Month: July 2017

(Note: Registration deadline for each class is this Saturday, July 15, 2017. To register, send an email to: N0OCP@arrl.net or call/text: 417-844-1418)

Two amateur radio licensing classes (one for General, and one for Extra) are in the planning stages for Bolivar, Missouri (in Polk County) this summer and fall. The General licensing class is proposed for later this month and would meet two times with the testing session happening right after the second meeting. The Amateur Extra training class would meet this fall in late September through mid October and would meet three times with the testing session happening right after the third meeting.

The proposed dates and details for the General Class are:

Saturday, July 22, 2017, with class from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Saturday, July 29, 2017, with class 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. (followed by testing)

Book:
The General Class Training Book will be: Gordon West 2015-2019 General Class Book (Blue Cover Background). You must purchase this book on your own. You can order it from Amazon by clicking here.

Instructor:
The class will be taught by Joye McElwee, N0OCP.

Cost:
Cost for testing is $14.00. There is no charge for attending the class itself unless you register and fail to attend. If you register and don’t show up, you will be billed $15. The instructor realizes that last-minute emergencies, illnesses, etc. happen, and he will work with you regarding those situations.

Registration / Questions:
Email Joye McElwee at: N0OCP@arrl.net or call / text him at: 417-844-1418.

The proposed dates and details for the Amateur Extra Class are:

Saturday, September 30, 2017, with class from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 14, 2017, with class from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, October 21, 2017, with class 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. followed by testing

Book:
The General Class Training Book will be: Gordon West 2016 -2020 Extra Class Book (Green Cover Background). You must purchase this book on your own. You can order it from Amazon by clicking here.

Instructor:
The class will be taught by Joye McElwee, N0OCP.

Cost:
Cost for testing is $14.00. There is no charge for attending the class itself unless you register and fail to attend. If you register and don’t show up, you will be billed $15. The instructor realizes that last-minute emergencies, illnesses, etc. happen, and he will work with you regarding those situations.

Registration / Questions:
Send an email to N0OCP@arrl.net or call or text 417-844-1418.

The proposed location for both classes is inside the CMH Support Services building (in the CMH Prehospital Services section). This building is located along a service road just west of CMH Hospital in Bolivar, Missouri. You will follow this service road downhill from Oakland Avenue.

Use the interactive Google Map below to find the class location:

Registration deadline for each class is this Saturday, July 15, 2017. To register, send an email to: N0OCP@arrl.net or call/text: 417-844-1418

There’s no doubt that the revitalization of Highway 65 in Springfield, Missouri will cause some traffic headaches. Whenever you close down a major thoroughfare within any metropolitan area, congestion almost always ensues. Having an alternate plan will make a big difference this summer while traveling through Springfield. Whether you are commuting to and from work, hitting the lake for some R and R, or heading to your favorite spotter lookout post during the approach of severe weather, it’s important to develop an alternate route to bypass these closures.

Work will first be done on southbound Highway 65 where closings started on July 10, 2017, with completion expected by late July or early August. Work will then shift to the northbound Highway 65 lanes on August 7, 2017, with completion projected by late August or early September.

There will be marked detours along with several temporary traffic lights in place to accommodate these closures. However, avoiding this area altogether during the next two months will probably be your best bet.

The following list shows the segments and dates of expected closures along Highway 65 as posted by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODoT).

Week of July 10, 2017
Southbound 65 closed between Kearney and Division Streets.

Week of July 17, 2017
Southbound 65 closed between Division Street and Chestnut Expressway.

Week of July 24, 2017
Southbound 65 closed between Chestnut Expressway and Sunshine Street.

Week of August 7, 2017
Northbound 65 closed between Sunshine Street and Chestnut Expressway.

Week of August 14, 2017
Northbound 65 closed between Chestnut Expressway and Division Street.

Week of August 21, 2017
Northbound 65 closed between Division Street and Kearney Street.

For more information and details, visit the MODot webpage for “Route 65: The Rebuild” by clicking here.

As we prepare to celebrate a very special and important anniversary this coming Tuesday, there’s a first anniversary that takes place today: Saturday, July 1, 2017. One year ago today this website was launched! Thanks to the content contributions of many hams in the community, visitor traffic to n0nws.com has quadrupled over the past year. Please keep it coming! Let us know how this website can continue to grow and improve, and we will do our best to make it happen.

For those of you who regularly check into our Skywarn Training Nets on Tuesday evenings as well as helping to encourage youth and family members during the Sunday evening Youth/Family Net: Thank you!

Our linked repeater system has grown significantly in the past year as well. We now have double the amount of repeaters in service. Because of our owned-and-operated and our affiliated repeaters, the Southwest Missouri Regional Skywarn Repeater Network now covers more territory than any other linked repeater system in Missouri with coverage spanning into three neighboring states. Our coverage now extends south past the Arkansas border and northward to the Missouri River! With the upcoming linking of the 146.745 repeater in Macomb, our eastward coverage increase along the Highway 60 corridor will be considerable. Heading west, thanks to the Joplin repeater at 145.350 Mhz, our coverage extends well into northeast Oklahoma and southeast Kansas.

Operating and maintaining these repeaters costs a fortune. We owe a huge thank you to everyone who donated during the past year including:

KE0HRS – Laurie in Springfield, MO
N0UAM – Jim in Springfield, MO
N0OCP – Joye in Bolivar, MO
KD0ISH – Richard in Stockton, MO
NA0OO – Marvin in Joplin, MO
KE0FGZ – Brad in Goodson, MO
KC5NWD – Kent in Grove, OK
N0KDN – Mark in Willard, MO
KD0ZRF – Janet in Springfield, MO
W0JOE – Joe in Rogersville, MO

Because of your generosity, the Buffalo Repeater at 147.180 MHz. will benefit significantly. Thank you!

And, of course, most importantly, to our Skywarn spotters along with our faithful and hard-working net control operator: Jim, N0UAM, and the guys and gals at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in Springfied, Missouri – thank you for keeping the information flowing during severe weather. The spring severe weather season is over for 2017, and because of you, we have been able to continue our mission of protecting lives and property throughout the Springfield, Missouri County Warning Area: Thank you!

To Mike, N0NQW, all of the affiliated repeater trustees, and the other technical geeks who keep the “magic smoke” from leaking: Thank You!

Happy Independence Day! Have a safe and blessed summer!