Met Office weather monitoring device.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the persistent mystery surrounding UFO sightings, the challenges of obtaining official information from governments, the personal impact of these experiences on witnesses, and the ongoing debate about the nature and origin of these phenomena. The editorial stance, as presented through the various articles and the editor's own contribution, is one of open inquiry and a willingness to explore unexplained events, while acknowledging the skepticism and the need for credible evidence. There is a clear emphasis on collecting and sharing witness accounts and investigative findings, suggesting a belief that understanding these phenomena is important, even if definitive answers remain elusive.

This issue of the North Wales Weekly News, dated July 28, 2005, features a cover story titled "Visitors from other worlds?" by Chief Reporter Martin Williams, investigating the UFO phenomenon in North Wales. The magazine highlights numerous eyewitness accounts and the efforts of local ufologists.

UFO Phenomenon in North Wales

The article details a history of UFO sightings in the Llandudno and Denbigh areas. Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Weekly News obtained information from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) regarding incidents since the turn of the century. Abergele grandmother Margaret Fry, co-founder of the Welsh Federation of Independent Ufologists, assists in uncovering rare observations.

Recent sightings include a March 2005 incident filmed by a motorist, though details are vague, and a September 2004 sighting of two silvery objects by a Flintshire man. The latter described the objects moving apart and together, leaving a vapour trail.

Margaret Fry, who has been researching UFOs for nearly 40 years since a personal alien encounter in Kent in July 1955, supports these claims. She notes that the MOD remains "open-minded" but typically provides rational explanations. For example, a sighting of a yellowish light over Gors Goch was attributed to Guy Fawkes Night.

Fry and her colleagues believe in extraterrestrial life and pool their research. She mentions that a representative on the Isle of Anglesey had to resign due to his UFO research activities jeopardizing his livelihood. Fry emphasizes that the organization never discloses names or addresses but documents reports for their ongoing research, offering a sympathetic ear to witnesses.

Eyewitness Accounts and Evidence

The issue features several specific accounts:

• Llandudno Pier Photograph: A photograph of Llandudno pier is presented, with witnesses arguing it depicts a UFO. Margaret Fry believes it is an unidentified flying object, not a bird or balloon. The picture was taken in 1998 by a couple and their son, who later forgot about it until developing the film two years later. Coincidentally, they were photographing UFOs shaped like white arrows over West Shore, Llandudno, around the time of development.
• Mark Atherton's Sighting: Photographer Mark Atherton spotted a strange object hovering above the A55 at the Abergele roundabout on May 14, 2004.
• December 28, 1985 Sighting: Two college students returning home saw an object shoot across the sky above Dyserth Crossroads.
• January 4, 1986 Sighting: Four people in Trelawnyd claimed to have seen a cigar-shaped craft with bright red lights.
• January 10, 1986 Sighting: Two householders in Prestatyn reported an aerial display lasting over two hours.
• Geraint ap Rhys (Coedpoeth) Account: In December 1944, he saw an intensely bright white light in the woods near Adwy'r Clawdd that soared into the air and vanished into cloud.
• Simon (Wrexham) Account: In the late 80s, he and band members saw an oval orange object hovering over a valley near Denbigh hospital.
• Alexander (Llandudno) Account: On July 6, 2005, he and a friend spotted a UFO hovering above Llandudno.
• August 14, 1998 Sighting: Four women reported seeing about 12 opaque circles rotating and sweeping across the sky at Towyn.
• Spring 1964 Sighting: An incident near Denbigh Castle.
• Summer 1974 Sighting: Two women leaving Denbigh Hospital saw a round, bright orange light that rocketed away at great speed.
• 1984 and 1994 Sightings: Further sightings near Denbigh Hospital.
• July 5, 1984 Sighting: A woman and friend saw a UFO over Denbigh Moors at midday.

Ministry of Defence Perspective

An MOD spokeswoman stated that the department has no expertise in UFO matters and knows of no evidence substantiating the existence of these alleged phenomena. However, they examine reports to determine if they relate to potential defence significance, such as unauthorized air activity. The MOD believes rational explanations could be found if resources were allocated, but it is not their function to provide aerial identification services.

Other Sightings (from page 2)

The second part of the magazine, from the Evening Express, Aberdeen, Scotland (August 12, 2005), titled "MARS BARRED," discusses a potential decline in UFO sightings. It mentions the British UFO Hunters in Cumbria possibly closing due to a lack of sightings. The village of Muchalls, a former UFO hotspot, has also gone quiet.

• Dr. Tom Moir: Claimed to have seen a silent craft hovering over a wood near Muchalls Castle in 2001.
• George Sykes (68): Believes he captured two UFOs on camera near Cruden Bay four years prior, describing them as spinning, bright globes.
• Mary Brown (Lecturer): Suggests that increased interest in non-mainstream religions and New Age spirituality might explain why people are not reporting UFOs, or that people are too preoccupied with real-life anxieties.
• Ian Taylor: An Aberdonian who has studied UFOs for over 50 years, insists sightings are still active and unabated, though not always reported. He personally saw a bright light above the city that was not a star or planet.

International UFO Reports (from pages 3-6)

This section compiles translations of UFO reports from various international sources:

• Argentina (November 28, 2005): Three young men in Vista Alegre, Neuquen, reported seeing a circular light that lit up and vanished.
• Argentina (November 29, 2005): Residents of Costa de Reyes, Vista Alegre, reported seeing a circle of lights, described as a "flying saucer," over the Neuquen River.
• Argentina (November 30, 2005): Speculation that the Vista Alegre UFO might have been a laser light show.
• Mexico (December 5, 2005): Police officers and reporters in Tampico Alto witnessed an unidentified flying object resembling a star that moved and vanished.
• Argentina (December 16, 2005): Cattle mutilation at the "Los Hermanos" ranch in Vertiz, La Pampa, with cows found dead and mutilated.
• Argentina (December 18, 2005): Three witnesses in Santa Rosa saw a light approaching from the North, and later, three luminous objects traveling in single file.
• Argentina (December 18, 2005): Reports of mutilated deer in the Uruguay River area, with genitalia and reproductive organs removed.
• Argentina (December 20, 2005): La Banda in Santiago is described as a "magnet for aliens," with researchers studying UFO appearances.
• La Banda Case: A tractor driver reported a UFO that caused his tractor to become idle.
• 2001 Case: A UFO was reported to be abducting a cow in a field near La Banda.

Other Mysteries (from pages 7-9)

• Mysterious Oklahoma (November 2005): Edmond author David Farris explores Oklahoma's eerie history, including UFO sightings and Bigfoot reports. His books "Mysterious Oklahoma" and "More Mysterious Oklahoma" document these phenomena. A significant event was the August 1965 UFO sightings across Oklahoma, including Edmond, which the Air Force dismissed as astrological observations.
• Bigfoot in Oklahoma: The article mentions sightings of Bigfoot in the Kiamichi country of southeast Oklahoma, with reports of footprints, moans, and shrills. Charles Hallmark claims to have collected Bigfoot fingerprints from soft drink cups.
• Indiana Bigfoot Awareness Group: Mike Bardsley runs a website dedicated to Bigfoot sightings and is a "level 3" believer. He has researched Bigfoot reports in Kosciusko County, Indiana.
• King Crowley: An article from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (November 20, 2005) discusses "King Crowley," a reputed prehistoric stone carving of a human head found near Jonesboro, Arkansas. It was later exposed as a fake, with metal eyes and a valentine-shaped heart motif unavailable to prehistoric Americans.

China's Loch Ness Monster (from page 10)

• Lake Kanasi Monster: An Associated Press article (November 6, 2005) reports on the "Kanasi Huguai," China's version of the Loch Ness Monster. Thousands of tourists visit Lake Kanasi hoping to see the creatures. Yuan Guoying, a researcher, recounts two sightings. While scientists concluded in 1989 that giant freshwater salmon were responsible, a "niggling doubt" remains.

Bigfoot on the West Coast (from page 10)

• Brookings Bigfoot Sighting: A "Curry Coastal Pilot" article (October 5, 2005) details Travis Cover, a truck driver from Brookings, Oregon, who claims to have seen a Bigfoot on Highway 199. The creature was described as dark, hairy, and tall, blocking the beam from his headlights. The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) reports that California, Oregon, and Washington have the highest number of Bigfoot sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are UFO sightings, unexplained phenomena, and cryptid reports (Bigfoot). The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and reporting of these phenomena, acknowledging the skepticism but also giving voice to eyewitnesses and researchers. The magazine aims to document these mysteries, whether they are ultimately explained by rational means or remain unexplained.