Mysterious Objects Detected In Cedar River

Linn: Department of Natural Resources ranger Duane Hansfeld reports unusual activity in the Cedar River just north of Cedar Rapids. On a routine survey of the river late last month, Hansfeld had the opportunity to try out a new sounding device similar to those used by fishermen.

     "The machine sends signals down that are reflected back up and are displayed on the screen as dots," Hansfeld explains. "These dots will tell us depth, basically, so we can look at the river bed and wildlife that would be impossible to see through the water. The Cedar's pretty murky."

     Hansfeld was checking for changes in the river bed when a large object was detected, slowly moving upstream. The object was about three feet long. Assuming at first that the object was some kind of overgrown fish, he ignored it. Then another object passed under his boat, then another.

     Intrigued, Hansfeld followed the objects. He kept the boat at an even pace with them, and peered over the side, hoping to catch a glimpse. "They were about five feet down, a little too far to see. Then on the screen I could see one was coming toward the surface."

     What he saw, a foot or two beneath the surface, surprised him. A pale, spherical object three feet in diameter was somehow propelling itself upstream. Hansfeld could detect no motor, and no bubbles arose from the thing to indicate any kind of propulsion system. The sphere sank again, and, according to Hansfeld's instruments, increased speed. Soon he had lost the spheres and couldn't locate them anywhere in the half-mile he was patrolling that day.

     "I don't know what those things were, and I've never had any reports of anything similar. Maybe some garbage dumped out of Quaker, I don't know. I'm going to keep a look out, though. If I found three, there could be others down there."