Those Whirling Lights In Sky Have Explanation You Can Bet On

Fri., Aug. 15, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Chewelah residents may rest easy that the mysterious whirling nighttime lights they’ve been seeing this week aren’t from a flying saucer with Elvis inside.

The sightings are just a close encounter with the Spokane Indian Bingo & Casino hall about two miles south of town.

The casino has a new promotional spotlight that sweeps the sky with whirling, star-studded circles of light.

The light, visible up to six miles away on the ground, was installed on the casino roof Aug. 7, after casino officials got clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration and the Chewelah Airport.

The beam was less noticeable at first because it was pointed toward the west, where bright lights from the casino parking lot diluted the effect. Then it was aimed eastward Tuesday while a sheet-lightning storm had people already watching the sky. A layer of clouds apparently intensified the mysterious effect. , DataTimes

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