01-001
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
Follow-up on Assault on Ranger
On January 1, 2001, ranger Bo Stone attempted to arrest K.W.,
26, on outstanding warrants and for possession of a stolen
vehicle. K.W. resisted arrest and fled. An intensive search was
launched, but he wasn't found until a month later, when he was captured
by local police. K.W. pled guilty in federal district court to
felony assault on a federal officer (18 USC 111) and has been sentenced
to twelve months in prison and three years of supervised probation. He
will serve this sentence concurrently with sentences on a number of
charges filed by the county for crimes committed outside the park.
[Submitted by Robert E. Stinson, District Ranger, Saguaro
NP]
02-477
New River Gorge National River (WV)
Drug Arrest and Conviction
On September 13, O.C., 48, of Hinton, West Virginia, was found
guilty on one count of sales and distribution of OxyContin, a controlled
substance. O.C. was arrested in a multi-agency drug enforcement operation
that was begun in September, 2000. Rangers and the park's special agent
participated in the year-long investigation, which focused on drug sales
in both the park and surrounding communities. As a result of this
investigation, 26 people were arrested for sale and distribution of
OxyContin. Also involved in the operation were Hinton police and state
troopers. O.C. was the ringleader of the distribution operation and lived
within the park. The state court trial took three days, but the jury
needed only ten minutes of deliberation to reach a verdict. O.C. was the
last of the 26 tried in this case. All but one of the 26 have been found
guilty. O.C. will be sentenced in late October to between one and 15
years in prison.
[Submitted by Chris Schrader, Special Agent,
New River Gorge NR]
02-478
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
Assist on Felony Arrest for Carjacking and Kidnapping
On the afternoon of August 23, the Pima County Sheriff's Department
asked the park for help in searching for two men who were involved in a
carjacking and kidnapping incident near the park. The pair had bailed
out of their vehicle and fled on foot into the desert to the west of the
park. Ranger Brian Rutledge helped deputies setup a search for the men.
Within five minutes, Rutledge spotted one of them and made a felony
arrest with backup from a deputy who arrived on scene. The man was
turned over to the sheriff's department and was subsequently charged
with attempted murder and aggravated assault.
[Submitted by
Robert E. Stinson, District Ranger, Saguaro NP]
02-479
Richmond National Battlefield Park (VA)
Natural Resource Violation
Ranger Barry Krieg saw a pickup truck parked off-road adjacent to the
Fort Gilmer area of the park on June 30 and discovered that park
neighbor C.L. had illegally cut brush on park land and had broken
open a wooden park gate to provide a second access to his private
property off a park tour road. A damage assessment of the site was
conducted by NER archeologist Allen Cooper and park natural resource
management specialist Kristen Allen. They determined that 20 trees of
varying size and species had been cut down, including two pine trees
that had had their stumps ground down. On September 10, C.L. was found
guilty of destruction of government property and natural resources. He
was ordered to pay the park $1,230 in restitution for the damage he'd
inflicted. C.L. contended in court that he had deeded access from the
park road to his private property, but investigation of past deeds
revealed no official ingress or egress to his property. The money will
be placed in the park's resource protection account for future research
and recovery projects.
[Submitted by Tim Mauch, Supervisory
Park Ranger, Richmond NBP]
02-480
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Drug Interdiction and Seizure
On September 14, rangers tracked a number of Mexican narcotics
smugglers into the park. Two were found and detained. Upon discovering
numerous stashed marijuana bundles, the rangers contacted Customs for
air support. No other apprehensions were made. Rangers seized 356 pounds
of marijuana.
[Submitted by Jon Young, Park Ranger, Organ
Pipe Cactus NM]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
National Fire Situation
Preparedness Level 2
Initial attack continues to be light nationwide. Only 50 new fires were reported yesterday, and none escaped initial attack. Three large fires were contained.
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in the following states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon and South Dakota.
National Resource Commitments
| Day |
Thu |
Fri |
Sat |
Sun |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
Thu |
| Date |
9/12 |
9/13 |
9/14 |
9/15 |
9/16 |
9/17 |
9/18 |
9/19 |
| Crews |
114 |
103 |
99 |
91 |
88 |
96 |
87 |
116 |
| Engines |
196 |
175 |
243 |
202 |
192 |
173 |
217 |
315 |
| Helicopters |
62 |
46 |
44 |
47 |
50 |
35 |
40 |
33 |
| Air Tankers |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Overhead |
1,615 |
1,025 |
1,330 |
1,251 |
1,046 |
1,013 |
955 |
969 |
National Team Commitments
| State |
Type Team |
Team IC |
Fire/Location |
Acres 9/18 |
Acres 9/19 |
Percent Contain |
Est. Full Contain |
| WA |
FUMT |
Cones |
Quartz Mountain Complex, Okanogan NF |
5,835 |
5,889 |
0 |
UNK |
[Submitted by NICC Incident Management Situation Report]
Park Fire Situation
No reports today.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Zion National Park (UT)
GS-7/9 Interpretive Ranger
Dates: 09/23/2002 - 10/04/2002
The park has an opening for a GS-7/9 interpretive park ranger. The announcement will be open from September 23 through October 4. The park, which receives over two million visitors a year, opened a new visitor center and shuttle system in 2000 and a new museum in 2002. They are seeking someone with strong interpretive skills and significant knowledge of AV operations. The person in the position will plan, prepare, and present original interpretive programs, including short talks, guided hikes, shuttle tour talks, and evening programs; coordinate day-to-day operations of two information desks (visitor center and museum) and staffs desks; manage AV and electronic equipment for the division, including slide and video projectors, DVD and video players, PA and sound equipment, and five traveler information stations (TIS); and train staff in operation of the visitor center, museum, and AV equipment. The position may be filled at full performance GS-9 or developmental GS-7 grades. If filled at the GS-7 level, the person selected could be promoted to GS-9 when full performance objectives are met. Zion has a desert climate with extreme high temperatures in summer of 110 degrees or more. The position is subject to furlough in the winter. Housing is not available in the park, but the person selected may bid on housing as it becomes available. For more information, please contact Tom Haraden, assistant chief of interpretation and visitor services, at 435 772-0161.
[Submitted by Tom Haraden, Zion NP]
Office of International Affairs
Park Planner and Landscape Architect Needed for Assignment in Qatar
Note: The participation of the NPS team on this project is contingent on State Department approval, which should be forthcoming by COB September 23, 2002. The trip may be cancelled or postponed depending on current events. However, interested candidates are encouraged to apply in the event the trip does indeed take place as planned.
The National Park Service Office of International Affairs is seeking a Park Planner and a Landscape Architect to participate in a two-week international assignment to Qatar (October 20 - November 2, 2002). Qatar is a small peninsula adjacent to Saudi Arabia and near Bahrain. The selected individuals will travel with an already selected NPS Resource Manager to assist the Qatari government with the development of its first national park. The NPS team members will work with the Qatar State Environmental Department and Qatargas to:
1. Assist with the establishment of the park boundaries;
2. Determine suitable uses and access restrictions for people, vehicles, and/or domestic animals;
3. Conduct resource baseline surveys;
4. Establish goals/functions of the park; and
5. Assist with Park Planning & Management goals for the park.
The "Inland Sea," the area selected by the Qatari government for its first national park, is a large tidal bay stretching nearly 25km into the interior. Relatively shallow for the most part, the bay includes a few small rocky islands and large expenses of inter-tidal flats. The interior of the park contains extensive and mobile dunes 30-40m in elevation.
Candidates need the permission of their supervisors in order to participate. Ideally, since they may be called upon to answer a wide-range of park related questions, the candidates should have strong backgrounds in park planning or landscape architecture, and other associated skills such as GIS, community partnerships, ecology, geology, cartography, interpretation, and good verbal and writing skills. Candidates who work in parks with similarities to the Inland Sea are encouraged to apply as are those who may not have had an opportunity to travel before internationally.
Accommodations will generally be in a hotel located near the Inland Sea but the team may have to spend several nights camping. Candidates should be willing and able to "rough it" occasionally and should expect temperatures from 55F to 90F. Team members cannot bring any alcoholic beverages or pork products into the country with them.
Because of the time restrictions needed for approval for international travel, all interested candidates need to submit a resume, SF 171, SF 612, and/or enter their skills on the NPS International Affairs Skills Roster (www.nps.gov/skroster) by COB September 24, to David Krewson (david_Krewson@nps.gov) or fax (202) 371-1446. Arabic language skills are not necessary, as Qatargas will provide an interpreter. Selections will be made by COB September 25 to allow for sufficient approval time and processing of travel forms. Qatargas will cover all travel costs and in-country expenses, however salaries must by covered by the park or unit of the selected individual.
[Submitted by David Krewson, David_Krewson@nps.gov, 202-354-1807]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.