Kentucky Amateurs Recognized for their ARES Service

3/23/07

At March's Cave City Hamfest, Kentucky ARES presented its 2006 Awards recognizing the accomplishments of operators who go above and beyond in service and provide a foundation for growth in their local areas. This year, 5 operators were recognized.

Operator of the Year:
This year's award was shared by two operators who had nearly parallel achievements. The following are the texts of the awards presented.

Brian Clark, W4SOU
Brian Clark, W4SOU Brian is the right hand man to the County EMA Director in his community and has been able to install a 2 meter 440 rig and antenna at the EOC. He has taken EC-001, EC-002, EC-003, KYARES 1, KYARES2, KYARES NC, IS-002, IS-100, IS-195, IS-200, IS-288, IS-317, IS-700, IS-800, Damage Assessment KYEM, Emergency Planning KYEM, Heart Saver AED and Hazardous Materials First Responder Operations. He has been raised to the Assistant District Emergency Coordinator for Area 7 while performing his duties as Emergency Coordinator for Owen County. Brian is on the Emergency Team at Toyota in Georgetown where he holds down a regular 40 hour a week job. His indefatigable efforts for the ARES program and his community make Brian a shining example for new ARES members.

Kevin Simmons, KI4JXN
Kevin Simmons, KI4JXN has worked hard this past year in the third district to bring both amateurs and served agencies together to include southern Indiana neighboring counties. His tireless efforts to tie together the counties and all levels of organizations has been recognized by Emergency Management, the Green River Development District and. He has placed not one, but two repeaters into operation in Area 3 and has added linking capabilities for disaster use. All this and more while working full time for the City of Owensboro. Kevin also sets a fine example for new ARES members to follow.

Lifetime Achievement Awards:
The team of Shelby Ennis, W8WN and Lora Ennis, WD8LPN

Long before moving to live in the fifth district, Shelby and Lora were deeply involved in their local ARES Program in Michigan. This couple is a true TEAM EFFORT in their personal lives and in amateur radio emergency communications. Shelby responded with VOAD agencies to the 2005 Katrina emergency and sent back daily reports to the SEC via WinLink 2000 of their activities and needs there in Long Beach, Ms. His wife stayed home and helped to handle any phone communications or other affairs that needed handled for Shelby and the others with him on scene. Shelby and Lora have been valued members in the fifth district as it works to become more unified. Their experience and knowledge are priceless. During the recent September of 2006 flooding which left Hardin County out of communications, Shelby ran errands and assisted in providing communications for EMA and other agencies at large while Lora went to work in the shelter established by American Red Cross. Helping others went before thought of their personal needs. It is hard to say enough about these two. They are both much respected in their county and region. Thank you for all of your years of service to others.

Fred Jones, WA4SWF
One ham in Fred Jones, WA4SWF’s area recently told me that to him, Fred was “Mr. Ham Radio”. It is hard to find anyone associated with Amateur Radio in this section for many years who does not know and respect this gentleman. Anyone who knows him can’t think of anything negative to offer about this man. He works endless hours in his home county and the ninth district as well as working with neighbor counties in Ohio and West Virginia. Anywhere amateur radio and emergency communications are spoken in the same breath; Fred Jones is also in there somewhere. Whether it is in amateur radio or emergency management, Fred has played a major role in preparedness and education. A splendid amateur, respected leader and a great friend to anyone interested in EMCOMM, Fred Jones can certainly be called, “Mr. Ham Radio”. Thank you for all of your time, work and the example you have set for us all.