Story contributed by Betty Hobson

The Whitley County Amateur Radio Club (WCARC), Whitley County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (WCARES), Whitley County RACES (WCRACES) and Whitley County SKYWARN (WCSKYWARN) are local voluntary organizations of FCC licensed Hams – special radio operators who provide communications in an emergency and are organized to provide emergency and support communication services for everything from hazardous materials incidents or severe weather occurrences to power or communications outages. It is a specialized field requiring training and federal licensing.

Each year, we participate in a national event know as Field Day which is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League located in Newington Connecticut. This is an annual opportunity to test our ability to assist with vital communications in the face of natural or man-made disasters.

Our Field Day operation will be held at the Whitley County 4-H Fairgrounds from 2 p.m. June 26th until 5 p.m. on June 27th. We will be located at the pavilion adjacent to the main 4-H building at the top of the hill. You can’t miss us … we’ll be the people with plenty of antennas and generators. This is a FREE event and the public is welcome.

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. — The Whitley County Amateur Radio Club W5YI Test sessions will be held the last Saturday of January, April, July and October.The next test session will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 from 9-11 a.m. at the Columbia City Eagles Lodge , 306 W. Van Buren St., Columbia City.

Also, the January Whitley County Amateur Radio Club meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 at 7 p.m. in Auditorium C of the Parkview Whitley Hospital, 353 North Oak Street – Columbia City.

The program will feature a presentation on “Coaxial Traps” presented by Greg Watson / KA9DTZ.
For additional WCARC Inc information visit the ARC Web site at www.wcarc.org or contact Roger McEntarfer via email at http://n9qcl@arrl.net. The club meets on the second Thursday of each month.

Article contributed

COLUMBIA CITY, Ind. (2009)  — The Whitley County Amateur Radio Club W5YI Team held its quarterly test session Saturday, Oct. 31, and nine people left smiling with a new license or an upgrade to an existing license in their hands.

The W5YI Team members present were Cathy Evilsizor / WB8ORR Don Evilsizor / KA9QWC, Dave Keiser / WB9UNL, Henry Mackey / N9HM, Betty Hopson / KC9HYW, Gary Stebbins / KC9GGV, Greg Watson / KA9DTZ, John Barchak / W9PI and Roger McEntarfer / N9QCL.

New hams are as follows:

• Daniel L. Cummins – Technician Class – Woodburn;
• Dennis J. Gering – Technician Class – Churubusco;
• Linda Ann Nardin – Technician Class – Fort Wayne;
• Paul R. Queitsch – Extra Class – Churubusco;
• Randall J. Simpson – Technician Class – Sharpsville.

Upgrading hams are as follows:

• Joseph D. Doyle / N9RYM – General Class – Columbia City;
• Michael S. Lyons / KC9QHL – General Class – Fort Wayne;
• Diane J. Sparling / K9DJS – General Class – Fort Wayne;
• Daniel L. Zimmerman / KC9QGE – General Class – Huntington.

The next W5YI Test session will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 from 9-11 a.m. in Community Room A of Peabody Library, 1160 E. SR  205, Columbia City, Ind.

For further information on upcoming test sessions or other Whitley County Amateur Radio Club, Inc. activities check out the WCARC Web site or contact Roger McEntarfer / N9QCL, or via email at n9qcl@arrl.net.