UNSOLVED MYSTERY - SOMETHING IN THE NIGHT
by Ronald Rantz

Found by: Ronald Rantz

Witnessed by: Ronald Born, Pauline Born and Dale Rantz

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on April 8th, 1997, I walked to the mouth of the creek to see if the ice was leaving the shore. To my surprise, I noticed that there was a circle on the ice leaving an impression that was too exact to have happened by nature.

I was at this same location the previous evening and nothing of that sort was there. The creek was open approximately 10-15 feet. As it entered the lake, about 1/4 inch of water was flowing over the old ice from about 20 feet square, tapering from about 4 inches to 8 inches.

That night, the temperature had dropped to minus 10 degrees C. The next morning, all the water was frozen, including the 20-foot square patch that was over the old ice. This is when I first noticed the round impression on the ice. I got my measuring tape and camera and began to investigate.

The diameter measured exactly 80 inches, no matter which way it was measured. It sank into the new and old ice 3/4 inch. The ice had been melted as if a very hot heat had been forced on the surface of the ice. From about 12 inches inside the main impression, pressure caused hot air and water to be forced out to about 4 to 8 feet outside the main circle. It was uneven in all directions, leaving about a 4-foot wide, 1/2 inch high spot in dead center of the circle.

It appeared that whenever the object that made the circle lifted, it rotated counter clockwise, twisting 2/3 of the impression in a 3-inch smear, still 3/4 inch deep. The reason I'm sure it turned that way, is that on the inside of the impression on the right side, chips of ice the size of peas were on top of the old ice, also on the left outside of the circle, hinting that it twisted or slid in that way.

It seemed to me that a great force with weight was applied to the ice, to crush it in this manner, thus leaving the ice to freeze in an uneven pattern. Whatever this object was that was put down, could do this very accurately, because 15 feet from the outside of the circle was a 20-foot flag pole.

It was not a flare or open flame, as most flares burn in an uneven pattern, and leave some sort of residue or ashes, expecially on ice. A flare or fire would not melt ice 20 feet across without leaving a main indent in the center. In this case, the melting was done in all directions. Also that night, there was an extremely strong wind, so if there was open fire or flame, it would only melt in one direction.

This would be almost impossible to be man-made, as it occurred on private property in the wind and cold on a lake near open water in the middle of the night, and accurately chipping a circle 3/4 inches deep and 80 inches across, not to mention the melting of the ice in all directions (unless they had a giant-sized electric kettle with them).

Why would this object settle down in this particular spot, as solid land was only 20 feet away, as well as a lake with 3 feet of solid ice. Whatever the reason, could this object have been taking water, or leaving some sort of message or sign?

I have no explanation, nor do my 3 witnesses. I have drawn an accurate diagram as to what occurred. Perhaps you can solve thsi mystery. GOOD LUCK!

As they say, "It appears we are not alone".

Photos #1, 2, & 3, taken April 8th at 7:30 a.m.
Photos #4 & 5, taken April 9th at 7:30 a.m.

Original description of the site with drawing made by the main witness