Canyonlands National Park (UT)
Search Continues For Man Who Shot State Ranger
The manhunt for the suspect in the shooting of a Utah state ranger
continued yesterday, but no sign of him was found. Scores of searchers
are looking for 40-year-old L.A. for the wounding of
34-year-old Dead Horse State Park ranger Brody Young, who is currently
in critical but stable condition in a hospital in Grand Junction.
L.A. is also believed to be injured. Authorities plan to continue
the search Tuesday in the same area they've been in. They believe
L.A. is likely still alive and is still in the area. So far, ten NPS
employees have been involved in direct support of the search, while
another five have been employed to assist with backfill or other
logistical needs. Here's a summary of how the NPS has been assisting to
date: On Friday, seven rangers joined in the search, providing perimeter
security and planning and logistical support. On Saturday, rangers
utilizing park boats began inserting tactical teams into areas of high
probability along the Colorado River; meanwhile, other Arches and
Canyonlands rangers continued to provide perimeter security and planning
and logistical support. On Sunday and Monday, rangers provided river
operations support, perimeter security, and, again, planning and
logistical support. An NPS SET team has been requested for coming days.
For additional details, click on the link below to a current KSL News
story.
[Submitted by KSL News report; Mike Hill, Staff Ranger]
More
Information...
Blue Ridge Parkway
One Killed, Two Injured In Head-on Collision
On Wednesday, November 17th, a northbound vehicle crossed over the parkway's center line and collided head-on into a southbound vehicle near Milepost 387. The operator of the former and the operator and passenger in the latter were all injured and taken to Mission Hospital. The driver of the southbound vehicle — C.F.S., 83, of Asheville, North Carolina — succumbed to his injuries later that evening. Charges are pending. [Submitted by Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Intermountain Region
Len Dems To Retire
Leonard F. Dems, the fire and aviation officer for Intermountain Region, has announced his retirement, effective December 3rd. He has over 30 years of service in NPS.
Len started his career as a GS-3 park aid on the Grand Canyon North Rim 'Longshots' led by Steve Pyne in 1978. He received his bachelor of science degree in forestry and forest biology from the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science in 1980.
Following graduation, he rose to foreman of that crew as a GS-6 by 1984. He also served a stint at Santa Monica NRA as fire crew lead during the winter of 1981-82 under Rick Gale, the park's chief ranger. His fire acumen was demonstrated on several challenging fires during a period of fire policy evolution. He was recognized for his mechanical aptitude, work ethic, leadership during crisis, and teamwork with other echelons of the NPS.
His first permanent position was as fiscal clerk at Grand Canyon in September of 1984 as a GS-3. His time in administration provided him with the skills to grow with the expanding computer and software applications throughout his career. The NPS collaterally used his fire leadership as crew boss and incident commander for fires. He also was called to serve on all-risk incidents in several capacities --specifically, air operations (the concept of the emergency services militia he holds to this day as sound management practice).
Len got his first fanger position at Everglades as GS-5 in March of 1987. He attended FLETC and graduated with the highest marksmanship scores in his class. He transferred to Glen Canyon in 1988 as GS-7 protection ranger. Later that year, he led a fire crew to Yellowstone that was composed of interagency firefighters from the 'Color Country'.
Len was in the first wave of new fire management officers hired in the expansion of the NPS fire organization following the 1988 fire season. He was hired at Shenandoah National Park as a GS-7/9.
In May of 1993, he was promoted to the FMO position in Grand Teton NP as a GS-11, and subsequently as GS-12. His accomplishments included interagency cooperation and collaboration with both aviation and fire management activities. His work with the Forest Service has yielded benefits in efficiencies and good will to the present day. He was NPS agency lead for the Teton interagency fire organizations, and served as chair and NPS agency rep for the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) fire organizations.
Len was on the initial group that established the working capital fund for NPS fire, which modernized the fire fleet while providing a recurring way to replace aging equipment. This was done with BLM at the national level. In June of 2001. he was re-assigned to the Intermountain Region as GS-12 wildland fire specialist (vice Paul Gleason). The fire seasons were very active, and, as chair of the Rocky Mountain Coordinating Group in 2002, he had to adjudicate interagency controversies with good judgment, fairness and consistency for interagency policies.
He was promoted to GS-13 in June 2003. It was another hot fire season with increasing pressures for accomplishments in prescribed fire. Len was promoted to the regional FMO job as GS-14 in February 2005. He has held that job to this time. He is a respected leader in fire and aviation management by his organization, state cooperators, and the interagency federal fire agencies.
His red card reads Incident Commander T-2, Plans Chief T-2 and Prescribed Burn Boss Type 1, along with several other qualifications.
He served on interagency fire overhead teams throughout his career, as well as NPS all-risk overhead teams, notably during the Yosemite flood of 1997. He was instrumental in development of and participation with the original interagency wildland fire use teams. He has developed the configurations of the fire use modules and the Alpine Hotshots, based nearby in Rocky Mountain NP.
Other notable accomplishments include:
- original cadre for the first national prescribed burn boss course (RX-90)
- NPS representative and cadre member for advanced wildland fire applications (S-580)
- cadre on the course development for the fire program management course and the R-2 regional lead for its field presentation
- author of the original NPS business rules for the FIREPRO budget
- active member of the FIREPRO steering committee and engaged on numerous task groups and subcommittees
- chair and ongoing NPS representative to the R-1 coordinating group.
Len participated in numerous incident reviews, most notably the Cerro Grande Fire board of inquiry and Dutch Creek board of review and many others in the western States.
He and his wife, Jenny Dems, plan to continue residency in the Denver area as their two sons Cody and Dylan finish their schooling.
Intermountain Region
Dennis Carruth Named Superintendent Of Pecos
Dennis L. Carruth, currently the superintendent of Aztec Ruins NM, has been named superintendent of Pecos NHP. Carruth, a 32-year veteran of the National Park Service, will assume his new responsibilities on January 2nd.
"I am thrilled to be joining the team at Pecos," Carruth said. "This park is such an important part of New Mexico's history and heritage. My wife, Anne Coupland, and I are so glad to be staying in the state and moving on to a dynamic new part of it for us."
Carruth, who began his NPS career in 1978, has spent 19 of his 32 years of service in the parks of New Mexico. Before his eight-year stint as superintendent of Aztec Ruins, he was chief ranger at Capulin Volcano National Monument, site manager at Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, and resource management specialist at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
"Dennis brings deep experience and a broad array of park management skills to the job," said Regional Director John Wessels. "I know he will work with dedication to collaborate effectively with our friends, partners and public at Pecos, which is such a rich crossroads in the history and life of New Mexico."
Carruth also served as chief of operations at Bering Land Bridge National Preserve and was a park ranger at Canyon de Chelly National Monument. He is a graduate of the National Park Service's natural resources specialist training program.
As superintendent at Pecos, Carruth will manage about 6,670 acres, a staff of 20, and an annual operating budget of more than $2.2 million. He said it will be exciting to care for a site with 12,000 years of history.
"Pecos really has it all, from ancient pueblo ruins to a Spanish land grant, colonial missions, the Santa Fe Trail and 'Tex' Austin's Forked Lightning Ranch. And of course, there is Glorieta Pass, site of the western-most battle of the Civil War. It's the Gettysburg of the West."
For more on Pecos National Historical Park, visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/peco.
[Submitted by Patrick O'Driscoll, patrick_o'driscoll@nps.gov, 303-969-2839]Andersonville National Historic Site (GA)
GS-0025-9 Interpretive Ranger (Lateral)
Andersonville National Historic Site is seeking qualified candidates for a lateral reassignment to a GS-9 permanent, full-time interpretive ranger position. The person in this position will work in the park's National Prisoner of War Museum.
The park is seeking a ranger who possesses skills as a team leader, has a strong interpretive background, knowledge of American History, and a passion for innovation. Please submit application by close of business on Friday, December 3rd.
Duties:
- Plans and presents a variety of interpretative programs related to the Andersonville Prison in the Civil War, other prisoner of war camps in the Civil War, Andersonville National Cemetery, and the prisoner of war experience throughout American history.
- Plans, implements, and coordinates several annual special events with park staff.
- Assists the chief of interpretation and education in the planning, training, scheduling, and coordination of work assignments as they relate to the interpretive program.
- Works with chief of interpretation and education to coach and motivate a team of permanent, temporary, and volunteer interpretive staff to provide a high level of visitor services at the National Prisoner of War Museum, the Andersonville National Cemetery, and the historic prison site.
- Researches, develops, and presents a variety of original interpretive and educational programs relating to the cultural resource themes of the park.
The ranger occupying this position is required to work weekends and holidays. Relocation expenses are not authorized.
Andersonville is located 150 miles south of Atlanta, 10 miles north of Americus, on Georgia Highway 49. No government housing is available; however, housing is available in Americus and Montezuma, both 10 miles from the park. Shopping facilities, banks, schools, medical, dental and religious services are available in Americus and Montezuma. The climate is mild year-round with summer temperatures in the 90s and winter temperatures from the low 30s to the high 50s.
If interested, the following items must be received no later than December 3rd:
- OF-612 Optional Application for Federal Employment; Resume; or SF-171 Application for Federal Employment — Please include all experience, training and/or education related to the position duties.
- Copy of your latest SF-50 that indicates your current title, series, grade and step.
- Copy of your latest performance appraisal.
For questions regarding position, please contact Chief of Interpretation and Education, Eric Leonard via email at: eric_leonard@nps.gov or by phone at (229) 924-0343 x110. Please submit your information to: Andersonville National Historic Site, 496 Cemetery Road, Andersonville, GA 31711 (ATTN: Kerri DeVane), or faxed to: 229-928-9640, or emailed to Kerri_DeVane@nps.gov
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id;=8728&lv;=2&pgid;=3504
All reports should now be submitted via this automated system.