HAM Radio

Perry County’s News Source. Locally Owned. Locally Staffed.

Assisting in communications once again at this year’s Mardi Gras parade is a group of southern Illinois HAM radio operators that are affiliated with the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (A.R.E.S). ARES is part of the field organization of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Pinckneyville resident and radio operator, Bob Giacomo (N9VKO), has organized the communications support team that has taken part in parade communications for many years.

The group was first put in to keep gaps out of the parade, allowing it to flow more smoothly. Radio operators will monitor the entire parade route and contact any emergency services that might be needed during the parade.

This year eleven monitoring stations around and within the parade route will be staffed with operators. Two of the eleven monitoring stations focus on assistance in enhancing the safety of participating school bands. The operators are stationed near the bus parking area and also near the arch of the Pinckneyville fairgrounds, where band members must cross traffic to move to the staging area on Mill Street. In addition radio operators will also be embedding with the 50/50 ticket wagon to monitor its status and position in the parade route at all times.

Helping you protect what matters most

Greg Thompson