The Foundation

The Schoolcraft County Amateur Radio Association (SCARA) was born out of a simple but vital necessity: Reliable communication when everything else fails.

In the vast, rugged landscape of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, “normal” communications—cell towers and internet—can be fragile. Our founder, a retired Sheriff, recognized that in times of emergency, the distance between our communities requires more than just hope; it requires redundant, hardened infrastructure operated by trained professionals.

“Our mission began with a handful of dedicated operators in Manistique. Today, that mission has evolved into a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public safety partnership dedicated to the residents of the entire Central and Eastern U.P.”

The Repeater Project

What started as a gathering of enthusiasts quickly shifted focus toward Critical Infrastructure. SCARA took on the task of designing and managing a five-site VHF repeater network stretching from Garden to Seney and Gould City.

These are county-owned assets maintained by SCARA to ensure that emergency coordinators, ARES teams, and first responders have a clear path for voice and data when the traditional grid goes dark.

Legacy of Service

Every great mission begins with individuals willing to do the hard work before the recognition arrives. We wish to honor the foundational contributions of Marc Cheuvront and Bob Madden.

As the first two hams to join this project, they provided the technical expertise and passion needed to turn a vision into a reality. While Marc has sadly passed away and Bob’s professional journey has taken him away from the area, their fingerprints are on every repeater and every successful transmission made today. Their commitment to Schoolcraft County remains the bedrock of our Association.

A Regional Asset

While our name begins with Schoolcraft County, our signal does not stop at the county line. SCARA has grown to become a cornerstone of District 8 ARES, serving as a vital link for the Central and Eastern Upper Peninsula.

By outfitting a 28-foot mobile emergency communications trailer and establishing wide-area repeater coverage, we provide a “safety net” for regional events, search and rescue operations, and multi-agency disaster response. We are committed to ensuring that the most remote areas of the U.P. are never truly isolated.