ASHLAND —
A little more than a year ago, a formation of unidentified flying objects had people in the area looking to the night sky and wondering what was happening.
The unidentified flying objects, generally described as glowing, orange orbs, were seen by dozens within a few minutes before or after 9:30 p.m. throughout Ashland and surrounding areas. People who saw the orbs said the individual units appeared to be flying in a formation that resembled the Big Dipper, only upside down. About three hours later that day, more than 50 in Seattle reported seeing a similar sight in the skies above that city.
The explanation for the local sightings was relatively easy, especially after guests at the wedding reception in downtown Ashland started comparing notes and thinking about when they released a dozen “love lanterns,” which are translucent and rise into the air fueled by hot air generated by a burning bundle from within. Once aloft, the lanterns travel high into the air, moving with the wind, before the fuel source is exhausted and the highly visible objects disappear into the dark.
Wedding photographer Meredith Dickens said she saw the UFO report and immediately knew what had happened. “The festivities ended with the lighting and releasing of paper lanterns outside on the sidewalk about 10 (minutes) after 9 p.m.,” she wrote. “It was a great moment. Everyone loved it!”
On their honeymoon in Hawaii, newlyweds Nate and Sara (Werner) Whitt were soon informed about the “UFO activity” happening at home.
“It was after the wedding and after the reception. We went out in front of the Ashland Plaza Hotel and lit them (Chinese paper lanterns),” she said. “We were just figuring out how to do it. They were going up and somebody said it would probably be reported as UFOs because it was shaped like the little dipper. I think the videographer actually caught somebody saying that.”
When family members began sending messages about UFO sightings to the honeymoon suite the following day, the bride said “We just laughed about it the whole time.”
Whitt said the first year of married life held some unexpected challenges, but has otherwise been a “wonderful” experience.
“Oh, it’s been wonderful. There have definitely been some new things in life, but I love being in Kentucky with a Kentucky guy. I’m a Wildcat fan so I always wanted to live in Kentucky,” she said, explaining she grew up in Ohio.
Whitt, 27, said she works for dentist Doctor Jeter in South Point and her husband, 26, is employed by Cintas. For their first anniversary, Nate and Sara were again joined by family including his parents, her parents, a sister and brother-in-law, as well as the three nieces who originally served as flower girls in their wedding, to ignite and release a trio of the floating paper lanterns that caused so much stir a year ago.
“We just thought we wanted to do it,” she said. “We plan to do it every year on our anniversary.”
TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2651.
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