News: Taylor Co. - Jump River (New Tower & Repeater - 1993)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surname: Beadles

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 7/19/2018

Originally published in the Star News, July 21, 1993

Following recent action by the Taylor County Board, a new tower and repeater for the emergency radio system in Jump River will be constructed. The board approved the project, which will be financed by transferring $17,000 from the county’s contingency fund to the emergency services radio equipment account.

According to Jump River Fire Chief Gary Beadles, the present system has gaps in it as there are spots where there is no radio coverage. “We needed the jaws of life at an accident Saturday night, but has to go back to town to make a phone call because we couldn’t reach the Sheriff’s Department on the radio, Beadles said.

As Beadles explained, the fire department and EMS crews use their truck radios and portable and hand-held radios to communicate. Most of the time the truck radios work because they’re more powerful, but they have trouble with the portables because of “low” spots in the area, and a repeater on the tower is needed to relay the messages.