The mass search April 7-8 for the missing Winona woman, Madeline Kingsbury, included Hams, including those assisting law enforcement using county radios. More than 1,800 volunteers showed up Friday in Winona and Rushford to search for evidence in the case. Another 700 searched Saturday. A number of Hams provided communication on the buses transporting volunteers throughout the county.
“This was extremely different from anything we’ve done,” noted Dan Goltz, WKØW. “We didn’t use ham gear but county-provided public service radio equipment.”
Goltz said the Winona Amateur Radio Club’s Winona Emergency Preparedness Net Sunday nights trained Hams on what to do in a situation like the search. Those involved in communication can be proud of the fact that public service agencies recognize Winona Amateur Radio Club Hams as communicators, and trust us to get the traffic through using their equipment and frequencies. Comments from officials complimented Hams about their radio discipline and effectiveness. The investigation into Kingsbury’s continues. Authorities credited the search, said to be the largest ever in Southern Minnesota, with aiding their efforts.