Outer Banks Group
Parks Closed Today Due to Winter Storm
All facilities in parks in the Outer Banks Group - Cape Hatteras NS,
Fort Raleigh NHS and Wright Brothers NM - are closed today due to a
significant winter storm. Roads and bridges are covered with snow and
ice, and forecasters are predicting that between eight and ten inches of
snow will fall on the Outer Banks by noon. Gale warnings have also been
forecast, and Pamlico Sound may flood Hatteras Village and Ocracoke
Island as the storm moves to the northeast. Temperatures are expected to
remain in the 20s today and drop into the teens tonight, with wind chill
values near zero. The Outer Banks Group activated its ICS plan yesterday
afternoon; Jeff Cobb is IC. All non-emergency staff have been released
for the day today.
[Submitted by Paul Stevens, Law Enforcement
Specialist]
Northeast Region
Memorial Service for Cynthia Wilkerson
Cynthia Wilkerson, the environmental quality coordinator for the
Philadelphia Support Office in Northeast Region, passed away on Monday,
January 20, following a prolonged battle with cancer. Memorial services
for Cynthia will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, at Bruce
Hawkins Funeral Home, 6828 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19126
(215-549-9910). The funeral home is located on Old York Road between
68th and 69th Streets, a block east of Broad Street. A memorial fund for
Cynthia has been arranged with the World Wildlife Fund to support
efforts to protect the North American grey and red wolves, species that
had a special significance to her. If you're interested in contributing,
send a check to the World Wildlife Fund with a note mentioning that the
contribution is in memory of Cynthia Wilderson. The funds will be
automatically sent to the organization's wolf protection programs. The
fund will send back a receipt. Contributions should be sent to World
Wildlife Fund, Attn: Member Donations, 1250 24th Street, NW, Washington,
DC 20037.
[Submitted by David Reynolds, NERO]
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Park Staff Assist on Fatal Aircraft Accident
During a snowstorm on January 8, a twin-engine Piper PA-23 with four
people on board disappeared from radar near Flagstaff, Arizona.
Following three days of fruitless efforts by local searchers, the
Coconino County Sheriff's Office contacted the park and asked for
assistance. Alpine SAR and overhead personnel from the park were
dispatched to the area and assisted in search operations over the course
of several days. More than 290 people - including 130 Arizona National
Guard soldiers - were deployed in the ground search. The search area
stretched over 85 square miles, but searchers focused primarily on the
San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. On Sunday, January 19, a hiker
spotted the plane's wreckage, which was at 9,000 feet on Schultz Peak -
outside of the primary search area. All those on board had perished in
the crash. The Piper had been en route from Las Vegas to Midland, Texas.
Passengers included M.P., a former rodeo cowboy turned minister
and head of the Cowboy Church of the American West in Midland, and
several members of his family. Media attention and interest from members
of the church was extremely high. Sixteen park staff assisted directly
in the operation. Ken Phillips served as agency representative.
[Submitted by Ken Phillips, SAR Coordinator]
Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD)
Anti-War Demonstration
On Saturday, January 18, about 50 people gathered in the park under
the terms of a permit for an anti-war demonstration - or, in the words
of the organizer, a "peace gathering." The demonstration was peaceful
and lasted about two hours. Local media covered the event. Rangers
monitored the assembly, but there were no significant incidents.
[Submitted by Mike Pflaum, Chief Ranger]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Drug Interdiction
On January 18, rangers tracked a group of suspected drug smugglers to
the southern edge of Tillotson Peak in the park's backcountry. Ten
people were taken into custody at gunpoint with the assistance of Border
Patrol agents and an Arizona National Guard helicopter. Ten backpacks
containing a total of 40 package of marijuana were found nearby; the
total weight came to just over 461 pounds. Marijuana was also found on
the men and inside their campsite. They later admitted to having been
paid between $800 and $1,000 to deliver the load to State Route 86 a few
miles east of the town of Why, Arizona.
[Submitted by Bo Stone, Park
Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Zion National Park (UT)
GS-7/9 Park Ranger (Interpretation)
The park has an opening for a GS-7/9 park ranger (interpretation). The person hired to fill the position will work in the main canyon and conduct a full range of interpretive programs, including short talks, guided hikes, shuttle tours, and evening programs, and will staff the visitor center and museum. She/he will also assist with the publications program and maintain the park website. The park receives over 2.5 million visitors a year. The announcement is open until February 3 to status applicants only and is listed on www.usajobs.opm.gov (ZION-MERIT-03-28 (P)). For further information, contact Tom Haraden, assistant chief of interpretation, at 435-772-0161.
[Submitted by Tom Haraden]
Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
Seasonal GS-025-7 Climbing Ranger(s)
Qualified applicants are being sought to fill one or two seasonal non-commissioned GS-025-7 climbing ranger positions in the Longs Peak area in the park's Wild Basin District. Because of the technical nature of patrol requirements, search and rescue demands, and interface with the climbing community, applicants must complete a questionnaire that details climbing skills and experience. The season runs from approximately mid-May through late September. Announcement number ROMO-03-05, which opens today and closes on February 8, can be obtained at www.usajobs.opm.gov. Questions can be directed to personnel specialist Halah Mitchell at 970-586-1260 or district ranger Mark Magnuson at 970-586-1399.
[Submitted by Joe Evans, Chief Ranger]
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.