Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (IN)
Update on Arrest of Serial Rapist
In March, a jury found J.W. guilty of raping a Hobart
woman in July, 2001. J.W. is charged with multiple rapes in Porter
County and elsewhere in Indiana and Illinois. At least three of the
rapes occurred within the park's boundaries (see "More Information"
below for the original report). J.W. is being prosecuted through
Porter County for those crimes. In the Hobart conviction, the judge told
J.W. that his behavior was "animalistic and depraved" and that he
considered him a "disgusting individual." The judge sentenced him to 120
years in prison. J.W. is awaiting trials in both Indiana and
Illinois. The park has offered investigative assistance as necessary.
[Submitted by Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger] More Information...
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Assault on Ranger
On the evening of April 12th, Yosemite Valley rangers responded to
Upper Pines campground to a report of a nude man who was harassing
campers. They found 23-year-old S.S. sitting on a picnic
table, attempting to wear his jeans like a shirt. He was wearing no
other clothing. S.S. was uncooperative and eventually took a swing at
one of the rangers, striking him in the eye. He was quickly subdued,
placed in custody, and charged with assault on a federal officer.
Further investigation revealed that S.S. had ingested hallucinogenic
mushrooms and smoked marijuana prior to the rangers' arrival. Witnesses
reported that S.S. had been acting lewdly when he was completely nude
and was yelling profanities in an adjacent campsite which was occupied
by a family that included two daughters, ages 12 and 14. S.S. was
further charged with lewd conduct and disorderly conduct.
[Submitted by Todd Bruno, Valley Assistant Shift Supervisor]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Fire and Aviation Management
National Aviation Advisory Group Seeks Members
April 14, 2005
Y14 (9560)
Memorandum
To: Regional Directors
Attn: Superintendents
Chief , United States Park Police
From: Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection
Subject: Recruiting for Positions on the National Aviation Advisory
Group (NAAG)
Nominations due: May 6, 2005
During FY 2005, the National Park Service (NPS) completed a national Aviation Strategic Plan. As a key component for implementation of the strategic plan, it has been determined that a standing advisory group is needed to provide leadership, coordination, advise and counsel on aviation related issues affecting us Servicewide. The group will be formally chartered and called the National Aviation Advisory Group (NAAG).
We are currently recruiting for the following vacant positions on this newly established group:
- Regional Chief Ranger
- Park Superintendent
- Field aviation operations experienced employee (SAR, Fire, Natural Resources)
Interested applicants should send an email message through their Regional Director that:
- Identifies the position for which they wish to apply.
- Provides basic contact information including: name, current title and grade, telephone and fax numbers, and park address.
- Briefly describes their past and current aviation management or operations responsibilities and experiences, and any other information they feel might be useful in helping assess their potential for helping the NPS aviation program.
- Provides an indication of their ability to absorb the costs for meeting attendance of one meeting per year of 1-3 days duration. (Candidates who cannot absorb these costs will not automatically be eliminated from consideration.)
Selection Process : Regional Directors are asked to forward their region's nominations to the Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection, Karen Taylor-Goodrich with a courtesy copy to National Aviation Manager, Bill Spruill. The Chief, Division of Fire and Aviation and the National Aviation Program Manager will review the pool of nominations and make recommendations to the Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection, who will make the final selection. New members will be notified as soon as possible and will be asked to attend the first NAAG meeting scheduled for June 7-9, 2005 .
Due Date : In order to facilitate the June meeting, please submit all nominations by May 6, 2005 . Electronic submissions are sufficient.
Thank you in advance for your interest in the NPS National Aviation Advisory Group and in improving the National Park Service's use of aviation resources. Interested persons are welcome to call Bill Spruill for additional information at (202) 513-7134.
[Submitted by Bill Spruill , bill_spruill@nps.gov, (202) 513-7134]
Fire and Aviation Management
2005 Pulaski Award Nominations
April 11, 2005
P4415 (9560)
Memorandum
To: Regional Directors
From: Associate Director, Visitor and Resource Protection
Subject: Pulaski Award
The Pulaski Award is a national annual award for outstanding contributions to wildland firefighting and America's wildland firefighters. The Pulaski Award nomination process is open and I invite you to submit a nomination on or before June 1, 2005.
Attached you will find a letter signed by the fire directors at the National Interagency Fire Center outlining the criteria and nomination instructions. Please take time to review the criteria for the Pulaski Award. Now is a great time to recognize the efforts of many of our employees and cooperators in the wildland fire arena.
Attachment
[Submitted by Sue Vap, sue_vap@nps.gov, 208-387-5225] More Information...
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found by clicking here. 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 Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.