Richland Parish is in the northeast part of the State of Louisiana. Melinda Hudspeth (N5MEL) is the ARES Emergency Coordinator for Richland Parish. Melinda lives near the town of Rayville, Louisiana. Melinda has signed up several Richland Parish Amateur Radio Operators for ARES.


On March 15, 2004, Melinda started an ARES net that is held every Monday night at 7:30 p.m. on the local Rayville repeater, frequency 145.490.

Melinda and her husband, Alan, have helped with emergency preparedness drills, provided communications in Red Cross shelters for hurricane evacuees and public awareness of amateur radio at Wal Mart store.