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ARRL Mississippi Section (MS)Section Manager
Malcolm P. Keown, W5XX 64 Lake Circle Dr Vicksburg, MS 39180-0909 601-636-0827 w5xx@arrl.org |
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October was a busy month for Mississippi Hams. During the first weekend the Tishomingo ARC deployed their EMCOMM Trailer for the fly in held at the Iuka Airport with about 30 planes landing there. The Annual SET was conducted in parallel with the deployment providing backup communications for the Iuka Hospital, the Iuka Fire Department, and the Prentiss County 911 and Ambulance Service. There were checkins on the emergency net from Tishomingo, Prentiss, Alcorn, and Itawamba Counties and from stations in Tennessee and Alabama. In addition to the practice EMCOMM deployment, there was an opportunity to show off the EMCOMM Trailer and talk to visitors about Ham Radio capabilities. On Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend of October and in spite of lousy weather, the Jackson ARC provided communications for the MS150 with backup assistance and equipment provided by the Central Mississippi ARA including use of the Rankin County EOC Bus with WM5A as NCS. KM5GE provided APRS equipment to track the location of the lead rider, the last rider, and the SAG vehicles for ride officials. K5BLL and WM5A report that the event consisted of a two day 150-mile bicycle ride thru Hinds and Warren Counties, from Clinton to Vicksburg then from Vicksburg back to Clinton on the second day. Other hams supporting this event were KA5TJW, KD5CZF, KE5YLS, K5CID, KE5JKD, KE5WAC, K5XU, K5KKD, N5DU, K5BLL and K5FV. No injuries were reported. In recognition of the support from the Hams, the MS Society presented JARC and CMARA with a plaque at their Saturday night Banquet at Battlefield Inn in Vicksburg. If there was not enough going on in Vicksburg on the second weekend of the month, the Vicksburg ARC provided communications for the Annual Run Across the River starting at the Welcome Station on the Mississippi Side of the river with the 2.5-mile turnaround being near Delta, Louisiana. All went well. Those participating were K5NRK, N5JGK,KC5DNY, KC5QZW, W5XX, KD5WCR, W5WAF, and N5KWT. To top it off, if the Jackson ARC was not busy enough, on Sunday the Club provided communications support to the Diabetes Foundation of Mississippi for its 2009 Walk for Diabetes. The event included a one mile fun walk as well as a longer 3.1 mile walk. Participating operators were K5VU, WM5A, N5VEI, K5CID, KD5CZF, KE5JKD, KE5WAC, W5CSI, KE5VMP, and N5DU. The event was held notwithstanding rain, which was moderate to heavy at times. All of the operators are to be commended for performing well under adverse weather conditions. The JARC wishes to extend a special thanks to KE5JKD, KE5WAC, W5CSI, and KE5VMP, who drove from Crystal Springs to Northwest Jackson to participate in the event. (Thanks, N5DU) EC KB0ZTX reports a good work day at the DeSoto County EMA office. The group then participated the 4th Annual Fire and Life Safety Day at DeSoto County's #2 Hernando Fire Station. The events featured classes on fire safety, electrical safety demos, cadaver dog demos, helicopters from the wing and sheriff department, and plenty more. DeSoto County ARES set up the response squad (as pictured in the September QST) and demo'd Ham Radio for folks (using the search dogs as a nice lure to bring folks over). A good time was had by all with hood visibility for Ham Radio. Thanks to the following who participated: KD5VMV, W9IK, N5UOV, K4ZLC, N5PYQ, KB0ZTX, and KE5MXY. During the last weekend in October PIC N5WLW reports that Cub Scout World was held at Camp Salmen in northern Hancock County which was the result of a several-month-long cooperative effort involving Hams and Scout Officials from Mississippi and Louisiana. The initial contacts with the Pearl River County Amateur Radio Club were made in July when SM W5XX contacted the club asking whether the PRCARC would like to take part in the upcoming Scouting event. W5XX had been contacted by Louisiana Section Manager K5GLS. N5WLW, Vice President of the PRCARC, lost no time in offering the services of the Pearl River County-based club. With the assistance of W5XX and K5GLS, telephone meetings between PRCARC, the Jefferson Amateur Radio Club and Jeffery Coit of the Boy Scouts of America group in Jefferson Parish were set up. During those meetings, the outline of proposed activities was developed, including a brief introduction for the Cub Scouts to Amateur Radio and allowing the Scouts to actually get on the air under the supervision of licensed hams. Representatives of PRCARC, JARC, and the Scouts eventually met at Camp Salmen to finalize plans. It was decided that because of the large numbers of scouts expected (more than 2,200 eventually came out), two amateur stations would be set up. While the initial plan was to set up radios under tarps, Gulf Coast DEC K5XXV offered the use of his communications trailer to the PRCARC - an offer that was eagerly accepted. On Saturday, October 24, well before dawn, the trailer was set up and ready to go. Soon after wards, the JARC group was also air-ready. By about 8:30 Cub Scouts started showing up at both locations, eager to learn about Amateur Radio and to get their chance to talk on the air. The event promised further activities in the future, as Scouting Officials requested that the Amateurs return to Camp Salman for up coming Scouting events. This was a great example of how Hams and ARRL Sections can work together to make things happen. In early November our thoughts turn to Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Bowl Games, and good low band DX. Ida changed this. This very late season storm spun up in the Western Caribbean eventually finding its way into the Gulf as a Category Two Hurricane. As Ida approached the Gulf Coast W5XX, who was out of state, contacted ASM W4WLF to coordinate the Mississippi EMCOMM response operations. Tom found out that the Harrison County EOC roof was under repair and there was only one coax line available from the roof. After applying some ham ingenuity, the EOC operated VHF/UHF with N9OKV relaying from HF from his home station. W4WLF reports that Jackson County EC K5MOZ and his ARES Group activated the Jackson County EOC. In addition, K5YG and K6GFE were on the air from the Ocean Springs EOC. Further, ARES in Pearl River County, Stone County, and the Hattiesburg and Jackson Metro Areas were active. Also NF5B, DRN5 Manager, activated NTS SSB Cycles 1 and 2 as a watch net to handle outbound traffic, and W4DLZ, RN5 Manager, activated CW Cycles 3 and 4. State RACES Officer AB5WF, assisted by KE5SUD, reports that KM5EMA had constant communications with the Coast on HF and VHF/UHF via the Pine Belt Network. Ron reports that liaison was made through D-Star to EOCs in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. Fortunately for the Gulf Coast, Ida downgraded to a Tropical Storm and eventually making landfall at Dauphin Island. MEMA reports minimal damage in Mississippi with debris, flooded roads, and minor power outages in Forest County; roads flooded around Shoreline Park in Hancock County; 150 residents without power in Harrison County; roads blocked due to debris in Wayne County; and in Jackson County roads closed due to debris and trees and power lines down through out the county. In addition to those mentioned above, thanks to K5XXV, AG5Z, K5CQT, W5VZK, KB9ZR, K4GSG, N5PQ, KF5CMB, K5QJ, KF5CMB, and KA2KMU for supporting this EMCOMM response. Net reports: sessions/QNI/QTC (Net Manager); MSPN 31/3507/43 (K5NRK); Magnolia Section Net 31/761/6 (K5DSG); MTN/OZK 29/170/17 (K4VIZ); Jackson Co ARES Net 31/621/11 (K4GSG); MS Slow Net 23/45/0 (W3TWD); Southern MS Friendship Net 22/161/0 (WB5OHN); Itawamba County ARES 5/63/2 (KB5NMB); South MS YL Net 5/73/0 (KB5CSQ); Rankin County ARES 5/43/0 (K5FV); Meridian Area EN 5/43/0 (AE5FE); SCMSG Info Net 4/56/0 (AE5JG); (Southern Coast Medical Support Group); Tishomingo ARC 4/118/10 (WX5N); UMARC Net 4/32/0 (K5LMB); MS Baptist Hams Net 4/23/0 (WF5F); Pearl River County ARES 4/50/0; (KC5EAK); Magnolia DX Assn 4/84/0 (AE5JG); Miss/Lou Em Net 4/20/1 (K5NRK); Metro Jackson ARES Net 4/47/3 (KE5KTU); Newton County ARES 4/23/0 (WB5GUD); Jackson ARC Em Net 4/52/0 (N5DU); Stone County ARES 4/75/0 (KC5VCB); Capital Area Em Net 4/67/0 (K5XU); Booneville and Prentiss County 4/53/4 (WX5N); Hattiesburg AEN 4/114/0 (K5MIQ); NE MS ARES 3/39/0 (W5LMW); PSHR: W5XX 79; Compilation of Net and PSHR statistics provided by KB5RCJ.