WICHITA FALLS MAN
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12-19-2025 - 5:15 AM - Good Morning! It’s Friday and, once again, I have nothing important on my schedule. It looks like we’ll have a high of 77 degrees tomorrow. That’s fine, but it better not try to make my grass grow! Yesterday, I received in the mail a vintage Heathkit “lunchbox” CB Radio that I bought on eBay. It matches up nicely with the lunchbox Amateur (ham) Radio "Twoer" 2-meter (VHF) rig I bought at a Gainesville, Texas hamfest 15 or 20 years ago. That rig is shown below. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready.
--- 5:50 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 66. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph. Tonight: Clear, with a low around 50. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
--- 6:15 AM - Being Friday, I'm guessing our local school bus drivers are girding their loins for the "Friday mentality" youngsters are known to have. This would be especially true on the after-school run. Tune in to the excitement at 152.360 MHz on your scanner radio!
--- 7:00 AM - Here’s a challenge for news media people: One day a week, in a story involving suspects, victims, and police, find alternatives to the words allege, alleged, and allegedly. I know you can do it!
--- 8:30 AM - In the news - Police responded to a "gunshots" call at the Alibi Lounge on North Scott at 4 AM this morning. I wondered why a bar was open at 4 AM, but I see that it is a BYOB joint. Two people made their way to the hospital with gunshot wounds related to the call. In other news, a pedestrian was struck and killed at Old Iowa Park Road and Sheppard Access Road yesterday morning. No charges are expected to be filed. And, someone is suing a local Dollar General over an injury caused by a toppled case or cases of water.
--- 9:30 AM - My high school summer job was running the candy vending machine route on Sheppard Air Force Base for Houston Vending Company. So, there I was, driving on one of Sheppard's main streets. A short but heavy rain had just ended. A large puddle near the curb had formed, and I was headed straight for it. I hit it without slowing down. Just as the wall of water went up, I noticed a woman on the sidewalk walking toward me in her Class A dress uniform. Suddenly, she disappeared behind a rising wall of water. She reappeared a second later, drenched. I didn't have a blow dryer handy, so I kept driving!
--- 4:00 PM - There has been a lot of chatter on the local Amateur (ham) Radio frequencies 146.520 and 147.140 MHz, the last few days. Tune in with your scanner radio.
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12-18-2025 - 5:00 AM - Good Morning! It's Thursday, and I have the headphones on listening to Morse code on the 40-meter Amateur (ham) Radio band. The most exciting thing I have on my schedule is Thursday Night Football, and I’m not even a big football fan. I watch the games, but I could'nt tell you anything about the players, stats, or any of that stuff. I like to see the Cowboys win, but I don't cry if they lose. I enjoy watching a good play, no matter who makes it. Other activities might include trips to Natural Grocers and United Market Street. My Folgers Black Silk coffee is ready.
--- 5:15 AM - NWS Forecast - Today: Sunny, with a high near 64. West wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north 18 to 23 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 32 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming calm in the evening.
--- 7:00 AM - Air Traffic Control is very busy on 132.925 MHz. Tune in with your scanner radio! I once downloaded the Air Traffic Control manual, but I never made it through the whole 600+ pages. It's not for dummies, I can tell you that. Neither is the Commercial Pilot study material, but I still managed to pass that test! Don't worry, it was over 40 years ago. I'm now safely on the ground.
--- 9:15 AM - A news item at Texoma’s Home Page (KFDX) says the City of Wichita Falls is in the very early stages of considering an industrial airport park to attract defense and aviation companies. The park would be located on East McKinley Street near Airport Drive. Maybe they invite a company that offers high-end flight simulators for pilots and the general public. Also, maybe an indoor skydiving venue like iFly in Dallas.
--- 8:45 PM - The Wichita Amateur Radio Society conducted a license exam session tonight, and it sounds like one or more “hams” have upgraded their license. Unknown if any new “hams” have been licensed. I’ll have to listen to the “chatter” to get more information.