This article was published in the daily newspaper The Shawnee Sentinel, of Portsmouth, Ohio, USA, on March 4, 2004.
by Austin Leedom
Small, unidentified low-flying, slow-moving aircraft have been reported in the area north of the Scioto County line in the A-plant area. Several ideas about the purpose of the aircraft have been offered.
Are the aircraft small patrol planes from Homeland Security watching for Al-Quaida intrusions at the A-plant? Or perhaps the craft are alien space ships that are flying close to the nuclear plant to recharge their batteries before zooming off to Mars, Pluto, Uranus, or other strange and unusual places such as Cleveland, San Francisco or DisneyWorld.
One sighting was in the area of the Southbound Flea Market on U.S. 23. Pike County residents said the craft was moving silently from the direction of the A-plant just at dusk with lights flashing. Are these aircraft something more sinister than mere interplanetary cruise ships? Could these aircraft be attack planes carrying weapons of mass deception? Or are they possibly reconnaissance craft from an earthly nation? Or, are they merely tourists gathering, practicing and preparing for a flying visit to busy, vibrant, downtown Portsmouth?
In another sighting it was reported that an aircraft was seen flying from the direction of Frasure's Lake. Are the craft secretly harbored in the hills of the wilderness of western Scioto County? We don't yet have the answers. If sightings continue to be reported we will ask Doug Deepe to investigate. He is an Air Force flying veteran; he will find the answer.
Several members of our staff think they have the answer. One unsteady fellow even offered up the demented idea that the aircraft are only silent hang-gliders powered by electricity.
