UFO mania in Stephenville

Those who know me must have already figured that I'd be all overthis story just being reported by Yahoo News. It seems the smallfarming community of Stephenville is totally agog over recent sightingsof UFOs in the night skies.

 Let me clarify that first. UFOmeans "unidentified flying object." It does not mean ships from outerspace and little green men. However, some people in this Bible Beltcommunity fear it just might be and even believe it may be a sign ofthe end times.

Naturally, local officials are scrambling to finda logical explanation for the mysterious objects seen by quite a fewresidents. Machinist Ricky Sorrells said he saw a flat metallic objecthovering about 300 feet over a pasture behind his home. He saw theobject several times and got a closer look through the telescopic lenson his rifle. He described it as having no seams, nuts or bolts.

Mr.Sorrell's sighting was reported in the Stephenville Empire-Tribunealong with others who saw the strange craft.  Many people reportedspotting the object on the night of January 8. Maj. Karl Lewis,spokesman for the 301st Fighter Wing at the Joint Reserve Base, NavalAir Station in Fort Worth said no aircraft from the base were in sky atthe time. Officials at Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene and Sheppard inWichita Falls also confirmed no aircraft in the area.

Maj. Lewissaid what they saw may have been just an optical illusion due to thesetting of the sun. Constable Lee Roy Gaitan of Erath County said heisn't sure if UFOs exist, but he said he's seen something strange inthe Stephenville skies himself. He described it as a fast movingobject, first with red glowing lights and then flashing white.

Whatever it is, members of the Mutual UFO Network plan to visit Stephenville to investigate.

Kindof gives one deja vu after the much-reported sighting at Chicago'sO'Hare International Airport in late 2006 when a saucer-shaped crafthovered long enough for several employees to see it.