Longview Hills @ Newport Oregon

an Editorial and a plea for help....

As the new Neighborhood Watch Radio System takes it's place in the community new problems crop up. There is one now that needs to be talked about.

When you press the transmit button on the radio it gives a satisfying sound and assures you that your radio is working. Well it also destroys the effectiveness of the Neighborhood Watch system.

Why? Pressing the transmit key also clicks on everyone else's radio in the community that is a designated, volunteer listener. That causes a beep and static over the listener's radio speakers. Now, late at night, if you happen to be a 24 hour listener, that will wake you from a sound sleep. If the person that does that is an early riser that noise will also wake a listener from the sleep that they need.

During the day the clicking mike is just an aggravation. Why, because the listeners are awake but now wonder if the clicker can't speak and needs help.

As you can imagine getting people to volunteer to listen to the radio 24 hours a day is really tough. When aggravations like this occur those volunteers can only take so much and then they turn off their radios. That, friends is a great loss to the community.

If you don't understand why we would like you to think about Charley Currie. Charley was in his easy chair away from his phone. Suddenly, he became very dizzy, unable to move as movement caused the sensation to worsen. On the table next to his chair was his FRS radio.. Grabbing it he called and asked if there were any CERTs available. Fortunately for him, there were listeners available and within 2 minutes 2 were there to help!

What if by keying your radio to see if it works finally made a listener discouraged enough to shut off his radio. No-one would have heard Charley's call for help. How long would Charley have suffered? Would he have eventually succumbed? Now, instead of using Charley as an example why don't you insert your name wherever you see his in the above story. Or, if that doesn't mean anything try putting one of your single, living alone, neighbor's names there... See what we mean?

Now, it may not be you... Maybe, your friend? We don't know.. Practically impossible to find out who it is. We hope this raises your level of awareness about the problem and you make it a topic of conversation around the park, at gatherings, at the mail room, at your club meetings, when you play pool, Canasta, and dominoes... Help us help you.