CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- Local ham radio operators, officially Amateur Radio, held their annual Field Day on Saturday at Shelter 1 on the grounds of Cove Lake State Park.

WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares his photo gallery HERE.

Field Day is when operators prepare for the worst, no traditional means of communication. Hams are able to communicate when catastrophic events and natural disasters strike knocking out other communication.

Johnny McDonald, K4WND, and Scott Reaves, WD4IFC, stand beside a portable tower from Jay Muncy and Campbell Emergency Management Agency.

A joint effort of the Campbell County Amateur Radio Club and the Clinton Amateur Radio Service makes Field Day a reality.

Scott Reaves, left, WD4IFC, who joined the Campbell County Amateur Radio Club in 2022, visits with Jack Widener club president.

Scott Reaves, WD4IFC, has been a ham radio operator since he was a teenager days in 1977. He comes from a family of hams, his dad and grandfather. Reaves grew up in Florida and was a career lawman before retiring to Campbell County eight years ago.

Ham radio operator Dalton Kohlmeyer and his wife Rachel made sure no one went hungry at Field Day on Saturday.
Chris Baker looks up and listens as a fellow ham operator visits with him at Saturday’s Field Day.

The president of the Clinton Amateur Radio Service is Chris Baker who also doubles as a volunteer firefighter. Baker, KQ4WYC, lives at Cedar Grove in south Claiborne County near Norris Lake. “I joined the Clinton group because Claiborne County does not have a ham club.

Field Day was Saturday at Cove Lake State Park Shelter One.
Eric Loyd, KD4LWG, became a ham almost 35 years ago as a 6th grader at La Follette Middle School. Loyd got his first taste of being on amateur radio, and the hunger for ham has not left.
Tim Riley stands beside his portable antenna at Saturday’s Field Day.

When Tim Riley delved into amateur radio in 2008, he was hoping to get a call sign containing his initials. “My name is Tim Clinton Riley, and TCR was open, N4TCR is my call sign,” said Riley. Riley, retired from AT&T, is a member of the Clinton Amateur Radio Service.

Johnny McDonald, K4WND, is a member of the Campbell Club.
Left to right- Eric Loyd, Chris Barker, Scott Reaves, Dalton Kohlmeyer, Jack Widener, Andy Pungratz, Tim Riley and Johnny McDonald.

(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/29/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)

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