Grand Canyon National Park (AZ)
Attempted Arson at El Tovar
Employees working for the contractors renovating the historic El Tovar hotel reported smelling smoke in a hallway around 10 p.m. on January 11th. The park's fire brigade, rangers and a criminal investigator responded and found the ignition source in a crawl space. Initial investigation indicates that the fire was deliberately set. The hotel was closed for renovation at the time, but there were 51 contract employees in the building. The El Tovar, which opened its doors in 1905, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel will be closed until mid-April while renovations are completed. The investigation is ongoing. [Submitted by Karyl Yeston, South Rim Shift Supervisor]
Gettysburg National Military Park (PA)
Bronze Swords Stolen from Two Monuments
The park is currently investigating two separate incidents of theft of bronze swords from monuments on the battlefield. On January 20th, park staff discovered that a bronze sword had been stolen from the 8th Pennsylvania Cavalry monument on Pleasonton Avenue near the Pennsylvania Memorial. The theft is believed to have occurred sometime between January 17th and January 19th. Last September, a bronze sword was stolen from the Alexander Hays monument at Ziegler's grove near the Cyclorama parking area. The cost of replacing the swords and repairing the damage done to the monuments has been placed at $4,200 — an estimated $1,200 for the Hays monument, $3,000 for the cavalry monument. Anyone with information on the thefts should call the park at 717-334-0909. A reward of $1,000 is being offered through Adams County Crime Stoppers for information leading to an arrest and conviction. [Submitted by Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Specialist]
Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
Rescue of Injured Man from Longs Peak
A 28-year-old man from Aurora, Colorado, fell about 100 feet from the Narrows section of the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak around 10 a.m. on the morning of Thursday, January 20th, knocking himself unconscious. When he regained consciousness, he climbed and pulled himself back to the Keyhole Route, then crawled and hobbled four miles to Chasm Junction, resting at one point in the Agnes Vaille Shelter near the Boulderfield. A local guide and his client heard cries for help around 6:30 p.m. that evening, found the man, and notified the park. A group of rescuers reached him just before midnight. Eight members of the park's staff and nine members of Larimer County SAR stayed with him through the night. Plans to fly him out at sunrise the next morning had to be scratched due to high winds, so he was evacuated by a litter team, then taken by ambulance to Estes Park Medical Center. He was stable and alert with numerous injuries at the time of the report. [Submitted by Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Specialist]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Denali National Park & Preserve (AK)
GS-025-11 Supervisory Park Ranger (Protection)
The park is seeking qualified candidates for a permanent full-time district ranger position. An announcement has opened on USA Jobs and closes on February 9th. The person in this position supervises the law enforcement and emergency services program in the Corridor District on the north side of the Alaska Range. Between late May and mid-September, work is focused in frontcountry areas along the 95 miles of park road between the Parks Highway and Kantishna. Broad and well-developed ranger skills, initiative, and demonstrated leadership/supervisory ability are essential to success in the position. The salary includes a 25% tax free cost of living allowance (COLA) and there is no state income or sales tax. This is a required occupancy position, with housing located at park HQ. The position is subject to mandatory drug testing and is covered by 6 (c). Relocation expenses will be paid. For more information, contact chief ranger Peter Armington at 907-683-9521.
[Submitted by Peter Armington, Chief Ranger]
Fire and Aviation Management
Sandy Cowin Receives National Fire Management Award
Sandy Cowin, fire program management assistant at Ozarks National Scenic Riverways, was honored with the first annual Jeanie Harris Award at the Midwest Region fire management conference held the week of January 10th in Omaha, Nebraska. The award was established to honor Jeanie Harris' legacy of service. As the fire budget analyst in the Intermountain Region's Fire and Aviation Management Office, Jeanie exemplified professionalism, served as a mentor to many and was respected by all. This award was created to commemorate Jeanie, who passed away after a brief and sudden illness in 2004. Nominated by her colleagues, Sandy's selection was based on her outstanding performance, impeccable work ethic, dedication to team and group work efforts, her upbeat attitude which is accentuated by her sense of humor and her ability to persevere in challenging situations with grace and dignity. Although recognized for these exceptional qualities, Sandy's contributions to the national fire program were duly noted. Under Sandy's guidance, a web-based fire program management assistant (FPMA) reference handbook was developed, so that across the country, her peers could access critical information quickly and more efficiently. She also participated in developing FPMA training guidelines, serves as a charter member of the FPMA steering committee, has been a member of the national FirePro steering committee since 1995, and assisted with review, development, and modification of the FirePro budget analysis logic. In summary, one of her co-workers said it best by stating: "Like Jeanie Harris, Sandy is a quilter — both literally and figuratively. She has stitched together integrity, innovation, a positive attitude, an incomparable work ethic, and a love of what she does and who she does it for to set an example for us all." Additional information regarding this award, including the selection process and the required nomination form, may be found on InsideNPS at the NPS Fire and Aviation Management page located at: http://inside.nps.gov/waso/waso.cfm?prg=674&lv=3
[Submitted by Sue Vap, sue_vap@nps.gov, 208-387-5225] More Information...
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.