Volleyball champs Readers photos $1.00 pg 6 pg 9

Volume 144 CANBY, MINNESOTA 56220 September 1, 2020 Number 36

On the Todd Mitchell gives a glimpse into the oft-overlooked hobby, Calendar “ham” by Joshua Theis code straight key, a tool for While the use of a radio generating via Thursday, Sept. 3 may seem outdated in our in- radio, which was in the posses- The Canby Farmers’ Mar- creasingly digital, smart-phone sion of his father Harold at the ket will be open from 4-6 dominated world, amateur time. Mitchell picked up p.m. in Central Park. radio, or “ham” radio for short, Morse code quickly, and first is an oft-overlooked hobby that learned many of the other nec- Saturday, Sept. 5 still retains a following of loyal essary skills he needed to ob- Popcorn will be available “ham’s” across the U.S. and tain his ham license from his curbside in front of the the world. Canby local Todd father, who he described as Canby Theatre 5:30-6:30 and Mitchell began his amateur being light-years ahead of him 7:15-8:30 p.m. radio career as a ham back in at nearly everything. The two 1978 when he was ten years entered the ham community at Monday, Sept. 7 old. around the same time; Mitchell A closed AA meeting will Mitchell grew up when considers his father his be held at 7 p.m. radio communication was “Elmer,” or his mentor, helping Roger at 507-530-2208 for often done through nonverbal him become an location. forms of communication, such operator. Because mathematics as Morse code; this interested like algebra, trigonometry and Tuesday, Sept. 8 Mitchell from an early age, and calculus were important to Canby Fire Relief will he remains quite fond of this being a radio operator, learning IT’S GOOD TO BE A HAM sponsor bingo at 7 p.m. at method of communication. To these skills early also brought Amateur “HAM” radio operator Todd Mitchell pictured in his “shack” alongside his radio equip- Heroe’s Bar and Grill this day, Mitchell communi- Mitchell ahead of the curve by ment. Mitchell entered the world of amateur radio more than 40 years ago and has been a prac- cates over the radio almost ex- the time he hit seventh grade. titioner of Morse code for a majority of his time as a radio operator. The Porter American Le- cusively using Morse code, When Mitchell first went gion and Auxiliary will meet and it is something he has al- out to obtain his ham operating dates back to the twentieth cen- radio service and determines tween paid and unpaid radio at 7 p.m. at the Porter Cafe. ways enjoyed. license, Morse code was still a tury when wireless what hams are al- operators. A number of ama- Despite it being a somewhat required skill for communica- technology began to take lowed to operate on, what teur radio services, such as the Coming Up novel form of communication tion via radio, and so he had to shape. With so many radio sig- modes are allowed, and how Amateur Radio Emergency The Bloodmobile will be today, the usage of morse code travel to the FCC office in the nals floating around, the Fed- much power hams are allowed Services, or ARES, can pro- at the Schott’s building fits into a still very popular Twin Cities to take a practical eral Communications to use. Two-way communica- vide important back-up serv- Thursday, Sept. 10, 1-7 p.m. ham niche, one Mitchell is exam to prove his proficiency Commission (or the FCC) tion is a requirement also set ices during a crisis. During and Friday, Sept. 11, 8 a.m. very much a part of. In some in Morse code. Despite drop- began to institute regulations by the FCC, with some excep- weather disasters, ARES is to 1 p.m.. ways, according to Mitchell, ping the exam requirement, the as a way to police and other- tions. Amateur radio operators useful for fielding health and Morse code can still be one of use of Morse code in the ham wise clear out the excess inter- are also barred from using any welfare calls when cell lines The flags in Central Park the most effective forms of community remains alive and ference radio operators would forms of encryption when op- are down and police and fire will be taken down Saturday, communication, an example well, according to Mitchell, at- have been experiencing. An erating, and ham frequencies departments are overwhelmed. Sept. 12, at 9:30 a.m. Any being ham’s fielding radi- tributing its popularity in part example of when radio inter- cannot be used for business The service is also commonly community member is in- ograms for individuals during to a fasciation held by many of ference would have been an purposes. used during events like parades vited to assist. emergency situations, such as today’s youth with older, out- issue during this time was the Mitchell feels the title and marathons. during Hurricane Katrina in dated or otherwise “retro” night of the sinking of the Ti- “amateur” radio operator can Ham radio Darrell Regnier Auction 2005. items or trends of the last cen- tanic, when radio operators ex- sometimes be misleading, as it Company will be having a Mitchell attributes his initial tury, such as a renewed interest perienced interference when connotates that hams are not continued on live and online large machin- interest in the hobby as a whole in record players. signalling for help. The FCC skilled or accomplished as ery auction on Sept. 12 at 9 to the time he found a Morse Regulation of ham radio has since regulated the amateur radio operators, when in real- page 7 a.m. ity, it denotes a distinction be-

Lancer Lanes adult bowl- Emily Gehrking’s homemade jams, jellies ing leagues with start the Early deadline for news, ads is week of Sept. 13. enjoyed locally noon Thursday

Independent Oil Company by Joshua Theis in craft shows at the Connec- lowed by peach and straw- With Labor Day this weekend, the Canby News will go to will be offering free refresh- In her spare time, Emily tion and the Schotts building berry. Gehrking can produce print Friday for the Sept. 7 edition. ments in honor of their 85th Gehrking’s hobby is making and attends the Canby farmer’s eight jars per batch and sells News and ads will need to be submitted by noon Thursday, Anniversary on Sept. 25 and selling a variety of home- market every Thursday. Gehrk- them at three different sizes, 4, Sept. 4, in order to be published in the Sept. 7 edition. The from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. made jams, jellies, and pro- ing also donated jars to the 8, and 16 ounces. Canby News office will be closed Monday, Sept. 7. duce, a pastime she has Connection and other various Gerhking has received good pursued for around ten years. fundraisers. feedback on her products this Gehrking tries to keep all of Derived from an original year and plans to continue as a her ingredients fresh and local, recipe from her grandmother, vendor at the Canby farmer’s growing most of them in her Mary Ann, Gerhking currently market. Check out her products large garden at home. Gehrk- has 11 different jam and jelly there or contact her at 507- ave a community ing also prefers to sell locally; flavors on offer, with the most 828-6963 or vent coming up? she has showcased her goods popular flavor being berry, fol- [email protected]. To get it placed on ur calendar drop off nformation at our office or email to [email protected]

THIS WEEK’S BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES Thursday, Sept. 3 Lorraine Lipinski Sunday, Sept. 6 Kent and Jane Goplen Monday, Sept. 7 Lois Hunt Lowell Hunt ------List a name on our birthday and anniversary calendar for just $2.

FARMERS’ MARKET VENDOR EMILY GEHRKING Emily Gehrking has had a vendor stand at the Canby farmers’ markets this summer. Gehrking offers a variety of homemadejam and jelly flavors, as well as other homegrown produce. THE CANBY NEWS, CANBY, MINNESOTA Tuesday, September 1, 2020 Page 7 Ham radio - continued from page 1

The FCC requires by law them on Earth. Ham’s will also globe, many of which he ac- that hams are to avoid interfer- send signals to astronauts quired back when he first en- ing with appliances and elec- aboard the international space tered the hobby. Mitchell’s first tronics of their neighbors. station, some of which are contact was to . Mitchell noted that the ham hams themselves. Mitchell had assembled his community in general is quite QRP operations, or reduced own low-power radio when he good at self-policing, and he power operations, are also pop- was fourteen, and by the time was attracted to the unspoken ular in the ham community, he had entered junior high code of conduct that existed where the goal is to make com- school, he had already made when he first entered the ham munications using as little contact with many hams in community. power as possible. As a refer- other countries, including Aus- “It’s a fraternity, and you ence, Mitchell will typically tralia, , Belgium, Ar- treat one another with respect use around 100 watts when op- gentina, on the air,” said Mitchell. erating his equipment, whereas Czechoslovakia and others. Al- Arguably the biggest the average QRP operator uses though not as commonly used change in radio since Mitchell less than 5 watts. Mitchell him- as they once were, Mitchell began as a ham was the shift self enjoys this niche as well, still enjoys collecting unique away from vacuum tube tech- once taking his portable QRP QSL cards from the hams he nology towards the use of tran- radio with him when he went meets; they are both a mark of sistors, which, compared to backpacking. pride and proof that you made their predecessor, were more is another popu- contact. COMMUNICATION IS KEY robust, took up less space and lar ham activity, although not Mitchell continues to appre- Having practiced using Morse code for so long, amateur radio operator Todd Mitchell has col- generated far less heat. one Mitchell often participates ciate the numerous niches lected a number of CW keys for his collection, including an old fashioned Russian model (left). today also possess features that in himself. Fast contacting is within the amateur radio make them much easier to op- when the goal is to make as hobby, and there is always erate. many contacts as possible in a something new to pick up. Although radio began using given amount of time. High Mitchell recently sent his first Morse code, there have since speed telegraphy, or HST, is contact via radiogram, some- arisen a wide variety of new another popular form of com- thing he had been wanting to forms of communication, petition in European countries learn for over forty years. All along with a variety of niches like ; however, it has yet hams record contacts they and sub-hobbies within the to catch on in the U.S. make; however, only some do ham community. When hooked Another sub-hobby within so for the purpose of later up to a computer, there are the hobby is the collection of sending radiograms via “traffic voice modes and virtually lim- QSL cards, QSL being a con- nets” with the help of fellow itless forms of digital commu- firmation receipt of contact hams. nication. Some hams like to with other hams, and are akin “There’s always something send signals into space. EME, to postcards. These cards are new to learn,” Mitchell said. or Earth - Moon - Earth, other- also a way for fellow ham’s to “I’ve been in it for 42 years wise known as a moon- confirm contacts they have now, and I’m still doing new bounce, is when a signal is made over the years. Over the things. There’s always some- bounced of the surface of the years, Mitchell has collected thing new to do in this hobby.” moon and then returns back to many cards from across the

A HAM’S SHACK Inside his radio operator’s “shack,” Todd Mitchell has assembled several home radios and other important equipment for making contact with fellow hams across the globe. Mitchell is a long- time user of Morse code and makes nearly all of his contacts using it.

EVERY HAM HAS A Every amateur “ham” radio operator, including local ham Todd Mitchell, has their own call sign. Not every ham is bold enough, however, to have their call sign also be on their license plate.

PROOF OF CONTACT QSL cards may look a little bit like fancy postcards, but in reality, they function as physical proof of making contact with fellow amateur radio operators, or “hams.” These are just some of the QSL cards from Todd Mitchell’s collection; he also retains a number of cards from when he first entered the hobby.