Believers to gather for UFO convention

March 21, 2008

UFO case studies be the topic of a symposium March 29 at the Holiday Inn and Convention Center, 18501 S. Harlem Ave. in Tinley Park.

The daylong starts at 8 a.m. and wraps up around 5 p.m.

An array of experts will cover everything from the most recent sightings to an overview of the Roswell, N.M., crash.

Sam Maranto, state director for Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), said Tinley Park is the perfect spot for the symposium.
Back in October 2005, numerous people witnessed unidentified lights in the sky.

A trio of steady red lights seemed to swim across the western night sky starting about 11 p.m. and reappearing after midnight.

The three dots at times formed a triangular shape, but they then seemed to straighten into a line, much like sightings in the same area in August 2004 after the Chicago Air and Water Show and on Halloween 2004.

On Nov. 7, 2006, more UFO sightings were reported at O'Hare International Airport.

Maranto, who was the lead investigator on the Tinley Park lights, will detail what these investigations have uncovered to date.

In addition to Maranto, the group of speakers at the symposium will include:

• Dr. Mark Rodeghier, director of the J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS);

• Don Schmitt, co-author of two best-selling books, "UFO Crash at Roswell" and "The Truth About the UFO Crash at Roswell;"

• Darryl Barker, film producer of "Edge of Reality: Illinois UFO January 5th, 2000;"

• Vic Connor, author and assistant director of MUFON.

Admission to the daylong symposium is $20 and must be prepaid to assure a seat.

People can reserve a seat via credit or debit card or by check at www.illinoismufon. The payment will be secured by PayPal.