OMEFT meets Sorrells
Posted 4-7-2008
By ANGELIA JOINER - Stephenville Lights Reporter

The Open Minds Expeditionary Field Team (OMEFT) came from near and far to converge on Ricky Sorrells' property near Dublin, Texas, in hopes of encountering the object that he claims frequently visits his place and the surrounding area in Erath County.

The team formed more than a month ago after receiving an invitation from Sorrells. And, finally, the plan came to fruition and the members have been sky watching throughout the area since April 4, 2008.

Sorrells is hoping someone can get a glimpse of what he has seen several times and has never been able to identify. He's hoping someone will go on the record with him because the one friend with him when a sighting occurred is not willing to do so.

"I just want someone else to see what I've seen," Sorrells said. "That's why I invited the people from the Open Minds Forum to come down. I hope we can get lucky and they can see it, too."

Sorrells first made news when Angela K. Brown of the Associated Press interviewed him at his heavily wooded property on January 14, 2008. Within a few hours, Sorrells unexpectedly found himself on news channels everywhere.

Sorrells sighted a craft about 300 feet above his head in the woods on his property. He said after thinking more about the time of the sighting he has determined it was sometime the week of December 16, 2007. Feeling pressured to give a date by various news journalists he had first said the sighting was on January 1, 2008.

"I don't even wear a watch," Sorrells said. "I'm not very good at keeping up with dates and times."

He said the craft was not shiny.

"It was a dull gray color," Sorrells said. There were large cone shaped indentions on the bottom of the craft, but as he looked up he couldn't determine exactly how large the craft was because the treetops obscured his view, he said.

"My mind was reeling as I first spotted it in my rifle scope," Sorrells said. "I was deer hunting."

Sorrells toured the OMEFT members attending and recounted for them personally what he witnessed.

The individuals began arriving Friday, April 4, from as far away as Massachusetts, Maryland, and North Carolina. All had in tow video and digital cameras, compasses, radiation detectors, global positioning systems and other equipment in hopes of compiling evidence of the famed "Stephenville Lights" widely covered by mainstream media including well known talk show host Larry King.

The members were carefully positioned throughout Erath County, but so far no sightings have been reported. Most members will be heading for home on Monday, April 7.

And what Texas visit could be complete without a Texas B-B-Q? The evening of Saturday April 5, 2008, the team rolled out a spiral ham, smoked brisket, and all the trimmings. Steve Allen and this reporter made cameo appearances to answer questions and welcome OMEFT. Erath County Constable Lee Roy Gaitan had planned to attend, but was unexpectedly called for duty.

Allen, Joiner, Sherry Boardman, Brent Chambers and his son Lane were dispatched to Selden, Texas, where the first reports were made from Allen, Mike Odom, Claudette Odom, and Lance Jones that historic night of January 8, 2008.

Odom joined the group on his property to sky watch for OMEFT. The team is documenting findings daily at Open Minds Forum at www.openmindsforum.com, complete with video interviews.

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