Submitted photo
Tuscarora Amateur Radio Association (TARA) representatives Don Walters, Nancy Walters and Andrew Baer pose for a photo in recognition of Amatuer Radio Week during Tuesday’s Juniata County Commissioner’s meeting.

MIFFLINTOWN — The Juniata County Commissioners issued a June 23-29 proclamation in honor of Amateur Radio Week; they recognized the Tuscarora Amateur Radio Association (TARA) and its more than 100 years of service to the local community.

TARA representatives Don Walters, Nancy Walters, and Andrew Baer accepted the proclamation and shared a little about what they do.

Amateur radio operators have provided hours of community services both in emergencies and to other local organizations throughout the decades. They provided many services to emergency response organizations including Juniata County Emergency Management. Operators have demonstrated their value in public assistance with free radio communications for local parades, bike-a-thons, walk-a-thons, fairs and other charitable public events. Some of these individuals also serve as weather spotters in the Skywarn program of the U.S. Government Weather Bureau.

Juniata County amateur radio operators that make up TARA will participate in the American Radio Relay League

June 22-23. The American Radio Relay League is the leading organization for amateur radio in the U.S. that demonstrates emergency preparedness exercises for all amateur radio operators with an event they call Amateur Radio Field Day.

This is a 24-hour event with exercises and demonstrations of the radio amateurs’ skills and readiness to provide self-supporting communications without further infrastructure.

Learn first-hand what it takes to obtain a license and join the amateur radio community. Test your preparedness in the event of an actual emergency. As a way of testing operating skills, they will attempt as many contacts with other hams in as many different states and/or countries as possible.

Radio operators all over the U.S. and the world set up their radio stations in sometimes very remote places, such as mountaintops or state parks. The local radio club has a station in Halderman Park, Thompsontown.

They decided to use this location so the public could stop by and get a glimpse of amateur radio operations. This event allows the public to ask questions and learn how to obtain an amateur radio license.

TARA will hold the event in the pavilion near the Regester Chevrolet parking lot around noon on Saturday, June 22. The event contest begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday and ends at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Commissioners approved of the following…

-An agreement with Vertiv Corporation to provide maintenance services for two interrupted power supply units in the 911 Center. The term of the agreement is June 1, 2024 through May 30, 2025. The annual cost is $4,022.

Changing the County’s Air Medical One-Call System from Life Lion to LifeFlight.

-An agreement between Juniata County and Vision Government Solutions, Inc. for cloud computing services. The term of the agreement is May 14, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2026. There are no fees associated with this agreement.

-The use of the County Records Improvement Fund to cover the cost of a APC UPS Pro Compact 1500VA Battery Backup plus Surge Protector at a total cost of $200 for Magisterial District Judge Imes’ office.

-The Purchase of Service Agreement between Juniata County Children and Youth Services and Raystown Developmental Services, Inc. The agreement shall be in force and effect from July 1 through June 30, 2025 inclusive.

-A Purchase of Service Agreement Addendum between Juniata County on behalf of Juniata County Children and Youth Services and Cornell Abraxas Group for the 2024 – 2025 Fiscal Year.

-The Purchase of Service Agreements between the Juniata County Children & Youth Services Agency and Mifflin-Juniata Human Services for implementation of the Independent Living Housing and the Family Housing Program, as well as the implementation of the Juniata County Communities that Care Grant through the Juniata County Violence Prevention Board. -The terms for the agreements are July 1 through June 30, 2025.

Payment of checks in the amount of $141,642.57.

-The May 2024 Assessment Recap report.