UFO UpDates Mailing List
From: bikebob <bikebob@MO.NET>
Date: Sat, 1 Feb 1997 10:23:48 -0600 (CST)
Fwd Date: Sat, 01 Feb 1997 15:10:14 -0500
Subject: Missouri Spook Light & Ted Philips info
Errol Bruce Knapp (and Glenn Campbell; et al.),
(You have my permission to reproduce either, or both, of the following
copyrighted [by me, Bob Soetebier] articles in either hard-copy form in
your newsletter, and/or on your web site, if you should choose to so...as
long as you adhere to the following conditions noted below. :)
I, Bob Soetebier, grant permission to any/all to reproduce -- either
electronically, or in hard-copy format -- the two following/attached
copyrighted [by me] articles:
(1) The Hornet "Spook Light" Revisited
(2) "The Legendary Ted Phillips"
This permission is granted under the following limited conditions:
(a) As long as they are reproduced in their entirety...*un*edited
[Okay to reproduce them as separate, "stand-alone" articles.];
(b) and, as long as they retain both the copyright notice and
proper attribution;
(c) and, as long as they are not reproduced for commercial gain
(without my express prior written permission).
/s/
Bob Soetebier
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hornet "Spook Light" Revisited
Copyright 1997, by Bob Soetebier
The Hornet "Spook Light" (HSL) is an intriguing enigma. Reports of
this particular phenomenon -- which occurs in the corners of south-
western Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma -- have been recorded from
as far back as the last century. Distant sightings of, and close
encounters with, the HSL continue to be reported. (For recountings of
some of these numerous incidents, see the appended listings of books
and recently published articles about the HSL.)
Some (but, by no means all!) sightings of the HSL *might* be attribut-
able to the distant-road, auto-headlights hypothesis (particularly
during the time of the year when the leaves are off the trees). The
auto-headlight explanation certainly flies in the face of credible
close-encounter HSL reports such as this example (taken from page 80
of the 1968 Dell paperback edition of Vincent H. Gaddis' book,
Mysterious Fires and Lights) regarding the HSL.:
"Dr. George W. Ward, formerly with the Bureau of Standards,
Washington, DC, and later associated with the Midwest Research
Institute, made an investigation in 1945. He wrote that he observed
a glow over the hills, followed by the appearance of a greenish-yellow
sphere of light about five feet in diameter. This sphere advanced
toward the doctor and his companions.
"One of the men, a publicity director for the institute, said he
had seen all he cared to see. As the light approached and enveloped
the witnesses, he quickly locked himself in their automobile."
Some Cautionary Notes:
If you're thinking of visiting the site, be advised that -- according
to a November 6, 1995, Miami [Oklahoma] News Record article, entitled,
"Dark side of the Spook light" -- because of reports of recent property
vandalism (fences being cut, etc.) along and nearby HSL road, some of
the local area residents there are participating in a "Neighborhood
Watch Program." They have also prevailed upon the local Sheriff's
Department to enforce a county Anti-Loitering/No-Parking ordinance in
the vicinity of, and along, the HSL road: Arresting those who linger
longer at that latitude and longitude!
Also, in view of all the empty beer cans/bottles on the side of the
road there (the site is a popular on weekends and summer evening...or,
at least it used to be before the anti-loitering crackdown noted
above), anyone who decides to visit the HSL viewing site would be wise
to consider that some of the otherwise terrestrial "moving lights"
coming at you along the road might not all be "intelligently
controlled!" So as not to become an inadvertent target for some of
those "lesser lights," it's not necessarily advisable to set up a
vigil along the HSL road.
Now that you have been forewarned...
There are at least two ways to get to the HSL road-site location.
If you're coming from the south, the best approach would be (as noted
in the Missouri Department of Natural Resources official publication,
Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri):
From the junction of Highways 43 and BB, 3 miles northwest of Racine,
go west for approximately 2.5 miles to a T-junction. From that
junction, go north for 1.25 miles to the [another T-] junction. This
junction is on the Oklahoma-Missouri border. To look for the Spook
Light, look westward from the [T-junction] along the east-west
Oklahoma road.
Alternately, if you're coming from the north, the most direct way to
get to viewing location is by the following route:
From I-44 in southwestern Missouri, at a location about 7 miles south-
west of Joplin, MO -- literally at the "Tri-State" border junctions of
Kansas/Oklahoma/Missouri, but still barely in Missouri -- get off the
Interstate highway at the Hwy. 166 (Baxter Springs, KS) exit. Go
south under I-44, and then immediately turn right (west) on a paved
road. After a very short distance on this road, turn right again on a
road that will shortly turn to gravel.
Proceed a total of almost exactly 4-1/2 miles (from under I-44) on
this gravel road. Along the way on this long, somewhat rough, gravel
road, you will have to pass over a couple of low-water bridges. [If
there has been a lot of recent rain, you may not be able to get
through and will have to temporarily abort your trip until the water
recedes. --- WARNING: IF the water is abnormally high -- more than a
foot across the road, do NOT attempt to cross the low-water bridges!]
Do not turn off this gravel road onto any of the side roads until you
see a house with a mail box with the name of "Farmer" on your left.
That's the house at the head of the "T"-intersection. The gravel
road -- known as to the local residents as "Stateline Road" -- you're
already on will continue to travel forward; but, that's where (just
barely beyond and across the road from the house) you'll need to turn
right onto the side gravel road. This is the long, straight,
undulating HSL [aka: East 50] gravel road.
For further information about the HSL, refer to these recent
articles in the following publications.:
"Spooklight" -- by Suzanne J. Wilson; p.p.: 8-11, January, 1997, issue
of the "Missouri Conservationist" magazine; Freely available from the
Missouri Department of Conservation Internet Web site URL address:
http://www.state.mo.us/conservation/conmag/1997/01/2.html
"Old Faithful of the Ozarks" -- by Wann Smith and William Equals;
p.p.: 33-36, October, 1996, [Vol. 49, No. 10; issue 559 of] "FATE"
magazine; Internet Web site URL address:
http://www.llewellyn.com
"The Hornet-Joplin 'Spooklight'" -- by Bob Soetebier; p.p.: 10-12,
July/August, 1996, [Vol. 11, No. 4] issue of "UFO" magazine (P.O. Box
1053, Sunland, CA 91041). Internet Web site URL address:
http://www.ufomagazine.com
Book references:
Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri, by Thomas R. Beveridge;
p.p.: 329-330. Revised and published in 1990 by the Missouri Dept. of
Natural Resources, Division of Geology and Land Survey, P.O. Box 250,
Rolla, MO 65401. Tel.#: 314-364-1752.
Mysterious Fires and Lights, by Vincent H. Gaddis; p.p.: 79-80. 1968
paperback. Dell Publishing.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"The Legendary Ted Phillips"
Copyright 1997, by Bob Soetebier
In his spare time, Ted Phillips races cars for fun and excitement. As
if pushing himself (and his terrestrial-bound vehicles) "to the outer
limits" isn't enough of a challenge, Ted's business, Astronomical
Systems: Astronomical Telescopes & Astrophotography Equipment, gives
him "license" to indulge his other passion: Scanning the skies for
UFOs!
Mr. Phillips is an internationally known and respected UFO researcher.
He refers to himself as a "nuts-and-bolts" UFO researcher.
Phillips' main field of expertise and interest is "physical-trace"
evidence left as a result of UFO sightings and/or encounters. He has
documented and reported upon innumerable UFO-related physical-trace
cases over the years. Many of these field investigations were
conducted in the company of his best friend: Dr. J. Allen Hynek.
After the death of Dr. Hynek, Ted took a few years hiatus from Ufology.
The obvious good news is that he's back at it now...full-throttle!
Ted currently serves as an Assistant State Director for Missouri MUFON.
He and his wife now reside in southwest Missouri, where he is
actively investigating and documenting the Hornet "Spook Light."
Ted Phillips is one of the scheduled featured speakers at the April
11-13, 1997, "9th Annual Ozark UFO Conference" in Eureka Springs,
Arkansas. His public presentation at that time will include "an
update on the Missouri 'Spook Light,' plus an overview on the
Ufology's history."
[For more information on the April 11-13, 1997, "9th Annual Ozark UFO
Conference" in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, send a S.A.S.E., along with
a note requesting a registration form, to: Ozark UFO Conference
Information, #2 Caney Valley Drive, Plumerville, AR 72127-8725. The
advance-registration (through April 5, 1997) fee for the three-day
conference is $35.00/person; or, $40.00 at the door.]
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