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Jessica Walden and Joseph Monk are interns from Tarleton who are working with The History Channel while they film an episode of "UFO Hunters"

UFO hunters track peculiar sightings

By: Ashley Fuquay

Posted: 2/28/08

The crew of the television show "UFO Hunters" that airs on the History Channel is here in Stephenville for the week to film their latest episode about the mass sightings that happened in January.
"We're going to find those UFOs," said John Tindall, a member of the "UFO Hunters" crew
The hosts are Bill Birnes, the editor of UFO Magazine, Pat Uskert, another employee from UFO Magazine, Dr. Ted Ackworth, a complete skeptic that has his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering Design, and Jeff Tomilson, an intern.
"We have every kind of person on our team. We have a complete skeptic and he's very scientific about his approach. We also have the editor of UFO Magazine and he's more open to things," Co-Executive Producer Alan LeGarde said.
The team arrived on Sunday to start investigating. They used both the Science building and the Engineering Technology building to performing tests.
"We didn't realize how many days people have been seeing things for," LaGarde said. "We have learned that there have been sightings over the course of two months it seems."
The purpose to the UFO Hunters is to decide whether a sighting is a hoax or not.
"I think everyone is struck by the sheer volume of reports here," LeGarde said.
He went on to explain that many of the reports were made before the media picked on the situation, which makes the reports more credible in the eyes of the investigators. They have spoken to about 10 witnesses and no one is sending up a red flag signaling that are lying according to LeGarde.
"We're all pretty comfortable saying there is something odd going on here," LeGarde said when asked if he thought it was a legitimate sighting.
The team has also been aided by Tarleton students. senior Jessica Walden, senior Joeseph Monk, senior Stacy Stehling and sophomore Tim Hughes have been working as Production Assistants.
"I've travelled with them to go visit a witness. I went to HEB to pick up some tea. I've done all sorts of random things," said Walden when asked about the experience.
"They're going to put our names in the credits for this episode," Monk said.
The "UFO Hunters" main headquarters for filming is on the square at 119 S. Graham St. They will be filming until Saturday. This episode will be aired this spring and will be available for purchase on their Web site after airing. "UFO Hunters" airs on Wednesday at 9 p.m. on the History Channel. For more information on "UFO Hunters," visit www.history.com/minisites/ufohunters/.