Mount Rushmore National Memorial (SD)
Death Of Park Employee Darrell Martin
Darrell Martin, the park's assistant chief of interpretation and American Indian liaison with the Lewis and Clark Trail National Historic Trail and Corps of Discovery II, died unexpectedly at his home early on the morning of Thursday, April 26th. Darrell was 41 years old. He began working for the National Park Service in November of 2004 with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. He moved to Mount Rushmore approximately two years ago, where he remained active with Lewis and Clark and with the park's interpretation program. Prior to working for the National Park Service, Darrell served as the chairman for the Gros Ventre Tribe of Montana. His wife, Z., and adult children survive him. He was full of life, full of energy, and touched everyone he met in a very positive way. Darrell was extremely proud to serve as a National Park Service ranger and to be part of the NPS family. Funeral services have been set for 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2nd, at the St. Paul Mission in Hays, Montana. Burial will follow next to his father on his home ranch in Montana. Darrell will go to his rest in a National Park Service uniform. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 4th, in the amphitheater at Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Notes of support may be sent to Darrell's wife, Z.M. [Submitted by Mike Pflaum, Chief Ranger]
Denali National Park & Preserve (AK)
Climbing Victim Identified As Past NPS Employee
The park has released the name of the climber who died on Mt. Wake on Monday, April 23rd. L.-K.K, 38, of Seattle, Washington, died from injuries sustained in a 1,000-foot fall that occurred while rappelling the technical Northeast Ridge. Her climbing partner did not directly witness the fall, and it remains unknown exactly what caused the rappelling accident. L.-K.K. — then L.B. — was a former seasonal climbing ranger and member of the search and rescue team at Mount Rainier NP. A current US Forest Service employee living in the Seattle area, she would often help with SAR missions at Mount Rainier during the fall, winter and spring. She and her husband, C.K., another former climbing ranger, last assisted the park in the search for two RMI guides in the winter of 2005. Mike Gauthier, the park's search and rescue coordinator, writes this about L.-K.K.: "She was an exceptional climber, snowboarder, surfer and world traveler. When choosing adventures, L.-K.K. always sought remote locations off the beaten path. She did not seek the spotlight, but was easily recognized as a leader amongst her friends. Her independent spirit touched many people, including people at Mount Rainier." [Submitted by Kris Fister, Public Affairs, Denali; Mike Gauthier, Search and Rescue Coordinator, Mount Rainier]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Death Of Park Employee George Belcher
George Belcher, the maintenance mechanic at Peaks of Otter, passed away suddenly at his home on Friday, April 20th. George was an extremely hard worker with a much admired "first in, last to leave" work ethic. His work at the park directly impacted the multitudes of visitors that passed through Blue Ridge Parkway each year. George was known to do anything he could to help anyone who needed it, which was quite apparent at the throng of friends, relatives, and co-workers who attended his "Celebration of Life" service on his hilltop farm. George served his country as a chief petty officer in the Coast Guard for 20 years before he came to the park as a maintenance mechanic. He referred to the park as "his dream job," and it certainly showed in his work and dedication to the job. As a long-time resident in Bedford, George was a true park neighbor. He is survived by his wonderful wife, M.L.R., whom, as George lovingly expressed, "made him complete." George will be greatly missed. He was a tremendous person and "Brother in Green and Grey." [Submitted by Lewis G. Prettyman]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
45
Remembering And Honoring Friends And Colleagues
Sadly, today's edition carries reports of three employee deaths, two of whom were current permanent employees — Darrell Martin at Mount Rushmore National Park and George Belcher at Blue Ridge Parkway — and one of whom was a former seasonal climbing ranger — L.-K.K., who worked at Mount Rainier. We mourn their passing.
The National Park Service has prepared comprehensive guidelines on line-of-duty employee deaths that also provide useful information for those who will be remembering and honoring them at funerals and/or park ceremonies. Those documents are readily available by clicking on the following link: http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=175&id=4370
If you need additional guidance or support, please contact Pat Buccello, the National Park Service's critical incident stress management program manager. She is available at her office (202-513-7131) or via cell phone (202-222-8720).
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site (CO)
Newest Unit Of National Park System Dedicated
On Saturday, April 28th, Director Mary Bomar helped dedicate the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site — the 391st unit of the National Park Service — on the site of the massacre, about 180 miles southeast of Denver, near Eads, Colorado.
Joining Bomar under brilliant blue Colorado skies were Carl Artman, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs, Former U.S. Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, U.S. Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Representative Marilyn Musgrave (R-C04), Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Darrell Flyingman, Governor of the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma, Eugene Little Coyote, Chairman of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, Richard Brannan, Chairman of the Northern Arapaho Business Council and scores of massacre representatives, tribal elders and other members of the public.
The site commemorates the spot where, on November 28, 1864, an encampment of Cheyenne and Arapaho, led by Chiefs Black Kettle, White Antelope, Yellow Wolf, Bear Tongue, War Bonnet, Lone Bear and others, was attacked by elements of a Colorado military detachment led by Col. John Chivington. More than 160 people, mostly Indian women, children and elders, were slain in the running battle. Chivington and some of his troops later paraded through the streets of Denver proudly displaying human body parts from the mutilated dead at the massacre.
Efforts to create the park have been ongoing for more than a decade and included three separate pieces of legislative authority. The NPS, in partnership with the four affiliated tribes, will now work to develop interim management and interpretive plans for site. The site will be open on a limited basis until final plans are approved.
NPS law enforcement authorities estimate that more than 2,000 people attended the dedication ceremonies. The Midwest incident management team, headed by Eddie Lopez, coordinated the planning for the event. This unit is the first dedicated under Bomar's tenure as director.
[Submitted by James Doyle, Public Affairs, Intermountain Region]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Two GS-0025-12 District Rangers
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is extending its vacancy announcement for two district ranger positions. The announcement, originally slated to close on April 30th, has been extended to May 11th. These positions are located in the Tennessee and North Carolina Districts respectively. The rangers selected will serve as district rangers for the Division of Resource and Visitor Protection at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. They will be responsible for:
- the direction and supervision of complex resource management and visitor protection programs within geographically spread out and heavily used ranger districts;
- formulating and executing long and short-range plans and directing work for complex district programs in search and rescue, emergency medical services, campground management, safety, personnel management, special park uses and parkwide law enforcement and wildland fire programs;
- developing management plans and operating procedures for implementation of these programs at the district or park level;
- supervising two GS-025-11 supervisory park rangers, and serving as second line supervisors to eight to fifteen GS-025-9 park rangers, one to four GS-025-5/7 seasonal park rangers, one GS-303-5 STF visitor use assistant, four to six GS-303-4 seasonal visitor use assistants and ten to twenty Volunteers-in-Parks.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in the states of North Carolina and Tennessee and encompasses 800 square miles, of which 95 percent are forested. The headquarters is located near the city of Gatlinburg. There are 16 peaks over 6,000' in elevation and up to 90" of rainfall spread throughout the year. The park has 10 campgrounds, 800 miles of horse and hiking trails, and 750 miles of fishable streams. The Smokies is within one day's drive for about a third of the U.S. population and thus attracts 9 to 10 million visitors annually, making it the most visited national park in the system. Climate is moderate, with average lows in the summer in the 60's and highs in the 80's and 90's and average lows in winter between 20 and 30 with highs in the 50's. Snowfall averages range from 5" in Gatlinburg to 11" in Bryson City.
Links to the announcements — GRSM0706 and GRSM 0707 — appear below:
http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=55897301&AVSDM=2007%2D04%2D25+10%3A22%3A57&Logo=0&q=Great+Smoky+Mountains&FedEmp=Y&sort=rv&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0
[Submitted by Bill Wright, Chief Ranger]
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;=3363
All reports should be submitted via email to Lane Baker in the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services in the Washington Office and to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with copies to your regional office.