Lights in the sky over Texas
Stephenville is the largest town in Erath County, Texas, where cows tend to outnumber people. But the town became famous after scores of people reported seeing UFOs earlier this year. (Courtney Perry / For The Times)
After the UFO sightings, media descended on the town and flying-saucer mania overtook the locals. (Courtney Perry / For The Times)
A sign boasts “Texa-Terrestrial Tattoos” in the window of a tattoo parlor on Stephenville’s main square. (Courtney Perry / For The Times)
And, of course, postcards are for sale in the town square. The high school science club got in on the action, making up T-shirts that said Erath County the New Roswell, referring to the UFO mecca in New Mexico. Sales of those shirts netted the school $7,000 for college scholarships. (Courtney Perry / For The Times)
Constable Lee Roy Gaitan hesitated to mention the red orbs he saw. But he doubts mankind can be alone in the universe: It would be like having a 20- to 30-acre lake and being the only creature in it. (Courtney Perry / For The Times)
