Residents in a mid-western town awoke to an unfamiliar tinge to their surroundings yesterday morning, when they found that the whole of the sky from horizon to horizon, from north to south, and from east to west, had been enveloped in what's been described as a 'purple haze'.
Many stayed indoors, but a few intrepid, adventurous types poked their noses outside for a sniff of the air, and, when all seemed normal, they emerged from their homes to explore the purpleness.
It still isn't clear what caused the haze. Weather forecasts for the area had predicted a cold, bright, sunny day after Thursday's snowfall, but certainly nothing of a purple nature.
There have been no chemical spillages or other industrial accidents, nor, reports the local airbase, has there been any abnormal activity in the skies, and quite a mystery has sprung up.
Nobody has been injured, nor has anyone fallen sick, and there have been no signs of any extraterrestrial activity.
Local police chief James Hendricks has advised the townspeople to report anything unusual they might experience, and warned them to remain vigilant until things are back to normal.
