NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, October 9, 2001


                       NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, October 9, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-542 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Homicide Suspect Arrested

On Thursday, October 4th, rangers apprehended E.J., 36, of
Ocmulgee, Oklahoma, a suspect in the September 24th stabbing death of
Rebecca Smith in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. Arrest warrants had been
filed against E.J. by the FBI for unlawful flight and by the state
of Oklahoma for murder in the first degree. E.J. was considered to
be armed, dangerous and suicidal. On Thursday evening, concessions
personnel alerted rangers to a suspicious male loitering in the Amfac
employee housing area in Mammoth Hot Springs.  A check on the associated
vehicle revealed that it had been stolen from Smith. Rangers began
surveillance of the vehicle and E.J.'s campsite and set up perimeter
roadblocks. E.J. was seen near the vehicle around 7 p.m. and
arrested. He was taken before a federal magistrate and waived
extradition. E.J. was taken to Teton County, where he was placed in
the custody of federal marshals to await transport back to Oklahoma.
[Public Affairs, YELL, 10/5]

01-543 - Point Reyes NS (CA) - Search

On the evening of October 1st, the Coast Guard asked the park to help
find D.K., an overdue recreational fisherman from San Leandro, who
was thought to be in Drake's Bay. D.K. was in a 16-foot fiberglass boat
with no radio or navigation equipment aboard. Visibility was less than
100 yards due to fog. By the afternoon of October 3rd, the search area
had expanded to include areas south and west of Point Reyes. Coast Guard
helicopters and a C-130 joined other aircraft and Coast Guard cutters
and motor lifeboats in the search. On the morning of October 4th, D.K.
telephoned for assistance from shore near Stinson Beach. He told rangers
that he'd become disoriented in the fog and went adrift in order to
conserve fuel. He'd been blown into the inbound shipping lane for San
Francisco Bay, where he reportedly was just missed by several large
ships. D.K. was eventually able to secure his boat to a buoy; he
remained there, eating raw halibut and drinking ice melt from his bait
tank, until the fog briefly thinned, permitting him to regain his
bearings and return to land. This was the first extended SAR mission for
the park's newest patrol and rescue vessel, a 29-foot Safeboat. [Marc
Yeston, DR, PORE, 10/6]

01-544 - Eisenhower NHS (PA) - Special Event

The park held its sixth annual World War II living history weekend
special event on September 15th and 16th. Over 100 living history
volunteers participated. The number was down from last year since about
50 of the volunteers scheduled to attend were called up by the National
Guard due to the national emergency. Those who came portrayed Allied
forces under General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The encampment was designed
to portray an army rest area in 1944 Europe. Volunteer Art Pope of
Michigan gave an in-character presentation as General George Patton.
Part of one of the nation's largest private collections of World War II
vehicles, owned by Frank Buck of Gettysburg, was on display, including
jeeps, weapons carriers, trucks, half-tracks and a Sherman tank. Several
World War II veterans were guest speakers. The event was attended by
about 1,400 visitors. [Richard Lemmers, PR, EISE, 9/27]

01-545 - Petrified Forest NP (AZ) - Body Found

At 6:30 a.m. on September 29th, a Burlington Northern Railroad employee
reported seeing a body along the railroad in or near the park. Rangers
Dave Fox, Timothy Townsend, and Chuck Dorn responded and found the
remains of an adult male near the tracks just outside the park's
boundary. Apache County Sheriff's Office deputies assumed control of the
scene after it was determined that the incident was outside of the park.
Park staff will continue to provide logistical support to Apache County
in accessing the site as needed. [Greg Caffey, ACR, PEFO, 10/5]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 2

Two Type 1 teams are assigned to FEMA to support operations in New York
City:

Lohrey's team is managing warehouse operations at Pier 36 and three
distribution centers in New York City.

Bateman's team is being replaced by Stam's team. The transition began on
Monday and is expected to take several days. The team is deployed at
both the Duane Street Fire Station and Jacob Javits Convention Center.
Demobilization of the operations at the Javits Center continues.
Equipment support for Office of Emergency Management operations is being
transferred to Pier 36.

Initial attack was light nationwide on Sunday. Very high to extreme fire
indices were reported in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

Park Fire Situation

John Day Fossil Beds NM (OR) - The park completed a 1,300-acre
prescribed burn on October 2nd. Helicopter ignition was used on park
land during the peak burning period. Cooperation with adjoining private
landowners, state and federal agencies meant that no soil disturbance or
constructed line was needed to safely contain the fire. The park is
located in the high desert ecosystem of eastern Oregon, where fire has
been a key ecosystem process and where natural fire historically
occurred every 12 to 15 years. Fire had not burned the 1,300-acre parcel
in at least 40 years, so dangerous levels of fuel had accumulated. The
main objectives of the fire were to reduce sagebrush and western juniper
and rejuvenate native bunchgrasses, and those objectives have evidently
been attained. Personnel from the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest
Service,  the Oregon Department of Forestry, and local fire contractors
all assisted with the fire. There were no injuries and little property
and equipment damage.

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Three sizeable fires continue to burn in the
park; all are being managed for resource benefits. Although cold
temperatures were recorded throughout the park late last week, the dry
air and abundant direct sunlight caused increased fire activity on all
three fires, which grew a total of 40 acres. Acreages were as follows as
of Friday evening - Sulphur fire, 3,690 acres; Little fire, 430
acres; Flat fire, 10 acres.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 10/8; Jim Hammett,
Superintendent, JODA, 10/4; Steve Petrick-Underwood, YELL, 10/5]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Address to All Employees by Director - Director Mainella will make
her first live TEL Town Hall address to the National Park Service work
force on Wednesday, October 10th, at 1 p.m. EDT. She will share some
thoughts about the first three months of her appointment, including the
on-going effects upon the Service of the recent terrorist attacks.
Director Mainella will also introduce newly appointed Deputy Director
Don Murphy during her address. Only TEL station sites will be able to
receive this event.  Currently, there are over 50 such stations
installed across the Service, and 50 more have begun the installation
process. TEL station coordinators should record the program for
employees not able to attend the live event. Copies of the program will
be mailed to all park units and offices soon after the event.  For the
most current list of TEL station locations, consult the TEL website at
http://www.telnps.net/. Your TEL station coordinator must register your
site by going on-line to this website. Individual employee registrations
are not needed. For additional information, contact Jim Boyd, TEL
coordinator, Stephen T. Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425.
Telephone him at 304-535-6401 or send an email to jim_boyd@nps.gov.
[Joyce Howe, STMA]

Uniform Ordering - Effective immediately, employees may resume
ordering uniform components from Uniform Solutions. The contract has
been extended and funded for FY 2002. [Randy Coffman, RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

"Contributions to Relief Efforts," signed on October 5th by Director
Mainella and sent to all employees. The full text follows:

"Many of you have contacted your supervisors and managers with inquiries
about how to contribute to relief efforts and to our nation's response
to the attacks of September 11.  First and foremost, your contribution
to public service and our nation is renewed each day by performing the
duties of your position and ensuring that the National Park Service
continues to fulfill its mission and operate in an exemplary manner. 
Many employees also seek more tangible ways to express their sympathy to
the victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon by
contributing and participating in relief efforts.

"The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued guidance regarding
special relief funds targeted to the New York and National Capital areas
through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).  Further information on the
CFC and the special relief effort can be found on the OPM/CFC website at
www.opm.gov/cfc.  The website is updated daily with a list of
organizations assisting in disaster relief efforts.  Contributions may
be made directly to these organizations or by contacting the CFC of the
National Capital Area and the New York City CFC through contact
information on the OPM/CFC website.  Employees may designate a payroll
deduction and/or make a cash/check contribution to the organization of
their choice.

"Additionally, the Department of the Interior is working to develop a
special solicitation donation process.  At this time, no information on
the process is available.  However, the program and details of the
process will be announced on the Office of Personnel Policy website at
http://www.doi.gov/hrm/newhot.htm.  We suggest periodically checking the
site over the next few days for the announcement.

"There has been no formal solicitation for leave donations at this time.
 It is our understanding that no Federal agency with employees impacted
by the attacks has established any form of special leave donation
program, nor have they contacted OPM with regard to a governmentwide
effort.  We will update this information should there be a change.

"I greatly appreciate your efforts to assist those so greatly in need,
and to show again the generous and caring character of National Park
Service employees throughout the Nation."

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Cape Cod NS (MA) - Supervisory park ranger Gene Valli will be
retiring from the National Park Service shortly after 33 years of
service. Gene began his career with the NPS as a fire technician at Cape
Cod in 1968 following service in the United States Marine Corps and has
spent his entire career in the visitor and resource
protection/management field at Cape Cod NS. A celebration and pot luck
social for Gene and his wife Carolyn will be held on Saturday, October
20th, beginning at 5:30 at the United Methodist Church in Eastham,
Massachusetts. Anyone wanting to send along best wishes to Gene may do
so via cc:Mail to Kevin FitzGerald or via snail mail c/o Cape Cod
National Seashore, 99 Marconi Site Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667. [Kevin
FitzGerald, CACO]

Carlsbad Caverns NP/Guadalupe Mountains NP (NM/TX) - The parks'
administrative office is seeking a person for a detail as a GS-11 human
resources specialist. It is being offered at the GS-9 or GS-11 grade
level. There is no promotion for those at the GS-9 level, as the detail
will be for 30 to 60 days. Travel and per diem will be provided. Duties
in this job entail performing human resources specialist work in support
of several parks in southeast New Mexico and Texas. The administrative
office is located in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Duties include the full range
of staffing services for general schedule and federal wage system
positions within the employee's delegated authority. Other duties
include retirement counseling, compensation and OWCP. If you are
interested, please call human resources officer Diane Reed at
505-885-8884 ext. 19 or administrative officer Rodger Waters at
505-885-8884 ext. 21 - or send an email message with your name,
phone number, current position, title and grade. etc. [Diane Reed, CAVE]

Pinnacles NM (CA) - The park is currently advertising for a
GS-0401-11/12 resource management specialist. The announcement is on USA
Jobs (PGSO-01-143-MPP) and closes on October 24th. The 24,000-acre park
contains 13,000 acres of designated wilderness and over 32 miles of
trails. Elevations range from 1000 to 3000 feet and temperature extremes
range from below 15 degrees in winter to over 110 degrees in summer. No
housing is available, but housing is available in Hollister (32 miles
north) and in King City (28 miles south).  See www.sbcc.org and/or
www.kingcity.com for area information. Please contact Lori Frusetta at
831-389-4485 ext 227 for additional information. [Lori Frusetta, PINN]

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MEETING AND EVENTS CALENDAR

This calendar appears every other Monday as an addendum to the Morning
Report. Please note:

?	Entries are listed no sooner than FOUR months before an event,
except in cases in which registration dates close much earlier. 
?	Brevity in submissions is required and appreciated.
?	Please send along web sites for additional information where possible.
?	Asterisks (*) indicate new or revised entries. 

************************************************************************
**********************

October 15: NINTH ANNUAL LINCOLN SYMPOSIUM, Ford's Theatre NHS,
Washington, DC. The topic of this year's symposium will be the
conspirators. The program will feature an in-depth look at those people
who aided and abetted the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The
symposium is free and open to the public. No advanced reservation is
required. Seating is available on a first-come-first-serve basis. For
more information, call the park at 202-426- 6924. [Donna Birchard, NCR]

* October 27: "EISENHOWER PREPARES FOR WAR: SIXTH ANNUAL EISENHOWER
SEMINAR," Eisenhower NHS, Gettysburg, PA. Five noted authors/historians
will be giving presentations on Eisenhower's military career, leading up
to America's entry into World War II. Registration is $35. Interested
persons should contact Eisenhower NHS, 250 Eisenhower Lane, Gettysburg,
PA 17325, or call 717-338-9114. [Richard Lemmers, EISE]

October 29 - November 2: ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL PARK RANGERS
RENDEZVOUS XXV, Snow King Resort, Jackson Hole, WY. Twenty-fifth
anniversary Rendezvous, held at the site of the first Rendezvous back in
1977. The single/double rate is $85 plus tax. Condos (studio to four
bedrooms) are available if you want to share accommodations. 
Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-522-KING (mention the group
name: National Park Rangers). The block will expire three weeks prior to
the  start of the RR, so reservations should be made early. Check the
website at www.snowking.com. For details on the program, check ANPR's
web site at http://www.anpr.org/agenda.htm.

November 4 - 5: NATIONAL INTERPRETERS WORKSHOP, Des Moines, IA. For
more information, contact Brook McDonald at brookmcd@ais.net. [Sheila
Lee, NCRC/WASO]

* November 5 - 6: POSTPONED UNTIL THE SPRING: SECOND ANNUAL
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE ERGONOMICS CONFERENCE, Westfield Marriott,
Chantilly, VA. All interested parties in the federal, state, local and
private sector are invited. Conference information can be found at:
http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/ergowg/conference/. [Tom Cherry, FLETC]

*  *  *  *  *

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hub coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on the web at
http://www.nps.gov/morningreport

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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