FOND DU LAC -- It's just a weather balloon. Or is it?

 

Several Fond du Lac area residents aren't surprised that Long Lake, located near Dundee, was recently named the top UFO hotspot in Wisconsin. The area is notorious for strange lights and objects, plus an occasional crop circle.

Some people say they've even had close encounters in the region.

Noah Voss, a paranormal researcher from Sun Prairie, compiled the UFO list after years of research. He said he's traveled to Long Lake numerous times to learn the region's history and speak with citizens. He has seen UFOs over the lake, which he describes in "UFO Wisconsin: A Progress Report." The book hit store shelves in late April.

Voss said his book discusses UFOs but neither confirms nor denies the existence of aliens. He said he approaches everything with a critical eye and doesn't draw conclusions without hard evidence.

"People can sit and read (the book) as a novel or take it along (on a trip) as a road guide," he said.

Bill Benson, owner of Benson's Holiday Hide-a-Way, doesn't deny that something fishy is going on over Long Lake. He said he has seen many UFOs and heard stories from patrons.

He said he's noticed multiple lights floating overhead. He once saw orange orbs fly through the rain and enter the clouds.

Bonnie Meyer of Neenah said she's seen balls of light over Long Lake. Some were gold, green and blue. She also saw a UFO that looked like two pyramids stuck together.

"It was beautiful, just beautiful," she recalled.

One Y-shaped UFO flew in low, added Meyer. It made no sound.

"If I had a good arm, I could have hit it with a rock," she said.

Bob Kuehn, 77, of Fond du Lac, said he's seen many flashing lights above Long Lake.

"It's not new to me," he said. "That's been going on for over 60 years."

Or maybe longer.

Benson said history shows that even the Native Americans had unusual experiences near Long Lake and Dundee Mountain.

"They called it 'Spirit Hill,'" he said. "There's been strange things forever out here."

People don't have to look up to see oddities. Crop circles were reported in an oat field in the late 1940s. Another circle appeared in some cattails in 1995, he said.

"It looked like South America from the air," he said.

UFOs have become such a popular topic that Benson's business, located at N4241 Boy Scout Drive, Campbellsport, started hosting UFO Daze with Kuehn. The celebration, which marks its 20th anniversary this July, attracts hundreds of people, some from other countries, including New Zealand.

"People can come and share their experiences without being laughed at or scoffed at," he said.

Meyer said she used to dole out such ridicule.

"In 1974, my best friend got involved in UFOs, and I thought she was off her rocker," she recalled.

Meyer did all she could to prove her friend wrong — until a camping trip in 1976 changed her perspective. She said she was on a road near New London when a round, silver craft landed. She said an alien walked out and invited her to his ship. He was about 5-feet, 2-inches tall and was wearing a silver suit and helmet, she said.

The ship flew through space for a short while the alien communicated with her telepathically, she said. He told her that aliens, at least the good kind, feared for humanity because of violence and greed.

Since then, Meyer said she's met several friendly aliens. One of her favorites, she said, was a 7-foot-tall alien that resembled a large bird. He had an eagle's head, a soft blue down and paws with talons.

"He was the most compassionate being I have ever met," she said.

Meyer noted that she's never been afraid because the aliens were kind.

"We're at a point where we could destroy ourselves or become more spiritual," she recalled one saying. "They don't want that to happen."

Kuehn says he's also communicated with religious aliens. One that he's encountered is even a Christian, he said. Ezeata, an alien from the Plaidian star system, has communicated with him telepathically for about 10 years, he said.

He added that Ezeata visits Long Lake occasionally, even though the journey takes about 500 light years.

"She calls me 'Bobby,'" he said. "No one calls me that."

Kuehn said his encounters date back to when he was about 4 years old. At the time, he lived in Lomira. One night, the front of his bed lifted off the floor, and he floated out the window, he said. He has no memory of what happened afterward.

"For a certain reason, they picked me up, and I don't know why," he said.

Kuehn added that he later developed telepathy and one day felt a strange object in his left ear lobe. He thought it was a chip but was afraid to go to the doctor.

He said the chip was gone when he went to remove it.

Kuehn founded UFO Daze to let people discuss their encounters and sightings. The event ends with people sitting outside, watching Long Lake for glowing objects.

"They know what's going on," he said. "They know we're out there looking for them."

Meyer said she's been attacked by skeptics and knows others who've been criticized. So she helped found The Lightside, a UFO study group that draws members from throughout the Fox Valley.

The organization meets from 1 to 4 p.m. on the fourth Sunday of every month at Goodwill in Oshkosh. Anyone is welcome to learn more about UFOs, share their stories or discuss sightings without fear of ridicule.

Meyer said she does understand why people would be critical.

"I was in their shoes at one time," she said. "Once you see it and realize it, you can't go back to non-believing."

 

Heather Stanek writes for The Reporter of Fond du Lac. E-mail her at hstanek@fdlreporter.com