I live in Redding and Sunday night at about 9:45 p.m. I
witnessed the same phenomena (as a previous caller reported
Tuesday).
“I live in Redding and Sunday night at about 9:45 p.m. I witnessed the same phenomena (as a previous caller reported Tuesday). It looked like a flare falling from the sky straight down. It was slow and burned out before hitting the ground. What I saw was just left of Mt. Shasta at an undetermined distance. Have you received other reports and, or investigated the items?”
Red Phone: Dear Amateur Star Gazer, Since it was at night, unlike the call we received last week, it is likely that you saw a meteor that came relatively near where you were at.
We received just one other possible sighting and that came from Canada.
Someone who claimed on our online comments to be from New Brunswick, Canada said he or she observed something similar to what the original caller reported during the same Oct. 26 afternoon as was originally reported. New Brunswick is nearly 4,000 miles away from Gilroy, so it looks like the UFO traveled fast.
Red Phone received several comments from local meteorologists and astronomers who said it was only the contrails (the visible vapors of condensed water) from a plane.
But we may never know if you saw a visitor from space. The truth is out there?
A scary Halloween costume
“Is it illegal to answer your door naked and give Halloween candies? One freak down the next street did this.”
Red Phone: Dear Scared Silly, There is nothing worse than a white middle-aged dude who may have had too many drinks answering the door in his birthday suit. That is enough to keep even the most devout trick-or-treaters away.
However, the police didn’t have any reports of any such costumes – or lack thereof. “We would have taken appropriate police action if that happened,” said Sgt. Chad Gallacinao.
Can you hear me now?
“Are police officers allowed to speak on their cell phones while driving?”
Red Phone: Dear Letter Of The Law, Police are indeed allowed to use cell phones while driving. They are even able to text if they need to.
Any emergency services professional is entitled to use a cell phone while in an authorized emergency vehicle if performing his or her duties, according to the California Vehicle Code.
Unfortunately this does not apply to a governor’s wife. So if you see an officer using a cell phone, you might not want to call 911 to report him or her.
Service dogs in carts
“I was told that if a service dog is 10 pounds or smaller it could ride in the small compartment of a shopping cart. Do you know where I can find out if this is true?”
Red Phone: Dear Park and Bark, Service dogs (dogs that are specially trained to help people with disabilities) are allowed to follow their masters to most places. Since the dogs are on duty, working to protect or guide their humans, they shouldn’t be bothered by people wanting to pet them.
There is no law against having dogs in a cart, according to servicedogcentral.org, a Web site devoted to dog questions and training, but it’s extremely bad form. Some businesses may be concerned about health code violations. But it’s more of an issue of practicality in the same way you wouldn’t want a dog sitting at a table.
Most properly trained service dogs will obey commands while on a leash and may not know what to do if in a cart. They may get injured trying to jump out to protect or serves their masters.
