Increase In Iowa UFO Reports

Johnson: Recently UFO Round Up (the on-line newsletter for UFO enthusiasts world wide) reported that on April 8th, a man identified as "Kenneth W" sighted a UFO while driving on Interstate 80 near Tiffin. The same article went on to report another sighting near Ankeny. According to the article, at 8:30 PM. on April 13, 1997, Jeff Roberts and seven other eyewitnesses saw an anomalous object similar in shape to a crown and chartreuse in color. This object was followed by another object, reportedly only visible through binoculars and cigar shaped. The article quotes Roberts as saying the objects moved in a counterclockwise rotation and had red, blue, and yellow lights. UFO Round Up went on to state that Beverly Trout of MUFON Iowa is investigating the case.

     When I contacted Ms. Trout for comment, she voiced concern that such sightings are reported to the media before they are thoroughly investigated. She said, "When you get overeager witnesses who immediately want to interact with the media, as far as I'm concerned, you can create problems which can come back to haunt you. It may be a valid sighting, or it may not. At the moment I am leaving this thing alone, and this is by mutual agreement between myself and the primary witness." She further expressed concern about media trivialization of such experiences and mentioned this publication specifically. For the record, we would like to publicly state that neither Beverly Trout nor MUFON have any connection whatsoever to Third Eye Over Iowa, and do not sanction its publication, premise, or policies.

     We are currently requesting permission from UFO Round Up to contact the primary witnesses in these Iowa sightings and will continue to research this thing further. If any reader in the Des Moines, Ankeny, or Tiffin area saw anything unusual in the night sky on the dates in question, or have other sighting information, please contact us immediately. Your identity will remain confidential upon request.

     "UFOs Active In Iowa", UFO Round Up, April 20, 1997, vol. 2, issue 16, Joseph Trainor, editor.