UFO Newsclipping Service - 2009 04 - no 477

Magazine Overview

This issue of the "UFO" newsletter, published by the Temple Daily Telegram on March 9, 2009, focuses on UFO sightings and related phenomena. It includes a cover story about a woman's encounter in Cameron, Texas, and revisits the historical 'Lubbock Lights' case. The publication also features various other reports and articles on UFO investigations from around the United States.

Featured Articles

Close Encounters of the Cameron Kind

The lead article details Penny Mowdy Horelica's 1975 UFO sighting near Cameron, Texas. As a high school senior, she encountered a glowing object that transformed from a motorcycle light to a sun-sized sphere. The object illuminated her car, jammed her radio to static, and hovered over her vehicle. She later reported the incident to the Cameron Police Department, which led to media attention. Despite facing skepticism, Horelica's experience has stayed with her, surfacing when she drives at night or sees unusual aerial lights. She now volunteers with the local fire department and checks UFO reports, noting déjà vu when news reports describe similar phenomena. Records of her specific sighting could not be found at the Cameron Police Department due to water damage.

Alejandro Rojas, MUFON's director of public education and media relations, confirms that 1975 was a year with reported UFO sightings. He mentions another sighting of a cylindrical formation of red lights and a similar sighting from the mid-1970s involving red lights that turned white. MUFON has seen a rise in reported sightings, with 549 reports in January 2009, 34 of which were from Texas. Rojas attributes this partly to increased public awareness of MUFON and its reporting methods.

UFOINFO, another tracking organization, reported a similar sighting in Milam County in 2005, and a previous sighting by the same resident in 2004 of three silver, round objects. Horelica describes her experience as different and something she hopes not to repeat, stating, "We will never know in our lifetimes what it was."

Lubbock Lights' Have Lost Luster Since Celebrated UFO 'Sightings' One Night in '51

This article revisits the famous "Lubbock Lights" case from August and September 1951. The phenomenon, described as a "string of pearl-like objects" moving at "incredible speed," was seen by numerous witnesses. Initial speculation ranged from birds to flying saucers. Texas Tech professors examined photos taken by Carl Hart Jr., which showed 18 to 20 luminous objects. The official Air Force conclusion, released years later with Project Blue Book, stated that the lights were likely migratory birds, possibly ducks, due to their consistent southward movement late in the summer.

However, the case remained a subject of debate. In 1952, national magazines published stories, with some experts like Donald H. Menzel disputing the reports and others, like Harvard astrophysicist R.S. Underwood, suggesting speeds of 750 mph at 2,100 feet altitude. In 1977, The A-J reported that computer-aided tests by Ground Saucer Watch validated Hart's photos, concluding the lights were "a formation of extraordinary flying objects" and not airplanes, astronomical bodies, or birds reflecting streetlights.

Texas Fireball Probably a Meteor, Not UFO

This article reports that a bright fireball seen across Texas in February 2009 was likely a meteor, not falling space junk from a satellite collision. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a University of North Texas astronomer, Preston Starr, concluded it was a natural phenomenon, possibly a meteor the size of a pickup truck. Starr estimated its speed between 15,000 and 40,000 mph. The FAA initially considered satellite debris but rescinded that possibility.

UFO in Hunt County?

This report from the Herald-Banner details a mysterious object seen in Hunt County, Texas, on a Saturday night. Multiple witnesses, including a civilian and three uniformed law enforcement officers, reported seeing an unidentified flying object north of Greenville. The object was described as bright, hovering, and moving away from the area towards Dallas. L-3 Communications Integrated Systems confirmed they had no aircraft in the air at the time.

Odd Object Photographed in Skies Near Wichita

An amateur photographer near Rose Hill, Kansas, captured a photograph of an unidentified object. Boeing Integrated Defense Systems could not identify the aircraft, and McConnell Air Force Base declined to comment. The photographer described a "pinkish glow" and a "whirling sound" before the object moved upward and disappeared.

Skeptical UFO Investigator Has Feet on Ground, Eyes on Sky

This article profiles Chuck Zukowski, a UFO field investigator known for his meticulous documentation. Zukowski investigates phenomena that cannot be explained by science, including cattle mutilations and crop circles. He was investigating strange carvings in Ute Valley Park, Colorado, which he believes are likely Ute in origin, though the style has some similarities to Aztec or Mayan art.

UFO Anomalies Still Unsettled

This piece focuses on Stan Gordon, a ufologist from Greensburg, Pennsylvania, who has been researching the Kecksburg incident of December 9, 1965. Gordon, who was 10 at the time, highlights the numerous witnesses and the military presence surrounding the event. He describes the object as acorn-shaped with unrecognizable lettering and notes that it reportedly changed directions and landed with a "puff of blue smoke." Gordon is often a guest speaker and conducts lectures on UFOs.

Close Encounters in Region Prompt UFOlogy Course

This article introduces Trevor Carter, who is offering a UFOlogy course at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Carter, who has studied UFOs for years, aims to bridge the gap between misinformation and reality. He discusses the history of UFOs, scientific data, and the possibility of extraterrestrial technology. The course will feature UFO witnesses, including radio personality Danny Gordon. Carter notes that UFOs have been reported in various shapes and sizes, can hover with little noise, and have been calculated to reach high speeds. He also mentions the potential for UFOs to cause signal loss and car engine shutdowns, as well as physical trace evidence.

The Other Side of the Waukesha UFO

This brief report from the Journal Sentinel and WTMJ AM 620 dismisses claims of unusual sightings in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, as a comet. The article questions why only residents of Waukesha County would misinterpret a comet for a UFO, suggesting a broader metropolitan area might have similar calls.

Group Keeps the Faith at Yearly Meeting

This article covers the International UFO Congress Convention & Film Festival in Laughlin, Nevada. Nearly 1,000 attendees gathered to discuss topics such as alien implant research, alien technology, and "exoconsciousness." The convention, co-founded by Bob Brown, aims to provide a respectful forum for UFO enthusiasts. Popular items at the event included DVDs on conspiracy theories and banking.

Strange Formation

This piece reflects on the impact of UFO-themed specials and movies on the author's imagination, recalling childhood fascination with Flash Gordon and early sci-fi films. It mentions Ken Arnold's 1947 sighting of UFOs over Mount Rainier and a 1963 sighting of a triangle of bright lights near Bremerton, Washington, which was later attributed to railroad flares tied to balloons. The author also notes a report of a six-sided hovering aircraft in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Reporting UFO Sightings in WA State

A study released by Popular Mechanics indicates that Yakima, Washington, has one of the highest UFO reporting rates per capita. Yakima County ranked fourth among small cities, and King County was second among major metro counties. The increase in sightings in areas near military training zones is noted. The National UFO Reporting Center emphasizes the importance of reporting sightings regardless of geographical location due to the speed of UFOs.

It Hovered, It Had Spotlight: 2 Omahans Describe a Flying Object

This article from the Evening World Herald (January 18, 1967) details a sighting by Judy Bradley and Robert Ludacka in Omaha, Nebraska. They described an object with eight lighted windows, moving eastward and then south. The object, estimated to be 50 to 75 feet long, hovered, had a spotlight, and a red blinking light on the left and a green blinking light on the bottom. They lost sight of it when it disappeared while they were heading east to get a better view.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around eyewitness accounts of unexplained aerial phenomena, historical UFO cases, and the ongoing efforts to investigate and understand these events. There is a clear interest in documenting sightings, exploring potential explanations (both conventional and unconventional), and the cultural impact of UFO phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various perspectives and reports without definitively concluding on the nature of all sightings, while also acknowledging the skepticism and scientific scrutiny that often accompany such reports.

This issue of 'FOREIGN NEWS', a collection of British news clippings, features several articles related to UFO sightings and related phenomena, primarily focusing on reports from the 1980s and early 2000s. The main cover story, "Tales of UFOs and a 'bananaman!'", highlights newly released Ministry of Defence (MOD) files detailing a Huddersfield UFO sighting and other unusual reports, including a 'bananaman' sketch.

MOD 'X-files' reveal Huddersfield UFO sighting

By Neil Atkinson, Head of News for the Huddersfield Daily Examiner, this article reveals that the Ministry of Defence has released files containing UFO sightings. One notable sketch depicts a 'bananaman', a faceless, banana-shaped object with human-like limbs, seen in West London on May 16, 1989. Another sighting above Huddersfield on April 20, 1988, described a rectangle with five bright lights. West Yorkshire police also received two other drawings in March 1988, including one from a Hemsworth taxi driver who saw a silver craft with red, white, and green lights hovering and humming.

The article notes that the MOD files, made available online by the National Archives, cover the period between November 1987 and April 1993 and contain details of around 1,200 separate UFO sightings. It emphasizes that British officials were more concerned about advanced foreign aircraft (Russian and American) than about 'little green men'. A drawing by a 65-year-old housewife of a circle of flashing white lights and a red glow over Highwood, south of Uttoxeter, on June 21, 1984, is also mentioned.

1980s UFO sketches from witnesses are released by the MoD

By Beverley Rouse for the Derby Evening Telegraph, this article focuses on UFO sketches released by the MOD, many from sightings in Derbyshire on August 16, 1987. A man in Derby reported a bright white object moving in a downward arc, leaving a trail of 'blobs'. A woman over Breadsall Hilltop described a massive, brilliant light. A couple in Chaddesden watched an object the size of a large bus that changed shape. Another report details a 'pie-shaped' flying saucer seen over Crake Marsh, north of Uttoxeter, on August 17, 1987, with a searchlight beam. The article mentions that the MOD has not released the names of the witnesses.

Noddy is Slade by a saucer

This short piece from The Sun reports that rocker Noddy Holder of Slade claims to have seen a UFO 'whizzing' over the sea. He described it as a flying saucer, circular with beams of light, moving so fast it was churning up waves. He also noted that the police helicopter often comes over with floodlights, but this object was 'just like in the movies'.

UFO Sighting talk just hot air

By Richard Cornwell for the Ipswich Evening Star, this article features an expert's opinion that a 'cigar-shaped' object filmed over Devon was likely an inflatable kite, not an alien craft. Bryan Wright, who runs Team SPECTRUM Kite Displays, explains that such kites can be mistaken for UFOs. The article also touches upon the general increase in UFO sightings and Suffolk's reputation as a potential alien portal.

Increase in reported UFO sightings could be because spaceships are filling up with water from Lake District, claim UFO spotters

This article from the Carlisle News & Star reports that Cumbria is becoming a hotspot for UFO activity. Ufologists suggest that the large amount of water in the Lake District might be used by alien craft for propulsion or monitoring nuclear power. A report of orange lights above the Irish Sea off the coast of Ravenglass is mentioned, with an investigator stating they were unlikely to be maritime flares due to their movement and lack of noise.

UFO spotters say truth is out there

From the Selby Times, this article describes a couple in Burn who believe they photographed a UFO in their back garden. Another incident involves reports of a glowing orange ball and low-flying, bright glowing craft near Barlby. Selby-based UFO expert Tony Topping suggests Selby might be a focus for aliens due to its population's 'unique genetic code' or its proximity to power stations. Filey-based expert Russ Kellett is also mentioned, who investigated sightings near Barlby and the 'Selby Saucer' photo.

What are these mystery lights?

By Stuart Greer for the Oldham Advertiser, this piece features Keith Barton, an amateur astronomer in Oldham, who has recorded video footage of peculiar, changing lights in the sky. He has posted his findings online, seeking explanations. The article also references past MOD files showing UFO sightings over Oldham, including a bright white ball and a luminous green cigar-shaped object.

UFO expert dedicated to studying the skies

This Dorset Echo article reports the passing of Weymouth-based UFO expert David Kingston at the age of 70. Kingston's interest in UFOs began in the 1950s during his RAF service. He was involved in founding a paranormal activity conference and was a co-ordinator for the Study of Extraterrestrial Intelligence.

Mystery over ball of light

A brief report from Shropshire mentions a strange white and orange ball of light seen over Shrewsbury, which appeared to drop to the ground near the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Was 'burning fireball' in sky a UFO?

By Emma Palmer for the Southern Evening Echo, this article details reports of a mysterious UFO seen flying over Pitsea, described as a 'burning fireball' moving at high speed. A UFO tracker, Paul Joslin, is investigating and appeals for other witnesses. The article also mentions a sighting of six strange red lights in South Woodham Ferrers.

The week South Korea went UFO mad

By Michael Cohen for the Southern Evening Echo, this report covers a week of unusual events in South Korea, including sonic booms and sightings of unusual lights, leading to speculation about UFO invasions or extraterrestrial activity.

UFO lights a riddle

By Meryl Naidoo for The Mercury (Australia), this article discusses unusual lights seen over Tasmania, which a local UFO hunter suggests were likely meteors or space junk. Police received numerous calls about the lights, sparking fears of a crash.

The UFO that put ministers on alert

By Sam Marsden for the Daily Record (Scotland), this article details MOD files revealing a serious investigation into a diamond-shaped UFO hovering next to an RAF jet over Scotland in 1990. The incident was so significant that ministers were briefed. The article notes that the MOD was more interested in defence implications than aliens, and mentions other incidents from the files, including alleged alien encounters and sightings of stealth aircraft.

Reports: Large, hairy two-legged animal seen

By Nicholas Bergin for The Hawk Eye (Iowa), this article discusses reports of a large, hairy, two-legged animal seen in Jefferson County, Iowa. A county conservation manager expresses skepticism, suggesting it might be a misidentified animal or trick of the eye. The article also references Bigfoot sightings in Iowa.

Bigfoot researchers study Sand Mountain

By Lionel Green for The Reporter (Alabama), this article reports on a Bigfoot research group finding a large handprint and hearing vocalizations on Sand Mountain. The group, Elusive Primates of North America (EPNA), is planning to merge with another organization. The article also mentions the possibility of an unknown primate with human-texture vocalization.

Two more cows found mutilated

This article from The Pueblo Chieftain (Colorado) details two more cases of cattle mutilation in Southern Colorado, following previous incidents. Ranchers found cows and a calf with udders and reproductive organs surgically removed, with no blood or signs of struggle. An independent UFO investigator, Chuck Zukowski, suggests these cases fit the criteria of an unknown phenomenon and notes the coincidence of UFO sightings and unmarked black helicopters in similar cases across the country. He speculates about the possibility of UFO involvement, given the lack of evidence for predators or human involvement.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The collection of articles demonstrates a consistent interest in unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings, cattle mutilations, and Bigfoot reports. The tone varies from journalistic reporting of official releases (like the MOD files) to more speculative pieces and expert opinions. There's a recurring theme of witnesses coming forward with unusual experiences, and the role of UFO investigators in analyzing these events. The articles highlight the public's fascination with the unknown and the ongoing efforts to find explanations, whether mundane or extraterrestrial. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting these reports and investigations, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, while also acknowledging the skepticism and the search for rational explanations.