Several reports of UFO sightings observed since beginning of year

Dear Editor:

News of unusual aerial phenomena over Ontario has made its way to me. Since early January, I've received several reports of UFOs, including a sighting on Manitoulin Island that was captured on video tape by a Minnesota man.

• Jan. 1, Lake Ramsey: On Jan. 1, I received the following e-mail.

"I was driving home early this morning, with my son and parents with me in the car. We were traveling north on Paris street in the vicinity of the General Hospital (St. Joseph's Health Centre) at around 1:15 a.m. when I noticed this huge light in the sky, over Lake Ramsay, somewhere around the hospital."

"At first I thought it was a helicopter trying to land. It seemed that close, but it remained stationary. It was very large and bright. There were no flashing lights on it. I pointed it out to my son and parents, and we just watched for approximately 30 seconds (after I had already observed it for a previous 30 seconds)."

"Suddenly, we noticed a trail of smoke rise directly upward from this light, and the light simply faded away, just disappeared right from where it was. It was a crystal clear night out, and I have never seen anything like this."

"I just wanted to let you know about this, and wonder if anyone else had seen it, or what you make from it."

• Jan. 1, Manitoulin Island: On Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, I received the following e-mail.

"On Jan. 1, 2001 between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m., me and my girlfriend's father seen two UFOs over Manitoulin Island. I was facing southwest. They appeared to be bright yellowish lights and they didn't move. Each had its own shape. One circular and the other was shaped like a comet with two tails and a round head."

"The sky was clear and the sun was setting. They looked like they were on the edge of Earth's atmosphere. I video taped about 30 to 60 seconds."

"Me and my friend kept an eye on the UFOs as we travelled west on the island. As we dipped into valleys, we couldn't see them (we were not in a line of sight). We watched them for about five more minutes, then we lost track of them. They appeared to change into a circle as we travelled west."

"I have them on eight-mm video. I asked a local store owner about UFOs there and he said he sees them all the time but is afraid to tell anyone in fear they might think he is crazy."

• Jan. 17, near Lively: At around 7:25 a.m., a man and his wife were heading west on Highway 17 when his wife suddenly said: "What's that?"

They watched as a bright white ball of light, moving at treetop level, crossed the highway from left to right (south to north).

Their view of the object was partial blocked by one of the three transport trucks that were ahead of them. The man reported that the driver of the transport in front of them must have seen it because the brake lights came on. He was hoping that the truckers would pull over at the truck stop near Espanola so that he could chat with them, but they never did.

• Feb. 17, Copper Cliff: On Feb. 17, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., a man witnessed an unusual object in the sky, somewhere between Lively and Copper Cliff. He described it as one large light, with two smaller lights on each side. One light was red in colour, but he wasn't sure if the other one was yellow or white. Together, the lights formed a cone shape that was brightly lit and seemed to be as high, if not higher, than the Inco Superstack. The sighting lasted approximately an hour.

If you or anyone you know has any information about this or any other cases, please contact me at 670-2759 or e-mail: ufoman@ican.net. Reports can also be made to MUFON Ontario (905) 278-9596.

The Northern Life - March 16, 2001