Special to The Journal

The Jim Bell Wireless Association amateur ham radio club met in January in Greenville to discuss communication updates and local events. It serves

radio operators in Crenshaw, Lowndes and Butler counties.

&#8220Our annual Hamfest took place Jan. 27 at the Butler County Fair Grounds and we had a great turnout,” Spencer Edwards, club president, said. &#8220This event is the club's main fundraiser and offers testing and licensing for new users, provides ham radios and associated equipment needed by users, and it provides a social setting for ham radio operators to meet the people they speak to on the radio.”

During the club meeting, Bob Luman provided an update on the repeater antenna on the Fort Deposit water tower, which currently allows wide area ham radio coverage from Evergreen to Verbena. He said a repeater controller was installed in early January which identifies the repeater with the call sign ID ‘K4TNS'.

The club voted to begin a new weekly Monday Night Net where hams can check in on frequency 146.670 and discuss various topics beginning at 6:45 p.m.

Edwards also announced that the club is currently working with the Butler County Emergency Management Agency to establish an Amateur Radio Emergency Services group to provide emergency communication during natural disasters.

&#8220The Jim Bell Wireless Association already provides volunteers to provide direct radio communication to shelters during natural disasters like it did with Katrina, but ARES is an official organization which addresses specific needs and skills,” Jerry McCullough, club secretary, said.

The club serves Lowndes, Butler, and Crenshaw counties and currently has 28 members. Anyone interested in joining the club or finding out more about the club is invited to the Hamfest, or may call Spencer Edwards at 227-4726.