www.thepapersonline.com
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Serving Kosciusko County and parts of Elkhart, Marshall & Noble Counties Co o u n ties
Know Your Neighbor . . . . . . . . . . 2➤ Good Neighbors . . . . . . . 4
Vol. 52, No. 35
Milford (574) 658-4111 • Warsaw (574) 269-2932 • Syracuse (574) 457-3666
114 W. Market, Warsaw, Indiana 46580
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Club members can also use two different methods: Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. ARES is a lot more flexible and it is used to assist other counties in an emergency situation. RACES can only In severe weather or during a power outage, combe activated by a government official, depending munication can be unreliable or nonexistent. That’s on the emergency. where Hoosier Lakes Radio Club steps in. The club takes part in training exercises sevThe club was founded in Kosciusko County in 1951 eral times a year. Winter Field Day was conducted by three amateurs. “It met in various places all over Jan. 28-29. Ham radio operators had equipment, Warsaw,” said Loren Melton, treasurer of the club. such as antennas, generators, radios and other Since then club members have been providing relineeded supplies, set up at Warsaw Community able communication in emergency situations, such as High School. a tornado or flood. “It tests our ability under an emergency,” said The HLRC provides training and activities for amMelton. ateur radio operators. It currently has 35 members, This event provided training and demonstrates of which 20 are active. emergency preparedness through radio communiHLRC conducts classes several times a year. Peocations. In case of a crisis or an emergency, amaple can take courses to obtain a technician, general or teur radio is a reliable backup, said Ledgerwood. amateur extra license. “The technician class is where “We’ve been out with FEMA after storms to to start first,” said Melton. “We try to do a technician do damage assessment,” said President Gary class every year.” 0F'DQLHO ´:H VHQG RXW PHPEHUV LQ WHDPV RI WZR µ The next class people can take is the general class, $0$7(85 5$',2 ³ 7KH +RRVLHU /DNHV 5DGLR &OXE KDV Members of the group also assist during long he said. “It gives you a whole lot of bands,” Melton EHHQ DFWLYH LQ DPDWHXU UDGLR VLQFH 3LFWXUHG LV *DU\ 0F races or walks in case an emergency occurs or if a explained. 'DQLHO SUHVLGHQW RI WKH FOXE runner is injured. A band, sometimes called a frequency band, is a The club is vital in an emergency situation and specific range of frequencies in the radio frequency is making sure the next generation will carry on spectrum, which is divided among ranges from very to look for. low to extremely high frequencies. According to Ken Ledgerwood, the club’s vice president, the knowledge. “We are the backup to the backup. When everybody The club’s members also assist during severe weather- when power, phones and internet services go down, a batrelated conditions. Ham radio SkyWarn operators are al- tery-powered amateur radio and portable antennas can can’t communicate, we can,” said 0F'DQLHO ´:KHQ DOO HOVH IDLOV ZH FDQ VWLOO WDON µ ways observing and reporting current conditions to the provide a crucial link to the outside world. To obtain an amateur radio license, contact Ledgerwood National Weather Service in Syracuse. SkyWarn operaThe quickest means of communication is Morse code, tors communicate with each other from county to county. which uses very low power to operate. It is still a way to at kc9nwm@arrl.net or Melton at wb9ost@arrl.net. Visit facebook.com/hlrc.org for more information. Known as “spotters,” people in the group are trained what communicate when all other options are unavailable.