Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park (GA)
DEA Aircraft Makes Forced Landing In Park
A single-engine Cessna made an emergency landing in an open field in the park around 3:40 p.m. on Wednesday, January 31st. The Cessna is owned and operated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the pilot was able to land safely without damage to the plane, injury to the three occupants, or any damage to the park. The field is not frequented by park visitors. The pilot said that the engine died shortly after takeoff from McCullom Field. Park staff responded along with representatives from the NTSB, FAA, DEA and Cobb County Police Department. A decision was made to leave the plane in the park until DEA and FAA could get sufficient vehicles to the site to properly remove the plane. On February 2nd, the Cessna was moved by crane and transported back to McCullom Field, which is only a couple of miles away. [Submitted by L.R. Morris, Chief Ranger]
Natchez Trace Parkway (AL,MS,TN)
Car Stop Results In Drug Seizure
On the evening of January 5th, supervisory park ranger Joe Mangino stopped a 2003 Ford Expedition for speeding near milepost 122. During the subsequent interview, the driver and front seat passenger offered significantly different stories about where they'd come from and where they were going. While Mangino was talking to the driver outside of the vehicle, one of the passengers — S.T., 31, of Tupelo, Mississippi — exited the vehicle and fled on foot with a package into nearby woods. Mangino called for backup and secured the remaining passengers. When ranger Rachel Strain and local police units arrived, a search for S.T. was begun. He was found about a mile away in the Riverbend picnic area. A K-9 unit later found the package, which contained two pounds of marijuana. Charges are pending, including fleeing and eluding and possession with intent to distribute. [Submitted by Allen S. Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Midwest Region
Superintendent Ron Switzer Calls It Quits
Ronald R. Switzer, superintendent of Buffalo National River, retired on January 3, 2007, capping a nearly 40-year career with the National Park Service. Ron's assignments took him full-circle from the Midwest, to the Southwest, to the Southeast, and back to the Midwest to end a noteworthy career.
Switzer's love for the national parks developed during his first seasonal job as an archeological interpreter at >Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado, while a student at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. He received his first permanent assignment with the NPS in 1970 as a museum specialist at the Midwest Archeological Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. Quickly rising through the ranks, he became the center's chief in 1972.
Switzer became the youngest superintendent in the NPS at age 28 when he returned to Mesa Verde later in 1972. While at Mesa Verde, he also oversaw the operation of Hovenweep and Yucca House National Monuments in Colorado and Utah.
From 1979 to 1987, Switzer served at the Southwest Regional Office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, first as regional chief of operations evaluation. He was promoted to associate regional director for state and local affairs, then served as executive assistant to the regional director. In 1987, he transferred to Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve, Louisiana, as assistant superintendent; then to Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas, as superintendent. Switzer wrapped up his career with assignments as superintendent at Mammoth Cave in 1995, moving to Buffalo National River in 2005.
Switzer received many honors throughout his employment with the National Park Service, including the Department of the Interior Meritorious Service and Superior Service awards for longstanding exceptional service to the NPS. He received awards for outstanding contributions to outdoor recreation, and distinguished service in conservation, including the William Hornaday Gold Medal. He was instrumental in establishing the Texas and Kentucky Federal Agency Tourism Councils, and the Southeast Tourism Policy Council of the Southeast Tourism Society for which he received the coveted Chairman's Shining Example Award for outstanding contributions to tourism at the federal level.
Ron and his wife Deborah will make their home in Enid, Oklahoma during their retirement. Their many interests: cooking, gardening, writing, painting, and building furniture, will keep them busy.
[Submitted by Douglas A. Wilson, (870) 741-5446 x 251]
Redwood National and State Parks
Barb Pfahning Retires
After almost 32 years of federal service and serving as the secretary for eight NPS and California state park superintendents at Redwood National and State Parks, Barbara Pfhaning retired on February 2nd.
Barb began her NPS career at Redwood in 1976. She started her employment in the position of clerk typist for the newly formed division of natural resources. Barbara moved on to be a personnel assistant for the division of administration. In 1987, Barbara assumed the position of secretary to the superintendent, becoming the third person in the park's history to fill that position. Through her tenure in that position she has worked with NPS superintendents Doug Warnock, Bill Ehorn, Andy Ringgold, Bill Pierce, and briefly, Steve Chaney. In addition, Barb has also served as secretary to California state park superintendents Rick Sermon, Marilyn Murphy, and Bruce Lynn.
As Barbara looks back on a great career she says she "always believed in the mission." It has been the dedicated people she has worked with that she has most enjoyed. She feels she has certainly worked "for the crème de la crème" of government agencies. Barb has enjoyed seeing the growth and impact that the resource management division has had in protecting the park.
Barb and her husband, Roger, plan to remain in Crescent City, California and enjoy more time with each other and the opportunity to travel. First up this spring is an extended trip to Alaska.
[Submitted by Rick Nolan, Rick_Nolan@nps.gov, 707-465-7304]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type;=Announcements&id;=3363All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office. The former will be forwarded to the appropriate staff in WASO.