Documents / Official release
This FOIA release contains two unclassified MS Mail messages sent on 7 and 9 August 1996 by Thomas S. Marsh to four colleagues, each forwarding an Associated Press wire story. The first, from The Arizona Republic, reports the 1995 disappearance of truck driver Devin Williams near the Mogollon Rim and UFO enthusiasts' comparisons to Travis Walton's 1975 abduction claim. The second describes Crestone, Colorado, a New Age community known for UFO sightings and cattle mutilation reports.
320B8A11.FIN Page 2 of 3 town of Crestone, population 50, to oppose the plan, and nothing ever came of it. But the area has become increasingly popular, both for New Agers and, as in many other Colorado mountain communities, people fleeing urban areas. Saguache County's population grew 8 percent last year, and much of it was in Baca Grande or Crestone, elevation 8,000 feet, whose north-south streets are named after trees and east-west routes after minerals. "There is a little animosity against people coming from Boulder, Santa Fe, N.M., and California. They disrupt us a little bit. They're swamping us," said Frank Snider, whose ownership of half a dozen businesses probably qualifies him as Crestone's tycoon. "We never used to see the sheriff. Now there's a cop here every evening and he doesn't come without giving a ticket," said Snider, whose white beard nearly reaches his waist. His wife, Katie, who is on the Crestone Town Council, said the New Age image attracts people not prepared to cope with bitterly cold winters or the lack of jobs. She says one man has been working on building an earth ship of tires for seven years but it still looks like junk. Philleo said people come looking for a commune. Mrs. Snider said, "They have that Crestone glow. They're going to sell everything they own and live in Utopia." She added: "This is a very normal place." The Roadkill Cafe, in one of the buildings owned by Snider, promises '' Same Day Service, No Extra Charge." Ostrich burgers are available until 4 p.m. Though the Sniders argue Crestone is totally distinct from Baca Grande, the Roadkill's community bulletin board offers Moonlight Yoga Dream Group sessions, Sacred Passages, Tai Chi, a Gong Massage Center and Hypnosis Therapy, among others. An astrologer's business card is tacked next to one for Hangman Excavations. A note in the unisex bathroom warns: "If you forget to unlock the back door when you leave tonight you will be abducted by strange reptilian extraterrestrials who will use you for bizarre sexual experiments (really)." In general, the townspeople seem to get along well enough with the spiritualists. They also "make a wad of money off them," Philleo said. Requests for welfare and other forms of assistance are lower in the Crestone area than other parts of the county, Philleo said. "The quality of life in the area is enhanced by the quality of the people in the religious institutions," he said. Richard Baker, roshi or teacher to those who come to the Zen center to meditate, said in theory what lies outside the monastery should make no difference. Yet, he adds, "Practicing here makes a difference. The beauty makes it satisfying." Lito Tjada-Flores, author of several books on skiing, moved here http:!/classified/email/data_source/msmail/non-record/cd023/aug l 996/320b8a11.html 1/5/2010
Official release, from the nara collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 6 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.