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Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Storms Cause Flooding, Damage
A series of Pacific storms have hit the parks over the past ten days, bringing flooding rains and high winds. Sustained winds as high as 50 mph for periods up to 24 hours, gusts over 90 mph, and rainfall of as much as 14 inches over the period have brought down many trees and caused localized flooding. A state park employee was injured on Friday, December 30th, when a tree fell on and crushed the GSA vehicle she was driving on Highway 101. She was flown to a hospital in Eureka with broken/chipped vertebrae in her back and a broken clavicle. Highway 101, the main road through the park, has been closed intermittently for periods up to 24 hours with flooding and downed trees. Many park roads are currently closed due to downed trees and several mud slides. All park campgrounds are closed. The last major wind event from this series of storms was on Tuesday. Damage assessment is ongoing and will be more extensive once winds die down and staff can safely conduct a thorough survey of storm impacts. [Submitted by Rick Nolan, Chief of Interpretation]
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Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (KY)
Arrest of Murder Suspect
On January 3rd, one of the park's rangers received a 'be on the lookout' message (BOLO) from a local police department regarding a wanted murder suspect. The man was being sought in the shotgun murder of his girlfriend in Maryland two days previously. Shortly after receiving the BOLO, the ranger spotted the man's truck in the park. She attempted to wait for backup, but he got out of his truck at a nearby service station. She took action, ordering him into a prone position at gunpoint until a Claiborne County deputy could arrive on scene. The man was charged with DUI, refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test, possession of an open container, and operating a vehicle with a revoked license. He is currently awaiting extradition to Maryland. [Submitted by Dirk Wiley, Lead Field Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
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Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
GS-025-11/12 Park Ranger (Law Enforcement Specialist)
Are you looking for promotion or a lateral reassignment to one of the best jobs (and parks) in the National Park Service? Do you like being involved in law enforcement and criminal investigations? Are you interested in working in an area with lots of action going on year-round? Then you should consider applying for this position. The law enforcement specialist works directly for the chief ranger and is based in the Ash Mountain (HQ) area. The LES serves as a resource protection and visitor management supervisor, with duties that include responsibility for the day-to-day supervision of the 24/7 dispatch center, serving as the staff advisor on LE issues, handling all tort claims, assisting the U.S. Attorney's Office with park court cases, overseeing the CIR system, acting as the CVB liaison, coordinating all park LE training and commissions, and completing quarterly and annual LE reports. It's not a quiet or boring job!
Government housing is not available, but housing to rent or own can be found just outside the park. There is usually no snowfall in the Ash Mountain area and winter temperatures range from 30 to 60 degrees. Schools are available in the immediate area of Three Rivers. Visalia, a larger community of over 100,000, is a 45-minute drive away and has an airport, cultural events, a large hospital, and all other needed services.
If you are interested in this position, please go to www.usajobs.opm.gov (#SEKI-06-17EE) for more information on the job, location, and application instructions, or contact acting chief ranger Greg Moss at 559-565-3710 or by email at greg_moss@nps.gov. This vacancy is until January 19th.
NOTE: If you are looking for a park with dual career opportunities, you've also come to the right place. Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks is experiencing a major shift in position management and is either advertising or are anticipating advertising the following jobs:
Office of the Superintendent
- Environmental protection specialist, GS-028-11 (Subject-to-furlough, term, not to exceed 1 to 4 years)
Division of Fire & Visitor Management
- upervisory revenue and fee business analyst, GS-1101-7/9 (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
- Lead visitor use assistant, GS-0303-06 (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
- Supervisory visitor use assistant, GS-0303-6/7 (Permanent, full-time)
- Supervisory visitor use assistant, GS-0303-06 (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
- Fee program assistant, GS-0303-5/6 (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
- Two visitor use assistants, GS-0303-04 (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
- Forestry technician, helitac crew, GS-0462-5 (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
Division of Maintenance & Construction
- roject manager, series and grade unknown (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
- Trails supervisor, WS-5201-09 (Permanent, full-time)
- Maintenance worker leader, trails, WL-4749-07 (Permanent, subject-to-furlough)
For information on any of these positions, contact Emily Edgar at 559-565-3751.
[Submitted by Greg Moss, Acting Chief Ranger]
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Intermountain Region
Remembering Randy Jones
A celebration and remembrance of Randy Jones' life will be held on Saturday January 28th, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the historic Crags Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. All of Randy and Julie's friends and co-workers are invited to attend and share their favorite memories of this good man. Opportunities to speak will begin at approximately 4 p.m. Please RSVP by January 10th to one of the following people if you will be able to attend: Kevin FitzGerald (303-969-2541, kevin_fitzgerald@nps.gov); Kyle Patterson (970-586-1363, kyle_patterson@nps.gov); or Cleve and Marty Pinnix (369-943-7836, twopaddles@comcast.net). Memorial contributions in honor and memory of Randy may be made to the National Park Service's Employee and Alumni Association, George B. Hartzog, Jr. Educational Loan Program, 470 Maryland Drive, Suite 1, Fort Washington, PA 19034, or to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203. [Submitted by A celebration and remembrance of Randy Jones' life will be held on Saturday January 28th, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the historic Crags Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. ]
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Midwest Region
Fred Suarez To Retire
Fred Suarez will be retiring on January 31st after more than 35 years with the National Park Service. Fred began his career on February 6, 1972, with the Army Corps of Engineers as an attorney advisor. His last 34 years has been with the National Park Service.
During his career with the National Park Service, he held several positions in operations while in the Midwest Regional Office, including attorney advisor, paralegal specialist, chief of concessions, and chief of land resources.
Fred and his wife, Patty, will remain in Omaha, where he will continue to be involved in several business ventures and travel periodically.
Lands will host a retirement coffee for Fred on January 26th. Everyone is invited to come and wish Fred success in his retirement.
If you would like to attend or send good wishes, please contact Doris Morrow (doris_morrow@nps.gov) or 402-661-1784 or Barney Olson (barney_olson@nps.gov) or 402-661-1786.
[Submitted by Doris M. Morrow, Realty Specialist]
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.