July 20, 2008 (.836)
Kenneth Harris WA8LLM (304) 679-3470 wa8llm@yahoo.com
WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS, P.O. BOX 3328, PARKERSBURG, WV 26103 http://www.wc8ec.com
DAREN News, are articles and information about the Digital Amateur Radio "Emergency" Network of WV, which operates on 145.69 MHz. Anyone having any information about DAREN, or Amateur Radio in general, and would like to share it with others, may send it to WA8LLM @ PKBGWV on 145.69 MHz, or to my E-Mail: wa8llm@yahoo.com. A State Wide DAREN NET is operated every Saturday from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and lately, before and after those hours. The DAREN Net Announcement, showing the MAIN NCS, ALTERNATE NCS, NODEs accessible to both, and the previous week's check-ins, are posted by Thursday on most of the Main county DAREN PBBS'. The DAREN News can also be found on the wc8ec.com website.
I've been busy this week and I'm a little late getting the DAREN News out. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, I was attending, and helped with, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) class at WVU Parkersburg from 7:00 am until 4:30 pm. As soon as the class was over each day, I headed for the County Fair grounds to help operate the BINGO games from 6:00 pm until 11:00 pm. I would get home at about midnight and work on the BINGO paperwork. At 4:00 am I would get up and work on other paperwork until I headed back to WVU Parkersburg. On Friday we were paying bills during the day and then headed back to the Fair Grounds for BINGO. On Saturday we had to be at the Fair Grounds by 10:00 am to get ready for the BINGO games from 12:00 noon until 11:00 pm, when the County Fair closed down. We then had to disassemble all of our equipment and bring the trailers home. We were done at about 3:30 am Sunday morning except for one trailer. We had to take the 24 by 80 foot canopy down and drag that trailer home. Things should slow down for a little while before we start all over again to operate the BINGO games at the Parkersburg Homecoming August 15, 16, 17. But, now the tomatoes are turning red so we have to get them canned. I don't know how I got anything done for the telephone company before I retired, to do nothing.
Shane Harper, KD8BMX, sent me a message asking to have some information spread for the next couple of weeks about and Auto Rally that will be held August 1st and 2nd, in Randolph County. Shane says that he needs Amateur Radio operators to help with communications. They are invited to dinner after the racing on Saturday. There will be a drawing for three prizes for all the Hams who help with the communications. For the past two years, the prizes have been an 1802 2m radio, a 2m yagi, 2m/70cm magnet mount antenna. You can contact Shane be leaving a message on the Elkins DAREN PBBS of ELKNWV, or by e-mail: dharper@centuryeng.com.
I got an e-mail from Bob Ott, WB8OIF on Wednesday the 16th about a NODE that he is trying to get set up. Bob said that he went to the Martinsburg City Hospital to program the NODE to BERKHP. But, when he got there the TNC was gone. They have been looking for it, but no luck. When the Berkeley County Emergency Coordinator gets back from vacation he may have a TNC that can be used. In the mean time the Berkeley County NODE of BERKHP won't go on the air.
There were 59 check-ins to this week's State Wide DAREN Net. Jim Woodford, KC8MLK, who's been participating in the net since February 7, 2004, has completed 200 check-ins and will be receiving his certificate. Buford Lemon Jr., KB8QLG, needs only one more check-in to make 450. And Daniel Ritchie, KC8ZLK, needs only one more check-into make 100.