Public Demo of Emergency Communications June 22-23

Despite the Internet, cell phones, email and modern communications, every year whole regions find themselves in the dark. Tornadoes, fires, storms, ice and even the occasional cutting of fiber optic cables leave people without the means to communicate. In these cases, the one consistent service that has never failed has been Amateur Radio. These radio operators, often called “hams” provide backup communications for everything from the American Red Cross to FEMA and even for the International Space Station. Calhoun County “hams” will join with thousands of other Amateur Radio operators showing their emergency capabilities the weekend of June 22-23.

Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications during unexpected emergencies in towns across America including the California wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events world-wide. When trouble is brewing, Amateur Radio’s people are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications. The public will have a chance to meet and talk with local ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about as hams across the USA will be holding public demonstrations of emergency communications abilities.

This annual event, called “Field Day”, is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week” sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and backyards around the country. More than 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event. Their slogan, “When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Works” is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be
compromised in a crisis. “The fastest way to turn a crisis into a total disaster is to lose communications,” said Allen Pitts of the ARRL. “From the earthquake and tsunami in Japan to tornadoes in Missouri, ham radio provided the most reliable communication networks in the first critical hours of the events. We need nothing between us but air.”

In the Port Lavaca area, the Port Lavaca Amateur Radio Club will be demonstrating Amateur Radio at the historic Half Moon Reef Lighthouse at the Bauer Center (the intersection of State Highways 35 and 238) on Saturday, June 22, 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. They invite the public to come and see ham radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC radio license before the next disaster strikes.

There are over 700,000 Amateur Radio licensees in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL’s Amateur Radio Emergency Services program, ham volunteers provide both emergency communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies and non-emergency community services too, all for free. To learn more about Amateur Radio, go to www.emergency-radio.org

Seadrift Lions Club reminds you that you have an opportunity to help others in our area by donating blood on Wednesday, June 26. The blood drive will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Dick’s Food Store in Seadrift.

Have Fun! Stay Cool! Dive in and discover God’s underwater universe June 24th, 25th, and 26th at Vacation Bible School at Seadrift Methodist Church. Children ages four through eighth grade are invited to attend. Vacation Bible School will be held from 9:00 until 11:00 a.m. at the church, located at 106 E. Baltimore Avenue in Seadrift.

Nina Annette Sanders Weaver, 72, of Seadrift, passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2013. She was born on May 19, 1941 in Seadrift, Texas to the late R.W. “Bill” and Goldie Mullins Sanders. Nina was a teacher and administrator for 40 years. She served as Seadrift School lead teacher/prekindergarten teacher for many years before moving to HJM Elementary School campus as assistant principal. From there Nina returned to Seadrift School as principal for three years before retiring in 2003. Nina was well loved by students, staff, parents, and community. Nina was a longtime member of the educator sorority Delta Kappa Gamma and a member of the First Baptist Church of Port Lavaca.

Nina is survived by her husband of 49 years and 11 months, Jerry Weaver who she married on June 29, 1963; mother Goldie Sanders; daughter Laurie Weaver; son and daughter-in-law Brad and Erin Weaver; brothers, Robert and Sharon Sanders, John and Jody Sanders; sisters, Brenda and Buddy Motley, Diane Wilson, Janie and Steve Waghorne, and sister-in-law Dollie Maughlin; grandchildren, Cole, Chase, and Paige Weaver.

She was preceded in death by her father R.W. “Bill” Sanders and brother Leslie Allen Sanders.

Funeral service was held on May 28, 2013 at First Baptist Church in Port Lavaca with the Reverend Mike Gresham officiating. Burial followed at the Seadrift Cemetery.

Pallbearers were Nina’s nephews, Sandy Motley, Austin Sanders, Jeremy Sanders, Robby Sanders, Josh Waghorne, and David Wilson.

Weekend traffic and fisherman, special events and tournaments all signal summer in this great community I feel so blessed to call home. There is lots going on in Port O Connor this time of year, and lots happening at The Port O Connor Service Club as well. Our summer schedule of one monthly meeting means more to do in less time, but our members are getting it done. We reported record funds raised from our April garage sale, and we have been busy serving our community with those proceeds. The community Benevolence Fund, Volunteer Fire Department, Chamber of Commerce, Friends of the Library, Sports Association and chosen scholarship applicants all received their parts. Special Congratulations to Haili Phillips and Caitlin Carter, 2013 Port O’ Connor Scholarship recipients. We are so proud of our hometown kids and pleased to support their dreams.

Many of our members were on the front lines of the Crawfish Fest… Yum, Yum; the Warriors Weekend…Our sincerest gratitude for your services; Texas Beach Clean Up…Don’t litter here; Josie’s Anniversary…Happy 30th; and other community events. We have so much coming up too. Fireworks, barbecues, fishing tournaments, beach time and all sorts of other fun are all happening in our town so don’t forget to check the paper and ask your friends about unique and fun events that make summer in Port O Connor unforgettable!

At our June meeting, Sue Kubecka reported exciting news about our History Book. Thanks to long-time member Agnes Valigura, many photos from as far back as 1912 have been secured. We would like to obtain more photos and information about Port O’Connor from the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, so please contact Sue (798-0560) if you can help.

We were saddened to hear of the passing of former Service Club member Janette Lawless. Janette was a real go-getter with our Club and other projects when she and her husband resided here. Due to health problems, they relocated to Conroe some years ago. The Club will be sending a card of condolence to Janette’s family.

We love new members and invite interested ladies to join us for the next meeting of the Port O Connor Service Club to be held on Thursday, July 11 at 10:00 a.m. You may contact our president Janet Johnson at 983-4737 for more information. It is a great place to get involved, meet friends and give back to your community.

So, until next time, be safe, live simply, love openly, forgive generously and remember the words of Nelson Mandela “You make a living by what you do but you make a life by what you give.”