August Monthly Meeting

PARA Meeting Minutes 8/11/2015

Meeting was opened at 7 pm by president Ken Wontor (KW4DI).  Each attendee around the room introduced themselves.

Old Business

It was announced that due to work responsibilities, Rob Larrison (KC9VFV)  had asked to be relieved of his current duties as web master.  Discussion followed concerning the W4NJA website and the financial responsibilities involved.  Treasurer Paul Smith (ND4X) gave a report on expenses involved.  The floor was opened for a volunteer web master and when no one stepped forward Ron Cowherd’s arm was twisted and voila, PARA had a volunteer.  Ron (K4GYD) agreed to do so providing help would be available for the operation of the WordPress application.

New Business

It was discussed the possibility that PARA would participate as a “Special Event Station” August 29th by the activation of an island at the KY Dam Power Plant.  Paul Smith gave the details of the event including how the dam site qualified as an island.  As it turned out, PARA was represented using the W4NJA call on the 29th.  More info will be published in the September minutes concerning the success of the day.

It was announced that six V.E. Testing Sessions would be offered in 2016,.  Testing sessions normally occur at the close of the selected PARA club meetings.  A complete schedule of 2016 dates will be posted later.

The ensuing Huntsville Hamfest was brought up.  Several members mentioned they were going and had room for others in their vehicles.

Jeff (KB9BVL) / Ron (K4GYD)

Net controls for August are:

August 16          Frank            KY4LDS

August 23           Jeff              KB9BVL

August 30           Beth             KI4ZAR

September 6       Logan          KG4VKB

September 13     Ken              KW4DI

Joey Gill – KK4ETB – Silent Key

Joey Gill – KK4ETB – silent key

WPSD mourns loss of chief engineer

Posted: Sep 03, 2015 9:54 PM CDT Updated: Sep 04, 2015 5:11 AM CDT

We’re grieving for one of our own tonight.

WPSD Local 6 Chief Engineer Joey Gill was severely injured in a crash this morning on U.S. 62 in McCracken County. He was taken to a Lourdes hospital and then rushed to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

We learned late Thursday night from our vice president of news and operations, who is at the hospital with his family, that doctors determined Joey has lost all brain function.

Joey remains on life support until all family members can arrive and say their goodbyes.

We’ve lost a wonderful friend. His family has lost a wonderful husband and father.

We ask that you keep the Gill family in your thoughts and prayers tonight.

From WPSD

A local man is in critical condition after a motorcycle wreck Thursday morning.

It happened just west of the intersection at U.S. 62/Blandville Road and McCracken Boulevard in Paducah.

The McCracken County Sheriff’s Department says 54-year-old Joey Gill, of Wickliffe, was operating a Red 2009 Kawasaki KLR650 motorcycle eastbound on Blandville Road, just west of McCracken Boulevard. His front tire failed and separated from the rim, which caused him to lose control of the motorcycle. He was ejected into the path of an oncoming Ford F-150, operated by 42-year-old George Petty, of Paducah.

The sheriff’s department says Petty didn’t have time to react, and hit Gill.

Gill, who is the chief engineer at WPSD, was treated at the scene by Mercy Regional EMS for injuries we’re told were “serious” and “incapacitating.” He was taken to Lourdes hospital before he was flown to Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, Indiana.

We’re told Gill was wearing a helmet, but still suffered a serious head injury.