|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, November 26, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Glacier NP Search For Missing Seasonal Employee Scaled Back A week-long search for missing seasonal employee Clay Rubano, 46, in the Wind River Range in Wyoming was scaled back last Monday, November 19th. Rubano worked as a backcountry permit writer in Many Glacier from 2001 to 2006 and remains an intermittent employee for the park. He was working for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and was reported missing when he failed to report for work on the 12th. Rubano was thought to be planning a hike above the falls of the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie River, and his car was discovered at a nearby trailhead. Fremont County Search and Rescue actively searched for Rubano for seven days, utilizing ground searchers, dog teams and helicopters. Given that Rubano is an expert outdoorsman and was likely well prepared for his intended hike, searchers believe that something "unusual" happened. The park committed a CISM peer support/family liaison councilor to the incident to support Rubano's spouse, Rachel Jenkins, who has worked as a bear ranger in Many Glacier for 12 seasons. Jenkins was working in Many Glacier when she learned of Rubano's disappearance. In addition to the CISD councilor, numerous current and former NPS employees traveled to the Lander area to volunteer to assist in the search. Some of them continued looking for Rubano after the search was scaled back. The Fremont County Sheriff's Office will continue to investigate the disappearance. Volunteer efforts in Lander last week were coordinated by Lake Roosevelt NRA chief ranger Margaret Goodro. A media report on the search can be found at the link below. [Patrick Suddath, West Lakes District Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.trib.com/articles/2007/11/20/news/wyoming/787194f244ce27db87257399000118e0.txt" http://www.trib.com/articles/2007/11/20/news/wyoming/787194f244ce27db87257399000118e0.txt Santa Monica Mountains NRA Three Historic Structures Lost In Wildland Fire Three historic buildings within the park were destroyed by a wildland fire on the morning of Saturday, November 24th. The structures were in the Solstice Canyon area of Malibu, just north of the Pacific Ocean. The Corral Fire, the cause of which is under investigation, had burned 4,720 acres and destroyed at least 50 homes as of yesterday morning. Although it is within the boundaries of the park, most of the land that has burned is not managed by the National Park Service. It's estimated that 700 to 800 acres of federal land has been affected. Two of the three buildings were park residences - one served as the park's dormitory and had five occupants. An unoccupied building adjacent to the dorm was also destroyed. They were built between 1960 and 1963 by TRW, an aerospace contractor that conducted scientific research on satellites with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the site. The other was a single family dwelling occupied by two dual-career employees. It was originally constructed in 1865 and was considered to be the oldest existing stone building in Malibu. Everyone was evacuated safely. Its estimated that the fire arrived at this location within the first three hours after it started. All the residents are either staying with friends or have been provided lodging for the short term. There is some vacant park housing available; other options are being considered to ensure that everyone is comfortably accommodated in the future. The initial steps to establish an assistance fund are being considered, and more information will follow within the next several days. Damage assessments (both for structures and for resources) have already begun. A special events and tactical team (SETT) has arrived in the park to assist with security and continue patrols until the fire weather eases. Click on the link below for a photo. [Marty O'Toole, Fire Education, Prevention and Information Specialist] HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3619" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=3619 San Francisco Bay Area Parks Oil Spill Cleanup Operations Scale Back On the afternoon of Tuesday, November 20th, management of the Cosco Busan oil spill incident reverted back to the three involved parks - Golden Gate, Point Reyes and San Francisco Maritime - and the Western Incident Management Team demobilized. The team had been managing the incident since November 17th. Some beaches still remain closed due to the need for additional cleanup, but may others reopened the weekend before last. Aquatic Park in San Francisco Maritime reopened on November 21st. Additional oil was expected on area beaches over the Thanksgiving holiday due to predicted high tides, so some closures may have been reinstated. [Adrienne Freeman, Park Ranger] Baltimore-Washington Parkway Police Impersonator Arrested A local, off-duty police officer was traveling on the parkway around 3 a.m. on November 9th when a white Ford Crown Victoria with flashing red/blue emergency lights pulled in behind him, with the operator broadcasting over a PA system. The car did not have government tags, and the officer suspected that it was being driven by a police impersonator. The officer accordingly called for assistance, and USPP officer Adam Zielinski responded. When he broadcast his location as approaching an exit, the suspect vehicle veered off on the exit. Zielinski's initial effort to stop him proved unsuccessful, but the driver finally pulled over. When he got out of his vehicle, Zielinski saw that he was wearing a police tactical vest and was carrying a semi-automatic pistol in the vest. Zielinski drew his pistol and ordered the man to show his hands. He ignored the commands, said he was a police officer, put his hands in his pockets, and pulled out a badge. Zielinski then took him into custody. Investigation revealed that the man was a local armed security guard with no police authority within NPS jurisdiction. His vehicle was searched and found to contain police lights, sirens, police scanners, a shotgun, a stun gun with ammunition, an ASP baton, a hat and jackets with the word “POLICE” on them, and other assorted equipment. He was charged with impersonating a police officer and with weapons offenses. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]
OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external): Workforce Management - The new draft NPS Workforce Plan has been completed and posted to the web for employee review. A link to the document is provided. Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6005" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6005 Director's Office - The National Park Service has announced the appointment of Cartina Anne Miller to serve as the Service's competitive sourcing program manager. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1752" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1752 Washington Office - Director Bomar has announced a career development opportunity program in the Washington Office. WASO is seeking highly-skilled, permanent NPS employees interested in serving on details or in temporary promotions to various GS-12, GS-13, GS-14 and GS-15 positions. These assignments will generally range from 60 to 120 days and will include travel and per diem, as appropriate. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3060" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3060 HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3059" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3059 * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |