NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, November 20, 2001



                        NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, November 20, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-611 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Pursuit; Felony Arrest

On November 15th, ranger Greg Moore attempted to stop a vehicle that 
was off road in a closed area. The driver refused to stop and fled 
from the park. Coconino County officers joined Moore and ranger 
Michael Gardiner in the pursuit. The registered owner was listed as 
wanted on federal and county felony warrants. The pursuit continued 
for over 15 miles and went from Highway 64 onto Forest Service roads, 
where the vehicle was finally stopped. The driver fled into the woods; 
the passenger was arrested on felony warrants. Arizona DPS units and a 
DPS helicopter assisted with the two-hour search for the driver, who 
is wanted for sexual assault on a minor. The investigation continues. 
[Steve Martin, Shift Lead, South Rim, GRCA, 11/19]

HOMELAND SECURITY

No new reports.

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack was light everywhere on Sunday. Most fires are close to 
full containment. 

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Indiana, Kentucky, 
North Carolina and Virginia. 

Park Fire Situation

Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - The Sharp fire had burned 5,800 
acres as of Sunday and was 40% contained. The park reports that the 
situation is good. Rain is expected this Friday and Saturday.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 11/19; NPS Situation 
Summary Report, 11/19]

INTERCHANGE

Zion NP (UT) - The park is researching the possibility of using the 
web to make backcountry permit reservations for the Subway, one of its 
popular day hike areas. The system would eventually be expanded into a 
web-based permit issuance system for all backcountry hikes -  day 
hikes, climbs, and overnight hikes. They would like to hear from any 
other park that is considering or has already used a similar system.  
Please contact Cindy Purcell via cc:Mail or at 435-772-0185. She's 
particularly interested in hearing from parks using the Wilderness 
Trakker permit system. If any areas using that system are also 
interested in web-based reservation or permit issuing system, Glosser 
Software has offered a package deal. [Cindy Purcell, ZION]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Morristown NHP (NJ) - The park is seeking candidates for a lateral 
transfer for a permanent GS-9 park ranger (protection) position. The 
ranger selected will be responsible for daily patrol by foot, vehicle 
and horse (the park has 26 miles of trails and fire roads). The park 
has many resource issues that rangers address on a regular basis, 
including hunting and fishing, boundary management, and protection of 
archeological sites. The park has recently reintroduced a mounted 
horse patrol program; although equestrian training is provided, 
experience with horses is desirable. The park offers excellent 
training opportunities and is seeking an individual who is interested 
in becoming an instructor in one or more law enforcement skills. 
Morristown NHP is located 30 miles west of New York City and consists 
of four separate geographic units totaling some 1700 acres.  This is a 
required occupancy position. For further information contact chief 
ranger Gregory Smith at 908-766-6841. [Gregory Smith, CR, MORR]

C&O Canal NHP (MD/DC) - The park is recruiting for two GS-5/7/9 
protection rangers; one will be stationed at Hancock, Maryland, the 
other at Cumberland, Maryland. The announcement is for all sources and 
is currently on USA Jobs. Those who might be interested in a lateral 
reassignment may submit applications to Dwight Dixon at PO Box 4, 
Sharpsburg, MD 21782. [Dwight Dixon, DR, CHOH]

Assateague Island NS (MD/VA) - The park is seeking candidates 
interested in lateral transfers to GS-9 law enforcement ranger 
positions. These are full-time positions which are covered under 
enhanced (6c) retirement. One position is in the Maryland District and 
one may be available in the Virginia District. The park offers a full 
spectrum of resource/visitor protection duties, including EMS and boat 
operations. Housing in the local communities is available and 
reasonably priced. Dual career opportunities currently exist in the 
Maryland District for visitor use assistants.  For more information 
contact, John Burns at 410-641-1443 ext. 223. [John Burns, CR, ASIS]

FLETC (GA) - National Park Ranger Integrated Training Program Class 
101 (NPRI-101) graduated from FLETC on November 15th. As the first 
class to receive training under the new program, the rangers 
established some very high standards for subsequent classes, with 
superior individual and group achievements. Art Gunzel (LAME) was top 
driver with a perfect 300 score, and one other ranger was recognized 
for perfect driving skills. Heath Soehn (GRSM) achieved a perfect 500 
score on the PEB, while eight other students scored above 95%. Ira 
Blitzblau (GRCA) was high firearms expert with a 298 out of a possible 
300 points; he was joined by six other rangers who qualified as expert 
shooters. Sarah Davis-Reynolds (INDE) was the class scholar with a 
97.01 academic average. She was joined by three other rangers who 
scored above 95% in the academic portion. The overall class average 
was an outstanding 91.74. Heath Soehn (GRSM) also received the class 
nomination for the FLETC Director's Award as the outstanding ranger of 
the class.  A new award, the NPS Director's Award, was begun with this 
new program. The award recognizes the graduating student who achieved 
the highest overall average of all integrated training phases without 
remediating any practical exercises. The inaugural recipient was Steve 
Martin (ISRO), who graduated with a 94.67 overall average. 
Congratulations to NPRI-101 - the new standard has been set. NPRI-201 
is currently at FLETC and in its third week of training. [Don Usher, 
WASO-FLETC]

FILM AT 11...

A one-hour broadcast of the 2001 World Rafting Championships held at 
New River Gorge NR/Gauley River NRA will be shown on the Outdoor Life 
Network (OLN) on Wednesday, November 21st, at 12:30 p.m. ET/PT and on 
Saturday, November 24th, at 5:00 p.m. ET/PT. See their web site 
(www.olntv.com) for additional information. [Gary Hartley, NERI]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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

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