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Wlaf1450A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
CARYVILLE, TN (WLAF)- “I was just talking with an officer with the U-S Coast Guard,” said Amateur Radio Operator (Ham Radio) Johnny McDonald, call sign K4WND. There was a much bigger purpose behind Saturday’s annual Field Day at Cove Lake State Park than hams getting together, enjoying grilled burgers and hot dogs and talking on their amateur radios.
WLAF’s Charlie Hutson shares his photo gallery HERE.
“Field Day is a coordinated event held annually across the world, mainly the U-S, on the last Saturday of June and the next day, Sunday, until 2pm,” said McDonald. In case of a catastrophic or natural disaster taking out all communications, amateur radio operators have the ability to keep communication going via a broad spectrum of frequencies, according to McDonald.
“Ham radio established the first line of communications during the upper East Tennessee flooding disaster in the fall of 2024,” said Jack Widener, KC4ZWA, President of the Campbell Club. Field Day prepares us for such a need, added Widener.
The local Field Day is a joint effort of the Campbell County Amateur Radio Club and the Clinton Amateur Radio Service. Since the revival of Campbell’s Club in 2022, this was the third Field Day, 2024, 2025, 2026.
The event began at 1pm, set up prior to that, and ran until almost sundown on Saturday.
A NOTE FROM THE GRAND ON CENTRAL: “There is so much good going on in our community, and I want to share all this good with you every Monday here on WLAF in hopes that you will start your week in a grand way making each week a Grand Week,” said Olivia Lobertini, owner of The Grand on Central.
For bookings, email Olivia Lobertini at ohlobertini03@gmail.com. Check on avails HERE. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-06/29/2026-6AM-PHOTOS COURTESY OF WLAF’S CHARLIE HUTSON)