UFO Newsclipping Service - 2009 09 - no 482

Magazine Overview

This issue is a Special 40th Anniversary Supplement of the UFO Newsclipping Service, celebrating four decades of circulation from 1969 to 2009. The publication, originally founded by Rod Dyke under the name 'UFO Research Committee', aimed to provide timely UFO-related news and information before the internet era. It is noted for its commitment to reporting facts without personal bias.

History and Editorship

The publication began in the summer of 1969 with Rod Dyke, then 18, creating a newsclipping service to fill the need for UFO information. He meticulously sorted and pasted clippings from around the world. In the summer of 1977, Lou Farish took over as Editor, continuing the publication for 30 years and becoming its longest-running editor. Farish also organized the annual Ozark UFO Conference. Due to other commitments, Farish handed the editorship back to Rod Dyke for a year from December 2007 to December 2008, who then used a computer for the task. As 2009 approached, David Marler was offered and accepted the role of Editor, feeling both excited and intimidated by the responsibility. Marler is the third person to edit the publication. He expresses gratitude to subscribers and staff, including Co-Editor J.D. Scarpellini and staff members Don & LaVonna Bertelsmann.

Cover Story: UFONS Celebrates 40 Years of Circulation!

The cover story highlights the 40-year milestone of UFONS, thanking subscribers for their continued support. It details the humble beginnings of the publication with eight initial subscribers and its growth into a worldwide tradition. The secret to its success is attributed to rising above controversies and reporting news objectively, focusing solely on facts.

Recent UFO Sightings and Reports

The issue features several recent UFO sighting reports from August 2009:

• Murrysville, Pennsylvania (August 27, 2009): A witness reported a crescent-shaped object that appeared cloudlike and then vanished. The area has seen numerous sightings, including triangular objects, colored orbs, and strange lights.
• Harmarville, Pennsylvania (August 25, 2009): A triangular object with flashing lights was observed flying low over a golf course and crossing the Allegheny River.
• Pittsburgh UFO Examiner Investigates Westmoreland County "cold case": The publication investigated a case from over 40 years ago where a man reported a brightly lit object hovering over a wooded area, emitting a substance described as 'molten metal flakes'. The witness, a retired Air Force veteran, had his wife corroborate the sightings. The report was prompted by a TV episode about the Kecksburg UFO crash.
• Six Kansas witnesses (August 21, 2009): Six individuals reported seeing a thin, triangular-shaped black object with numerous lights underneath hovering directly overhead at close range.
• Crosby, Texas (August 19, 2009): Three witnesses followed a triangular craft with white and colored lights that exhibited random changes in direction and sudden bursts of speed.
• Ashtabula, Ohio (August 19, 2009): A family observed a light that mimicked their movements, changing colors and patterns for two hours near Walnut Beach.
• Broomfield, Colorado (September 2, 2009): A married couple reported seeing a round, silent object, estimated to be 100-150 feet in diameter, moving slowly towards them.
• Liberty Lake, Washington (August 14, 2009): Several families reported seeing strange lights in the night sky that moved erratically, changed color, and were not identifiable as conventional aircraft.
• Houston, Texas (August 3, 2009): A pilot and co-pilot observed a bright red-orange oval-shaped light that released a smaller red light before fading and reappearing.
• Salter Path, North Carolina (August 28, 2009): A family witnessed a disc-shaped object with red and white lights that was later pursued by two military planes.

Additional UFO Stories Forthcoming

Fred Spriggs of the Webster County Citizen announces upcoming stories on aliens in Webster County, including a "6-foot-tall 'insectioid'" and an investigation validating events involving 30 adults. He also mentions a story about cattle mutilations and implants.

Forest Lake Times: Sylvan Lake Mystery

An investigation by MUFON field investigator Rich Webb into an incident on July 27 at Sylvan Lake, Minnesota, where a large object was reported to have landed in the water. Despite searches by local agencies and a dive team, nothing was found, though a witness reported seeing a large swirl and air bubbles emanating from the lake bed. MUFON closed the case, with potential explanations including methane gas.

Forest Lake Times: Large rectangular-shaped UFO over Troy, Montana

Two security officers in Troy, Montana, witnessed a silent, rectangular-shaped UFO on August 10, 2009. The object, described as "gigantic gum eraser"-like with white and red lights, was observed for 5-10 minutes before disappearing over a mountain range.

Jessup, PA: 'Orange Blob' UFO

A witness in Jessup, Pennsylvania, reported seeing a "descending Orange Ball" the size of a car, moving in a jerky, cautious motion. The object was described as multi-colored with a dark red nose and bright white rear, making an electronic cracking noise. The sighting lasted approximately 5 minutes.

Notable Mentions and Features

• Timothy Good: A regular contributor whose articles from the UK are considered invaluable.
• Library: A small portion of the on-site UFO library is shown, highlighting the extensive collection of historical UFO books and journals.
• MUFON: The Mutual UFO Network is frequently mentioned as the source for witness testimony and investigative reports.
• "From the Archives" section: The publication is seeking historical UFO information for this section.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the reporting of recent UFO sightings across various locations in the United States, the historical context of UFO research, and the dedication of individuals involved in documenting and investigating these phenomena. The editorial stance, as stated by Rod Dyke, is to remain objective and report "Just the facts!" without personal bias. The current editor, David Marler, aims to continue this tradition, hoping to contribute to understanding the UFO mystery.

This issue of the Examiner magazine, dated July 2000, focuses on UFO sightings and encounters, primarily featuring reports from Michigan, USA, and various locations in the UK, Canada, China, and Ukraine. The main cover story, "Encounter with UFO in Michigan," details two separate incidents in Port Austin, Michigan, involving translucent objects and unusual light displays.

Encounter with UFO in Michigan

The lead article describes two encounters in Port Austin, Michigan. In the first, witnesses observed a "translucent" UFO, noting a shape independent of the lights. Later, while driving, they saw the object again, and its lights separated into pairs, blinking in rapid, definite patterns as if signaling. The lights then performed maneuvers before disappearing. In a second incident, four very bright lights appeared directly overhead, illuminating the surroundings without making them appear darker. The lights then disappeared one by one, with one small light taking off vertically. Witnesses felt this was a deliberate attempt to gain their attention.

Constable Butler Sees UFO

This section, from the Sandusky Register dated February 10, 1967, details Perkins Constable Gary Butler's sighting of a "solid, bluish disc" UFO. He described it as approximately two miles away, 20 feet in diameter, and 40 feet off the ground. He noted it made no noise and did not move initially. When he called deputies, the object had disappeared. A deputy reported seeing only steam clouds from a NASA reactor site, which Butler found irritating. The article also mentions a similar sighting over NASA grounds by Reinhardt N. Ausmus and his wife. Butler expressed frustration with potential ridicule but insisted he saw something, and noted that other officers in Bellevue had also reported seeing UFOs that night, described as red and disappearing quickly.

News Flash: UFO Rocks Viewers in Live Telly Show

This clipping from the Daily Star (England, August 7, 2009) reports on a live BBC news broadcast where viewers saw a "glowing disc" streak across the sky. The object was captured by a webcam and seen by thousands. Former Ministry of Defence UFO expert Nick Pope stated it was unlikely to be a meteor or fireball and suggested aliens could not be ruled out. The article also mentions a Brit tourist, Colin Butler, finding a "weird 'spacecraft'" on his holiday videos, described as a glowing purple orb.

Finding the Answers to UFOs... Mostly!

This article from the Huddersfield Examiner (England, July 18, 2009) discusses the phenomenon of UFO sightings, emphasizing misidentification. It provides examples of objects mistaken for UFOs, such as carrots, hot air balloons (Sputniks), and reflected car lights. The author expresses skepticism about extraterrestrial claims but recounts a personal experience of seeing a "horizontal, oval, mirrored silver object" with a friend, which neither could explain.

Is this really a UFO over Westbury?

Published in 'This is Wiltshire' (England, July 31, 2009), this article features an amateur photographer from Westbury who claims to have captured a shot of a UFO tracking an RAF plane. The photographer, who wishes to remain anonymous, described the object as a "mysterious shape" and stated it was definitely tracking the Hercules plane from RAF Lyneham. He found it embarrassing but felt it should be discussed publicly. The MoD stated they examine reports solely to establish if UK airspace has been compromised by hostile or unauthorized military activity, and would not investigate unless a potential threat was evident.

STH WOODFORD: 'Jellyfish UFO' spotted again

From 'This is Local London' (July 20, 2009), this brief report describes a "'Jellyfish-like' unidentified flying object" spotted over South Woodford. Witnesses described it as looking like a jellyfish with a fire at the bottom, which went off and returned. This sighting is compared to a similar one reported a year prior.

Third UFO sighting in a week

This article from the Midweek Herald (Devonshire, UK, July 3, 2009) reports on a UFO sighting over Raymonds Hill, near Axminster, described as several orange lights in the sky that appeared to be between Axminster and Raymonds Hill. The lights were seen jerking about at right angles and disappearing and reappearing. The movements were described as not normal for aircraft.

Students report UFO above castle

From the Evening News (Scarborough, UK, August 23, 2009), this article details reports of unexplained flying objects. Lecturer Pat Argent reported two groups of foreign exchange students spotting an object above Scarborough Castle, described as a "big fireball" that moved in a straight trajectory, stopped, and then disappeared. Another witness, Carol Buxton, reported a "yellow ball" with red lines extending from it, moving slowly. The article also mentions a spate of sightings in the Filey area with witnesses reporting bright orange lights and flying saucers.

Sightings of UFO similar to those 16 years ago

This clipping from the Shropshire Star (England, July 31, 2009) discusses fresh sightings of a large V-shaped craft with flashing lights over Shropshire, similar to those investigated by the Ministry of Defence 16 years prior. Nick Pope, former head of the MoD's UFO project, noted the similarities and recalled a 1993 investigation that concluded "unidentified object (or objects) of unknown origin was operating over the UK'.

UFO mystery

From the Weston & Somerset Mercury (England, July 30, 2009), this short piece describes an aircraft circling the sky with different colored lights (white, green/blue, red) that flashed red. The aircraft was described as missile-shaped with two lights and not moving conventionally. The witness, Charli Knight, questioned if anyone else had seen this in the Weston Village area.

Powys a hotspot for UFO sightings

This article from the Powys County Times & Express (England, July 24, 2009) highlights Powys as a hotspot for UFO sightings, with numerous reports of orange spheres and other odd lights. Kay Jones reported seeing three green spheres that pulsated and caused her bedside clock to lose an hour. Susan Blake witnessed a large shining light approaching her house, which appeared to be a disk-shaped object with a dome. Emma Richards observed orange spheres that tripled in size and became translucent before shooting across the sky. Her husband also photographed similar spheres. The article suggests the Brecon Beacons might be an origin point for these phenomena and discusses the possibility of these being more than Chinese lanterns.

UFO hovers over Chongqing

From Lankajournal (China, August 30, 2009), this report describes a UFO seen over Chongqing. At about 10 pm on August 23, a UFO appeared above Beibei Binjiang Road, described as "V" shaped and changing colors (red, blue, green, yellow, white) at intervals. Hundreds watched, but no sound was heard. A civil airplane passed by, and witnesses compared the UFO to it, noting the UFO was flying at a higher altitude.

UFO seen in Ukraine

This ALLNEWSWEB report (September 2, 2009) shares an email from a reader in Vinnitsa, Ukraine, describing an experience on July 31. The reader and a friend were walking home when they noticed a large white light hovering above them. As they walked, the light seemed to follow them, and they heard a vibrating sound before it vanished. They believe it was a UFO.

A Record number of Albertans report UFOs

This Calgary Herald article (Canada, August 13, 2009) states that Alberta is a hotspot for extraterrestrial tourists, with a record 157 UFO sightings reported in the province the previous year. Ufologist Chris Rutkowski notes that people are more comfortable reporting sightings due to UFO-themed websites. The article mentions that "flying saucers" are less commonly reported, with people now describing objects as fireballs or mysterious blobs. Rutkowski describes modern sightings as "not egg-shaped, spherical or triangular in shape, but something with protrusions and the lights seem to change shape as you're watching." The article also notes that while many sightings are explained as stars or planets, a residual number remain unexplained.

UFO sighting in Tierra del Fuego

From El Mercurio de Calama (Chile, June 28, 2009), this report details a UFO sighting in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Professional cameraman Danilo Breskovic Essedin witnessed two events: in 1998, he saw a luminous white smoke-like shape with a strong burning smell, and on June 7, 2009, he and a friend saw a light in the sky. They also found two circles on the sand, and their jeep's radio went silent for ten minutes. The photos taken did not resemble planes or weather phenomena.

UFO in downtown Salta?

This report from El Tribuno de Salta (Argentina, August 5, 2009) features a photograph sent in by a reader, Pamela Franco, taken in downtown Salta. The photo shows a black, circular spot over the upper left margin of a picture of a hill. While the paper's photographic department concluded the photo was not altered, they suggested it could be an effect of the sun on the camera, a reflection, or a small debris stuck to the lens, not daring to give a final verdict.

UFO events in Nigeria

This ALLNEWSWEB report (August 25, 2009) addresses why UFOs might not be seen often in Africa, attributing it to the population living in traditional rural areas with limited access to technology and media. However, it states that sightings do occur and Nigeria is known for high levels of UFO activity. Recent Nigerian sightings include a witness describing a "golden/whitish" object that appeared, moved rapidly, and vanished without sound or smoke. Another report from the previous year describes two "oval-disc like" silver objects moving around, which were silent and unlike any man-made machine.

THIS IS GUERNSEY: UFO was no Chinese lantern

From Guernsey, UK (August 24, 2009), this article reports that Kerry and Lorraine Le Patourel claimed to have spotted UFOs over Guernsey. They described strange, glowing orbs that appeared to come up slowly from the east, then change direction and disappear quickly. They dismissed the idea of Chinese lanterns, stating the objects moved differently. A Guernsey Met Office spokesman suggested it could be a fast-moving aircraft coming from France, appearing orange due to atmospheric conditions.

US NEWS TODAY: An amateur photographer believes he captured a UFO tracking an RAF Hercules

This article from the Rutland & Stamford Mercury (UK, August 14, 2009) and a US News Today report (August 12, 2009) cover the same incident. John Powell, a retired school teacher from Westbury, claims to have photographed a silver orb tracking an RAF Hercules as it approached RAF Lyneham. He stated he doesn't believe in aliens but was certain the object was tracking the plane. The MoD stated they would not investigate as it was not considered a "potential threat."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this collection of articles are the persistent reporting of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), the variety of shapes and behaviors described by witnesses, and the ongoing debate between believers and skeptics. Many articles highlight the challenges of misidentification, with natural phenomena or man-made objects often being mistaken for UFOs. The role of technology, such as webcams and mobile phone cameras, in capturing and disseminating these sightings is also evident. The editorial stance across these diverse publications leans towards reporting witness accounts and expert opinions, while acknowledging the lack of definitive proof and the prevalence of misinterpretations. There is a clear interest in documenting these events, even if conclusive explanations remain elusive.

Title: FORTEANA NEWS
Issue: A1 (from A1)
Date: August 13, 2009
Publisher: Seattle Times
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of FORTEANA NEWS, dated August 13, 2009, and published by the Seattle Times, focuses on two intriguing unexplained phenomena: crop circles in Eastern Washington and a mysterious cow mutilation in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Crop Circles Lure Visitors to Wilbur

The lead article, "A wheat-field mystery grew, briefly, in Eastern Washington," by Jonathan Martin, details the phenomenon of crop circles appearing in Wilbur, Washington. The town of Wilbur, with a population of 960 and located 65 miles west of Spokane, has embraced its reputation as a destination for the extraterrestrial-obsessed. The Chamber of Commerce even issued an award of appreciation to 'the Aliens' for boosting tourism. This is the second time in three years that crop circles have appeared in local wheat fields, generating curiosity and debate.

The most recent formation occurred in late July on the Haden family farm, featuring five rings of declining size and one circle. Keith Haden, while pointing out the formation, maintained a skeptical demeanor. His son, Braidy Haden, described finding no tracks and noted that when he plowed over the circles, his combine 'levitated' and 'electric instruments went haywire,' though this was stated with a straight face.

Previously, in June 2007, an elaborate set of nine circles was found on the Llewellyn farm, attracting significant attention. Jim Llewellyn, the farm owner, recounted how the sighting led to an influx of tourists, researchers, and even a group of naked dancers. The event was widely reported, and a local diner even offered 'Alien Burgers.'

Peter Davenport, director of the National UFO Reporting Center, investigated the Haden crop circles and stated he could not pass judgment on their authenticity, noting that the crimped stalks and lagged edges suggested they might be man-made. However, he found the earlier Llewellyn crop circle 'very interesting.' A team from BLT Research Team concluded it was the 'real McCoy,' citing evidence such as bent stalks and cavities interpreted as the result of an energy pulse. Llewellyn himself expressed that the formation was too sophisticated for local high school students.

Conversely, Joe Nickell, a former magician and investigator for Skeptical Inquirer magazine, firmly believes that 'One hundred and two percent of crop circles are fake.' He notes that British hoaxers admitted in 1991 to originating the idea, and their techniques have been replicated. Scientists from MIT have also found similarities between unexplained formations and known man-made crop circles.

The Haden crop circle was plowed under before extensive scientific testing could be conducted. Braidy Haden recounted a nighttime visit to the field where their headlights startled them with reflections from old farm equipment.

Slain Cow May Have Been Mutilated: Farmer

In a separate report from CBC News in Saskatchewan, Canada, dated August 19, 2009, a farmer named Neil Bartsch discovered one of his cows slain in a pasture north of Saskatoon. Bartsch reported that the animal had sustained highly unusual injuries, including a large amount of blood and what appeared to be 'gruesome injuries.'

Bartsch, who has 25 years of experience raising cattle, stated he had never seen anything like it. He described the cuts on the cow as very smooth, unlike the tear marks he would associate with predators like coyotes. He noted that entire parts of the animal seemed to have been carved away, and half of its head was missing. Bartsch notified the police, who investigated the scene.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, presenting cases that blur the lines between the mundane and the extraordinary. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting witness accounts and expert opinions from both believers and skeptics. The cases of crop circles and animal mutilations are treated as genuine mysteries worthy of investigation, even while acknowledging the possibility of hoaxes or natural explanations. The publication seems to cater to an audience interested in fortean events and the unexplained, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional understanding.