The police and fire departments were dispatched to investigate the eerie matter. Surely, there must be a reasonable explanation as to the hovering, illuminated craft spotted approximately 200 feet in the air.

And the explanation was simple: drivers did, in fact, witness an unidentified flying object. Clarks Summit resident and local Halloween guru, Matt Burne's rendition of a UFO.

Burne was test running his newest attraction to the fourth annual Haunt On Sean Drive, located on his property in Clarks Summit.

Each year, Burne transforms his home and yard into a free mini Halloween festival. But with last year's attraction drawing 2,300 hundred and expected attendance to this year's haunt estimated at 4,000, mini it is not. It is now ranked as the nation's largest, free Halloween attraction.

Inspired by a neighborhood dentist, the late Dr. Richard Bush, who would transform his home on Noble Street into a haunted attraction for area children during Burne's youth, as well as a 1999 trip to Salem, Mass., Burne wanted to rekindle the Halloween spirit for local trick-or-treaters.

The Haunt on Sean Drive was born, and has been growing bigger and more impressive every year. We've really vamped up professionally, said Burne. We feature props that wouldn't even be seen at commercial attractions.

This includes the hovering, eerily lit UFO, too large to fit into a standard car garage, which floats almost 200 feet above Burne's home. Not wanting to reveal every trick behind the effect, Burne will assure you , however, that it is not a digital image projected into the night sky. After 8 months of custom designing, engineering and building by Burne and his entourage of 40 Sean Drive volunteers, the craft is indeed real. So real that they had to check with FAA officials at the Avoca Airport to ensure that it was flying within legal limits.

In theme with the UFO, an alien motif will prevail at this year's festivities. In addition to an Alien Leader equipped with an air compressor gun capable of shooting 50 glow bracelets at a time to crowds, Special Agents (think Men in Black) will be on hand with theatrical lasers ready to zap unruly aliens. A special transformation effect will "beam" volunteers back and forth from the alien mother ship.

Also new to Sean Drive is the 3-D chamber, specially built to simulate a journey into the depths of the mines rumored to be enclosed underneath Burne's property. A three-minute 3-D movie, which requires viewers to wear special glasses, combined with sound and lighting techniques and various air compressors, allow viewers to travel the haunted mines.

As in previous years, the fun is not found solely inside the house. The yard will feature the favorite Sean Drive characters and the routines they have perfected over the years. The Executioner will return to perform beheadings on his custom-built guillotine. Also, victims will meet their fate at the electric chair and new gallows. The Demon can be spotted again, this year tormenting Halloweeners on his Harley with flames shooting out of the back.

The cast of 40 volunteers, equipped with wireless mics, will be performing theatrical shows throughout the night. "It's all very theatrical and professional", said Burne. "It's got that feel of a 1950s monster movie." Also, the first hour and a half will feature tamer acts ( no beheading, electrocutions, etc.) to allow for the younger, more easily spooked trick-or-treaters to have their fun, too. Mary the Ghost as well as the addition of several new animatronics will be featured throughout the house and expanded graveyard.

And, as usual, there will be plenty of treats, free treats to be exact. The Mad Butcher will be boiling hot dogs in his kettle and the bubbling concoction found in the Witch's cauldron will be piping hot chocolate. Naturally, there will be more than enough candy to satisfy every sweet tooth in the neighborhood.

If this sweet tooth happens to belong to an area adult, well, stop by. The professionally rigged props are worthy of spooking those of us who haven't trick-or-treated in many, many years.

If You Go:

What: The Haunt on Sean Drive

Where: 107 Sean Drive, Clarks Summit

When: Oct. 31 (rain or shine).

6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Stage and yard show opens. The main house and Dr. Bush's 3-D Holigricator open. Suitable for all ages.

7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Stage/yard show and Haunt get more intense with the Executioner and Demon. Suitable for ages 7 and up.

All attractions and candy are free and open to the public.

For more information log onto http://www.seandrive.com/ (featuring streaming videos of haunted effects and a Sean Drive music video) or call 570.586.0548.