Bellbrook man named district emergency coordinator

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Greene County News Report

BELLBROOK — Bellbrook resident Fred Stone has been appointed the district emergency coordinator (DEC) for District 3 of the Ohio Section of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).

Stone, whose amateur radio call sign is W8LLY, will coordinate ARES activities in Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Miami, Montgomery and Preble counties.

Stone had served as an assistant district emergency coordinator under Bob Rhoades, whom he replaces. Rhoades, who had served in a variety of local, district and state emergency service positions, died in an automobile accident in November.

ARES consists of licensed amateurs who have voluntarily registered their qualifications and equipment, with their local ARES leadership, for auxiliary communication support in the public service when disaster strikes. District 3 has more than 300 active amateur radio operators participating in ARES. All ARES positions are strictly voluntary, complying with the FCC requirement that amateur radio operators not receive any pay for their services.

The DEC has responsibility for coordinating the training, organization and emergency participation of emergency coordinators in the nine county West Central Ohio district and the deployment of available amateurs radio personnel and equipment resources during a disaster or communication emergency.

Stone, who has served as Greene County ARES (GCARES) emergency coordinator, will resign on Feb. 1 after completing 20 years in the position. During that time, he has overseen the development of county-wide emergency communication plans and networks with assistance from the three county amateur radio clubs, Bellbrook Amateur Radio Club, Upper Valley (Fairborn) Amateur Radio Club and the Xenia Weather Amateur Radio Network. He also serves as EC for Bellbrook and Sugarcreek Township.

He helped to establish memorandums of understanding with a number of Greene County public service agencies including police and fire departments, hospitals and the health department, the emergency management agency and served on the Greene County Emergency Preparedness Committee. A ham for 64 years, he was involved in several disaster incidents including the 1974 and 2000 Xenia tornadoes.

Content provided by Greene County Amateur Radio Emergency Service.

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