WICHITA FALLS MAN
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CB Radio, Morse code, and Folgers Black Silk coffee. What else could a man need in beautiful Wichita Falls, Texas? Maybe a "Red Draw" at the BAR-L Drive In? As the late Oscar Gamble said, "They don't think it be like it is, but it do!" When you see news reports of "A Wichita Falls man..." that's usually not me.
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02-14-2026 - 5:00 AM - Good Morning! It's Saturday, and Valentine's Day. I got my wife a stuffed bear, and that’s all the work I have planned for today. Work? Not really. Also, I left myself a sticky note reminder that the Daytona 500 is tomorrow at 1:30 PM. I'm not a huge race fan, so I might forget it. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready!
--- 5:30 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 73. South wind 8 to 10 mph becoming west southwest in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible. Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South southwest wind 7 to 14 mph becoming north in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
--- 5:45 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are as follows: Arrowhead: 82.3% Kemp: 97.2 Kickapoo: 84.7%. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (83.5%) to determine drought stage.
--- 6:00 AM - Some local weekend radio scanning targets: Walmart (154.570 MHz), Allred Unit (153.815 MHz), Wichita County Jail (155.520 MHz), State Hospital (154.800 MHz) city transit buses (453.5375 MHz), Wichita Valley Airport (122.800 MHz), Kickapoo Airport (122.700 MHz), Wichita Falls Regional Airports / SAFB (119.750 & 122.950 MHz), and the BNSF Railroad (160.920 MHz). MORE!
--- 7:30 AM - I contacted a station at Colonial National Historical Park (US-0016) in Virginia on 20 meters (14 MHz) CW (Morse code) in the Amateur (ham) Radio Parks on the Air® program.
--- 8:15 AM - In the early 1980s, it was the practice of Gibson’s Discount Center in Wichita Falls to allow female employees to leave at 1:00 PM on Saturdays. The men had to stay until closing at 6:00 PM. The reason given was so the women could attend to the chores they usually do. That was the store’s explanation, not mine. I think Sunday church and supper were also in the explanation. I have no idea when that policy began or when it ended.
--- 8:40 AM - The CB Radio is coming alive with strong signals scattered across the band. Conditions should improve as the day progresses, with more channels becoming occupied. Channel 6, the "superbowl" of CB Radio, is booming. Channel 38, lower sideband, is also hot.
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02-13-2026 - 6:00 AM - Good Morning! It's Friday the 13th, once again, so be careful out there. I ordered a new anode rod for my water heater, and it should arrive today. The plan is to flush the water heater and change the rod. I'll wait until early next week to do it, just in case I have to call in the real plumbers to unbotch my work. I don't want to have to make a weekend call. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready.
--- 6:15 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: A 20 percent chance of showers after noon. Increasing clouds, with a high near 80. Light south southeast wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after midnight. Low around 59. South southeast wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
--- 6:30 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are as follows: Arrowhead: 82.2% Kemp: 97.2 Kickapoo: 84.6%. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (83.4%) to determine drought stage.
--- 7:20 AM - When I drive by Starbucks and see a line at the drive-thru, I wonder why those folks aren't home enjoying Folgers Black Silk coffee in a CB Radio cup, and listening to soothing Morse code on Amateur (ham) Radio. Or, should I get in the Starbucks line? Well, I don't think that will ever happen.
--- 11:00 AM - I actually had to spray some weeds today. I saw dandelion and henbit popping up in a few spots. I was going to put down some pre-emergent next month, but I might have to move it up a little, given the summer-like weather we've been having. I'm not a lawn care expert, so I'm just guessing.
--- 1:00 PM - Did you know that BNSF Railroad issues clearances to train drivers similar to those issued by FAA Air Traffic Control for pilots? In Wichita Falls, listen on 160.920 MHz with your scanner radio.
--- 8:00 PM - I'm listening to the North Central Texas Simplex Net on 146.580 MHz. These Amateur (ham) Radio Operators meet on Fridays at 8:00 PM on this frequency. You’ll need a high outside antenna (at least 20 feet off the ground) to hear them from Wichita Falls.
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02-12-2026 - 05:00 AM - Good Morning! It's Thursday, and tonight at the Iron Horse Pub is Jason Eady and Adam Hood | Southern Brothers. Doors 8:30 PM, Start 9:30 PM. Starts at 9:30 PM? That's almost bedtime for me! My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready!
--- 5:15 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 75. Light south wind becoming south southwest 6 to 11 mph in the morning. Tonight: NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 54. South southeast wind around 7 mph.
--- 5:30 AM - According to Water Data for Texas, Wichita Falls reservoirs are as follows: Arrowhead: 82.3% Kemp: 97.3 Kickapoo: 84.5%. The City of Wichita Falls uses combined levels of Arrowhead and Kickapoo (83.4%) to determine drought stage.
--- 6:45 AM - I'm hearing a lot of chatter, complete with annoying "roger beeps", on several of the Family Radio Service frequencies this morning. Tune in with your scanner radio.
--- 12:30 PM - I had flashback of a magazine article, seen about 40 years ago, about a burger joint in Austin (I think). It had a simple chalkboard menu that said: HB - CB $3.50. You get it our way or you don't get the S.O.B.