THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. TUNE 18, 2008 - PAGE 3A
Amateur Radio Enthusiasts
Heading To Nicholson
For Ham Radio Field Day
Nicholson will be ground zero
Saturday and Sunday June 28-29,
for amateur radio enthusiasts.
Dozens of amateur radio opera
tors will work around the clock
to set up field radio communica
tion stations, get on the air and
contact thousands of other op
erators in the U.S., Canada and
around the world as part of par
ticipation in the American Radio
Relay League’s annual field day.
The North East Georgia Amateur
Radio Clubs field day operations,
along with the Athens Amateur
Radio Club, will be at the Nichol
son City Park located on Laurel
Avenue June 28-29. Setup will be
gin at about 7 a.m. June 28.
According to James Pastorfield,
KB7TBT, of the North East Geor
gia Amateur Radio Club, field day
is the annual “shakedown run" for
the ARRL’s National Emergency
Disaster Communications Readi
ness.
“Field day is a way for hams to
get outdoors and have fun under
some difficult conditions," Pastor-
field says. “But it’s also a chance
to fine-tune emergency communi
cation skills. We use generators,
solar and battery power, and we
set up antennas in the field. The
idea is to put together a self-suffi
cient, working station quickly and
begin making contacts."
At the local field day, there also
will be radios set up for the gen
eral public. These stations, called
GOTA — or “Get On The Air" —
stations give the public a chance
to make contacts with other sta
tions across the country and
around the world.
There will also be instruction
al hands-on activities for the en
tire family to enjoy, Pastorfield
said.
'This is not your grandfather’s
amateur radio anymore," Pastor
field said. “With the introduction
of computers and the Internet,
amateur radio has taken on an en
tire new look."
Amateur radio operators have
been effective in establishing
emergency communications nets
during tornadoes, hurricanes,
fires, earthquakes and other ma
jor disasters. Members of formal
emergency organizations, such as
the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES), regularly par
ticipate. The league estimates that
more than 35,000 hams partici
pate in field day every year.
Over the past year, the news
has been full of reports of ham
radio operators providing critical
communications in emergencies,
including the California wildfires,
Oregon and Michigan storms, tor
nadoes and, currently, the Iowa
floods. During Hurricane Katrina,
amateur radio, often called “ham
radio," was the only way people
could communicate, and hun
dreds of volunteer “hams" traveled
south to save lives and property,
according to Pastorfield.
When trouble is brewing, ham
radio people are often the first
to provide critical information
and communications, Pastorfield
said.
There are 650,000 amateur ra
dio licensees in the U.S., and
more than 2.5 million around the
world. Through the ARRL’s ARES
program, ham volunteers pro
vide emergency communications
for thousands of state and local
emergency response agencies, all
for free.
“We hope that people will come
and get involved and see for them
selves the communications net
works that ham radio operators
can quickly create," Pastorfield
said. “These networks have saved
many lives, even in these past
few months, when other systems
failed or were overloaded.”
For more information, contact
Pastorfield at kb7tbt@gmail.com
or visit the NEGARC website at
www.ne4ga.org.
—Dr. Ash Resigns, Is Sued
Cont. from Page 1A
has expressed an interest in join
ing a surgical group by relocating
his practice into a larger practice
and community.
“Please join me in expressing
our appreciation to Dr. Ash and
wishing the best to him and his
family in their future endeavors."
Malpractice Alleged
The suit was filed Tuesday,
June 10, in the Superior Court
of Jackson County on behalf of
Stephanie Floyd, Karen Hunter,
Billy Ray Hawkes and Debra
Kraft.
It alleges that Ash performed
unnecessary surgery, botched two
Nissen fundoplication surgeries
and operated on the wrong part
of one patient. The suit alleges
that BJC Medical Center is liable
for providing credentials allow
ing Ash to perform surgery for
which he had insufficient train
ing, and it seeks triple damag
es from Ash under the Georgia
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations (RICO) Act, claim
ing that Ash and his Commerce
Surgical Associates “acquired rev
enue through a pattern of rack
eteering activity." The suit further
alleges that “BJC was an accom
plice and active participant" in the
racketeering.
The plaintiffs’ attorneys are J.
Vincent Cook and R Christopher
Irwin III of Cook, Noell, Tolley,
Bates & Michael, Athens.
Count the Numbers of
High Blood Pressure
7 in 3 people have high blood pressure.*
High blood pressure can appear at any time, any age, any
gender or race. If left untreated or uncontrolled, you could be
at a higher risk for kidney failure, stroke or heart attack.
Participants are needed for a research study of people with
high blood pressure. People with high blood pressure who
are currently not taking blood pressure
medication or are taking only one
blood pressure medication may
be eligible for this trial.
This study will test a currently
marketed combination
medication to see if it helps
to lower blood pressure.
To start counting your numbers, contact us at:
770-534-5154 or 1-877-CARE-UOC
www.BloodPressureResearch.com
Volunteer For Your Future.
'American Heart Association, Jan. 2008
NEED PRINTING?
CALL
706-367-5233
Community Calendar
To place events on the Community Calendar, call 706-387-5406 or e-mail mark@mainstreetnews.com
Thursday, June 19
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Monday, June 23
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations on zoning
requests and land use matters.
Tuesday, June 24
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, June 26
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Library.
Saturday, June 28
Farmers' market: 7 a.m. to
11 a.m., South Elm Street,
Commerce (across from Spen
cer Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
It is also open today for the
City Lights Festival.
City Lights Festival: all day
at Spencer Park in downtown
Commerce. Music, food and
entertainment sponsored by
the Commerce Downtown
Development Authority.
Tuesday, July 1
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room.
Jackson County Community
Outreach is a grassroots com
munity organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 3
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Friday, July 4
Independence Day: All
overnment offices and many
usinesses closed.
Saturday, July 5
Farmers' market: 7 a.m.
to 11 a.m., South Elm Street,
Commerce (across from Spen
cer Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
Monday, July 7
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This
"work session" prepares the
city council for its regular
meeting the following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, July 8
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, July 10
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
.m., Commerce Public Li
ra ry.
Monday, July 14
Commerce Councif meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's independent school
system.
Tuesday, July 15
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 17
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Saturday, July 19
Farmers' market: 7 a.m.
to 11 a.m., South Elm Street,
Commerce (across from Spen
cer Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
Monday, July 21
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
.m., Commerce Public Li-
rary. The Commerce Library
Board oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart pa
tients ana their families.
Tuesday, July 22
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, July 24
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
.m., Commerce Public Li
ra ry.
Monday, July 28
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations to the city
council on zoning requests and
land use matters.
Tuesday, July 29
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, July 31
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Saturday, Aug. 2
Farmers' market: 7 a.m. to
11 a.m., South Elm Street,
Commerce (across from Spen
cer Park).
Locally c
rown fresh produce
will be of ered. The market is
open the first and third Satur
day of each month.
Monday, Aug. 4
Commerce Council meets:
6:00 p.m., City Hall. This
"work session" prepares the
city council for its regular
meeting the following Monday.
Nicholson Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Maysville Council meets:
7:00 p.m., City Hall.
Tuesday, Aug. 5
JCCO meets: 6:00 p.m., BJC
Hospital conference room.
Jackson County Community
Outreach is a grassroots com
munity organization.
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Wednesday, Aug. 6
Chamber breakfast: 7:30
p.m. Jefferson Civic Center.
Open to all members of the
Jackson County Area Cham
ber of Commerce. Members
$5, guests, $10.
Thursday, Aug. 7
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce Elementary
School media center. The work
session prepares the Com
merce Board of Education for
its regular meeting the follow
ing Monday.
Monday, Aug. 11
Commerce Councir meets:
6:30 p.m., Commerce Room,
Commerce Civic Center.
School board meets: 7:00
p.m., Commerce High School
media center. The Commerce
Board of Education operates
the city's independent school
system.
Tuesday, Aug. 12
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Aug. 14
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 1:00
p.m., Commerce Public Li
brary.
Saturday, Aug. 16
Farmers' market: 7a.m.
to 11 a.m., South Elm Street,
Commerce (across from Spen
cer Park). Locally grown fresh
produce will be offered. The
market is open the first and
third Saturday of each month.
Monday, Aug. 18
Hospital authority meets:
1:30 p.m., conference room,
BJC Hospital. The BJC Medical
Center Authority manages BJC
Hospital and Nursing Home.
Library board meets: 5:00
p.m., Commerce Public Li
brary. The Commerce Library
Board oversees the city library.
Mended Hearts meets: 7:00
p.m., conference room, BJC
Hospital. Mended Hearts is a
support group for heart pa
tients ana their families.
Tuesday, Aug. 19
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Thursday, Aug. 21
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Pilot Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
First United Methodist Church
of Commerce. The Pilot Club of
Commerce meets on the third
Thursday of each month.
Monday, Aug. 25
City planning meeting: 7:00
p.m., Peach Room, Commerce
Civic Center. The Commerce
Planning Commission makes
recommendations to the city
council on zoning requests and
land use matters.
Tuesday, Aug. 26
TOPS meeting: 6:00 p.m.,
BJC Medical Center cafeteria.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly is a
weight loss group. Weigh-in is
from 5:00 to 5:50.
Lions Club meets: 7:00 p.m.,
Ryan's Steakhouse, Banks
Crossing.
Thursday, Aug. 28
Kiwanis Club meets: Noon,
Commerce Civic Center.
Cold Sassy Quilters: 6:00
p.m., Commerce Public Li
brary.
Dr. Neelagaru, M.D. (Dr. Neel)
N. Neelagaru, M.D. (Dr. Neel) is
now associated with Northeast
Georgia Medical Center,
Gainesville, Georgia and will do all
Invasive Cardiology Procedures at
this facility.
Commerce Cardiology Clinic
Call 335-2000 for appointment
ROOF DOCTOR
Roofing & Repair
99
- Metal
- Shingles
- Flat Roofs
- Flashing
- Maintenance
- Inspections
HOMER CARVER
OFFICE 706-677-1986
CELL 678-617-4503
FAX 706-677-1369
Howell
Orthodontia,'
(706) 387-0606
Dr. Emily F. Howell
Providing Braces for Children and Adults!
FREE Initial Exam
(call and mention this ad)
"Flexible Interest-Free Payment Plans Available
"Convenient Hours (before AND after school hours available)
"Most orthodontic insurance plans accepted
For more information, visit our website:
www.howelloi1ho.com
Conveniently located at: 2614 Highway 129 North in Jefferson, GA
(next to Jefferson Pediatrics)
“Across the years
1 will walk with you ~
in deep green forests;
on shores of sand:
and when our time
on earth is through,
in heaven, too,
you will have
my hand. ”
In Loving Memory of Ray Smith
6/17/37 -11/29/07
Your wife, children & grandchildren.
