Newly Purchased County Equipment Set to Enhance Local Ham Radio Efforts:

For Demotte native Mike Swiader, ham radio plays a valuable if not-to-well known role. "We are the center of communications for everyone," Swiader said. Swiader is one of the founding members of the Amateurs Radio Association of Newton County Indiana, established in the spring of 2017. As such, he was an advocate of the purchase of two digital repeaters, which was approved by the Newton County Commissioners at their December 18 meeting. Swiader said the order for the equipment was completed on January 4, at a cost of approximately $24,000. He is hopeful they will be installed at the county radio tower, located near the Newton County Landfill, within the next couple of months. Although Newton County will own the equipment, it will be leased to the ARANC. "It helps the ham radio community help Newton and nearby counties in the event of a natural or man-made disaster," Swiader said.

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