Ham radio operators hear about emergency operations

The Bayouland Emergency Amateur Radio Service, BEARS, had two guest speakers from across the country at its recent monthly meeting: Nonnie Hotchkiss and Burt Hotchkiss. Nonnie Hotchkiss is a member of the Sheriff Posse of Linn County, Oregon. She explained the workings of the posses in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon.  Though not a ham radio operator, she and the posse members keep in touch several times a day through the use of cellphones and find them very useful in tracking for lost hunters or hikers. In addition, they have a pistol squad and Hottchkiss is a member and an expert shot.  She answered many questions posed by those in attendance. Burt Hotchkiss, amateur radio call sign K3BRT, is a former commercial pilot, control tower operator and author of two non-fiction books. He works with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, ARES,  of McMinnville, Oregon the Lincoln County ARES and the state of Oregon ARES. He is  very active on HF from his home and mobile also. He plans to connect with members of BEARS once a week as he heads to the Northeast and then across country back to Oregon. Both guests worked the special event station at the Tourist Center  for the Water and Nature Expo.