Olive Branch ARC

CLUB STORY

Inside Olive Branch Amateur Radio Club

Two decades of public service, STEM outreach, and radio mentorship.

Meetings • 3rd Tuesday • 7:00 PM
Location • Fairhaven Volunteer Fire Station - Center Hill Rd.
Join the Club Upcoming Events

We welcome every operator, from brand-new Technicians to seasoned Extras.

Club Heritage
21+
Active Members
28
Years Strong
100%
ARRL Affiliated
2
Active Repeaters
  • ARRL affiliation & 501(c)(3) status
  • Volunteer Examiner team on-site
  • Community partnerships across DeSoto County
21+
Active Members
28
Years of Service
100%
ARRL Affiliated
2
Club Repeaters

Olive Branch roots since 1998

In 1998 a small group of amateur operators noticed Olive Branch was packed with licensed hams who were not yet organized. They called a meeting to see what would happen if everyone rallied around a modern radio club.

That meeting at the Maxwell Community Center on December 16, 1998 drew twelve operators. By the end of the night the Olive Branch Amateur Radio Club was born with Melvin Jerkins (W4STI) as president. ARRL affiliation arrived in 2000 and our 501(c)(3) recognition followed in 2006.

Today we field more than fifty active members, operate two repeaters, and put amateur radio on display through ARRL Field Day, Winter Field Day, the Mississippi QSO Party, and targeted STEM outreach.

Twenty-six years later the mission has not changed—keep the Mid-South on the air, welcome every new ham, and support local agencies whenever they call.

Club milestones

  • 1998
    Founding meeting at the Maxwell Community Center launches OBARC.
  • 2000
    ARRL affiliation confirms our training, nets, and emergency readiness.
  • 2006
    Secured 501(c)(3) status to better fund education and infrastructure.
  • 2010s
    Expanded 2m/70cm repeater coverage and formalized emergency support teams.
  • Today
    Modern hero platform, digital tools, and mission-ready operators every week.

What drives the club

We operate twin repeaters—147.255 MHz in Olive Branch and 444.700 MHz in Lewisburg—to serve members, regional partners, and DeSoto County emergency response teams whenever severe weather or natural disasters strike.

Monthly license testing happens before each club meeting so new hams can immediately plug into our Elmer network. Meetings blend rapid business updates with practical demonstrations that get everyone back on the air fast.

Guests are always welcome. Bring your curiosity, grab a seat, and leave with actionable radio skills.

Club objectives

  • Promote and facilitate community participation in amateur radio through nets, training, and public demos.
  • Provide learning experiences that advance the art and science of amateur radio for every license class.
  • Deliver responsive service to emergency managers and neighbors when disasters or events demand reliable comms.
  • Invest in youth partnerships so scouts, schools, and STEM groups see radio as a lifelong skill.

Operational focus

What W5OBM runs every month

Field deployments

Portable towers, battery trailers, and contest-grade HF stations for Field Day, Winter Field Day, and rapid drills.

See the playbook

Emergency readiness

Dedicated teams support DeSoto County EMA, Skywarn activations, and community events that need disciplined comms.

Review deployments

Training & testing

Monthly VE sessions, new-ham onboarding, and mentoring for HF, digital, and portable operations.

Training & testing exercises

Community programs

Education partnerships, school demos, and recruitment events that keep the Mid-South radio-active.

Plug into events

Active Members of OBARC

Our dedicated amateur radio operators who make W5OBM a vibrant community

First Name Last Name Call Sign Email Class Status
Nawas Bahhur N8NVI Private Extra Active
Thomas Butas KM4AEM Private General Active
Philip Fritz KF7JZ Private Advanced Active
Douglas Kave WA4CB Private Extra Active
Julius Kerekes KB3YVV Private General Active
Quentin Laymon KD5IWH Private Extra Active
William Mathews KQ4UEO Private General Active
Donald Murphy KI5TKL Private General Active
John Oravis KJ5CRQ Private Technician Active
Chris Peaks KI5OCB Private General Active
Stephen Shahan KI5UTQ Private Extra Active
Bobby Shreeves AI5VG Private Extra Active
James Story KH0DW Private Extra Active
Robert Stroud KD5BS Private Extra Active
JB Swift K5BGS Private Extra Active
Jack Thompson N5UOV Private Extra Active
Ed Thornsburg KF8PD Private Extra Active
Sandi Thornsburg AB8LA Private Extra Active
Gary Weatherford W5EMA Private Extra Active
Wade Wingfield KB5SSG Private Extra Active
Dennis Wofford K5OLV Private Extra Active

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