Sarah Stephens
Elmore Autauga News
Top photo provided by Chris Hall.
At Tuesday’s Prattville City Council meeting, Mayor Bill Gillespie asked for the Autauga County EMA Director David Bagley to come forward. Bagley addressed the council saying he had the privilege this past week of attending a proclamation signing with Gov. Kay Ivey.
The proclamation he referenced addressed amateur radio operators and an awareness week in their honor.
“This is an unsung group of individuals,” Bagley said. “They are there for us when the world is on fire. I had the privilege many years ago when I was in Texas to see them in operation when we had no other means of communication. This was back before Starlink. You had runners and you had Ham radio.”
When Bagley came to Autauga County, he looked for ways to bring emergency radio operators into the fold. “I was very lucky to see a robust group here. We have made great strides in this area. We now have a repeater that helps with other areas, like Montgomery and other areas locally. The ability to have them not only send radio messages, but documents…when I send a request I do not just have to have a piece of paper on a Fax machine. They can actually send that paper for me now to the state operations center.”
Bagley said he looks forward to acclimating the radio operators more into the Emergency Operations Center in the future.
“This year, the field day will once again be held here in Prattville.”
Chris Hall is a radio operator and addressed the council. He said the operators work for free and usually use their own equipment.
“The Amateur Radio River Region Field Day this year will be at the Louise M. Smith Development Center on J Street June 28-29. Montgomery and Elmore counties recognize the value of that facility as well and will be attending. We appreciate the Smith Center. It is a great facility.” The Field Day has been held there for several years.
The mayor then read a proclamation recognizing the more than 13,500 licensed amateur radio operators across the state, many of which live and work in the City of Prattville. He said their training and exercises are critical for communications, including with the National Weather Service during weather and other emergencies. He then recognized June 23-29 as Amateur Radio Week.
To learn more about Amateur Radio Operators, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amateur_radio_operator
The EAN recommends you watch the entire Council meeting for more details on various subjects here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ijjWNlXrUg
