[SIERA] A "Star" amongst us!!

[Dick Young]

The  role of the radio operator is a recognized adjunct to DHS =
preparations for the war on terrorism, as follows:


Here's an article from the Friday, April 16, 2004 Las Vegas Sun
Newspaper.

------  Article from Sun  ------

"Ridge To Honor Amateur Radio Leader"

By: Jace Radke

A Las Vegas man who could be invaluable to local emergency teams in the
event of a terrorist attack is scheduled to be recognized Monday during
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's visit to Southern
Nevada.

Charlie Kunz leads 175 licensed amateur radio operators in Clark County
who have voluntarily formed a pool of operators to provide communication
for local agencies and service providers in the event of an emergency.

Kunz, 58, and the radio operators are associated with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and the Citizen Corp. Program, the volunteer
arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

"Most of us feel very strongly that this (amateur radio) is the only
fail-safe communication system," Kunz said of the amateur radio =
operators
in Las Vegas, who provide their services for free. "We're kind of in the
background, and everyone thinks they have cell phones and they don't =
need
us, but we're ready.

Kunz said he is excited to meet Ridge and honored to be representing all
of the Amateur Radio operators in Las Vegas.

Ridge is scheduled to arrive Sunday in Las Vegas and probably will meet
with Gov. Kenny Guinn on Monday, state homeland security officials said.

A Department. of Homeland Security spokeswoman said that the final plans
for the visit were not available, but she said Ridge would be in Las =
Vegas
Monday.

Jerry Bussell, Guinn's homeland security advisor and chairman of the
Nevada Homeland Security Commission, said he hasn't heard exactly what
Ridge's plans are in Las Vegas, except that the secretary is scheduled =
to
meet with the Governor.

After his stop in Las Vegas, Ridge is scheduled to go to Albuquerque,
where he will recognize another volunteer who is associated with the
Citizen Corp. Program.




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