Glacier National Park
Search For Missing Hiker Continues In Limited Mode
The search for missing concession employee J.K. has entered a continuous but limited mode after eight days of rigorous aerial and ground searches. New clues will be investigated as they come forward. The National Park Service joins J.K.'s family in thanking North Valley Search and Rescue, Flathead Search and Rescue, the Can Am Search and Rescue Team, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, and the US Border Patrol for their assistance throughout the search. The family released the following statement on Monday:
It is extremely difficult for us to imagine that we have lost our beautiful son, J.K. We believe that he has found the world's greatest resting place. J.K. absolutely fell in love with Glacier National Park, all that it has to offer, as well as all of the people he came to know.
"On the 28th of July we were informed that J.K. had not returned from a day hike he took on the 27th. The days since this have obviously been the most difficult of our lives. The outpouring of love and prayers from our families, friends and strangers has touched us deeply.
"J.K. and our family have been fortunate to have so many friends in Michigan. The love and support shown by all who attended his prayer vigil on August 2nd was overwhelming – we want to thank all that attended – we love you. We were also very grateful to get to know J.K.'s new friends at Glacier National Park and we will cherish our time with them.
"Throughout this difficult ordeal we feel blessed to have been embraced by the Glacier National Park family, to whom we would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks. These men and women have been concerned, caring, courageous and amazingly compassionate in their search for our J.K.. We also want to thank all of the extended family here at Glacier National Park, including all of the assisting agencies and the folks at the Lake McDonald Lodge.
"While we have appreciated the concern for J.K. we want to
thank you for respecting our privacy during these difficult days and ask
that our privacy continues to be respected.”
[Submitted by
Denise Germann, Public Affairs Officer]
Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (GA)
Homicide Victim Found In River
On the morning of Wednesday, August 1st, two fishermen saw a bundled
object floating in the Chattahoochee River near the Interstate 285
bridge. A short time later, they saw that the object had become hung up
on a rock, waded out to get a closer look, discovered that it was a
man's body, and called 911. Cobb County Police & Fire recovered the
body. Investigators determined that the man – identified as R.M.,
39, of Decatur – had been shot to death outside of the
park. On August 4th, Cobb County fugitive investigators and U.S.
marshals arrested R.M.'s housemate, 39-year-old H.K.M.,
and charged H.K.M. with felony murder and aggravated
assault.
[Submitted by Scott Pfeninger, Chief Ranger]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Rangers Investigate Two Suicides In Two Days
Rangers investigated separate suicides in the park last Thursday and
Friday. On Thursday, Shenandoah dispatch notified Blue Ridge rangers
that a bicyclist had seen a vehicle in a small gravel pullout off the
parkway with an unresponsive woman inside who had a gun in her hand.
They found the body of a 53-year-old North Carolina woman with a
self-inflicted gunshot wound to her head. A note to her family was found
in which she said that she'd been depressed and suffering from
dependency on prescription drugs. On Friday, visitors found the body of
a 43-year-old North Carolina man at a parkway overlook. Evidence
indicated that he'd died from a drug overdose. The vehicle had been
stolen from an acquaintance in Virginia and driven to the parkway, where
it was found later that evening by some visitors who'd seen him at that
same location earlier in the morning.
[Submitted by Tim Francis,
Pisgah District Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights
National Fire Activity – Preparedness Level 3
NIFC is at PL 3. Initial attack was again moderate yesterday. Forty-nine uncontained large fires are burning nationwide. Seventeen incident management teams are committed, up from a dozen yesterday.
Fire Weather Forecast
High pressure will remain over the West, producing very hot and dry conditions for the region. Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms will form in the afternoon, mostly anchored to higher terrain. A stalled front over the northern Plains and the Ohio Valley region will produce showers and thunderstorms over the upper Mississippi and northern and central Plains. Hot weather will remain over the southern Plains. Thunderstorms will develop along the Southeast coast.
To see a NOAA map of today's critical fire weather areas, click on this link: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html
Fire Summary (Five Day Trend)
|
Day |
Thu |
Fri |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
|
Date |
8/2 |
8/3 |
8/6 |
8/7 |
8/8 |
|
Initial Attack Fires |
193 |
186 |
233 |
260 |
228 |
|
New Large Fires |
10 |
10 |
19 |
16 |
15 |
|
Large Fires Contained |
5 |
3 |
10 |
17 |
8 |
|
Uncontained Large Fires |
29 |
32 |
48 |
44 |
49 |
National Resource Commitments (Five Day Trend)
|
Day |
Thu |
Fri |
Mon |
Tue |
Wed |
|
Date |
8/2 |
8/3 |
8/6 |
8/7 |
8/8 |
|
Area Command Teams |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
NIMO Teams |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Type 1 Teams |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
|
Type 2 Teams |
5 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
13 |
NPS Fire Summaries
No updates on National Park Service fires have been received since yesterday.
Further details have been submitted on these NPS fires:
- Reading Fire, Lassen Volcanic NP – The Reading Fire has burned 2,000 acres, double its size the day before yesterday. Road and trail closures are in effect. Whitcome's Type 2 IMT is managing the fire; 331 firefighters and overhead, including 14 crews, are currently committed. For more information, go to http://www.nps.gov/lavo/index.htm .
For additional information on all fires, check the following National Park Service and NIFC web sites:
NIFC
- Summary of current fires – http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf
- Detailed reports on major fires – http://www.inciweb.org/
- Fire news and fire year in perspective – http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm
- Map of fire locations – http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php
NPS
- Details on current NPS fires – http://www.nps.gov/fire/wildland-fire/fires.cfm
- InsideNPS Fire and Aviation – http://inside.nps.gov/fire
- InsideNPS Structural Fire – http://inside.nps.gov/fire/structuralfire
- NPS Fire and Aviation - http://www.nps.gov/fire
OPERATIONAL NOTES
NPS Law Enforcement Training Center
Ammunition Recall Issued
Winchester ammunition has issued a recall for .40 caliber service ammunition that parks purchased under an FBI contract and received between January 1st and July 31st.
This affected ammunition should be immediately removed from all firearms and magazines. The ammunition may have a cartridge casing that was produced without a flash hole, which eliminates the ability of the cartridge to fire. This defect cannot be detected by visual inspection and would only be known when a ranger attempted to fire his or her handgun.
The affected ammunition is Winchester .40 caliber, Q4355, 180 grain, bonded service ammunition with a day code beginning with the letter F or beginning with the letters EN.
The product code (Q4355) can be found on the end of the box of ammunition and the four character day code (consisting of two letters and two numbers) can be found inside the end flap of the box of ammunition.
If you possess Q4355 ammunition with these day codes or have questions concerning this warning, please contact Sharon Quirk, Winchester Product Service Department, at 618-258-2738. She will make arrangements to pick up and replace the ammunition.
In addition to contacting Winchester Ammunition, please also inform Jill Kinney, firearms program manager, 912-261-3762, if you find this ammunition in your park.
[Submitted by Jill R. Kinney, Firearms Program Manager/Armorer]
NPS Law Enforcement Training Center
SLETP Website Updated
The Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program (SLETP) website has been updated with the 2010 curriculum, accredited academies, and the SLETP task book. Please use the task book for all new seasonal law enforcement rangers.
[Submitted by Tammy Keller, tammy_keller@nps.gov, 912-267-2137] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Southeast Arizona Group
GS-0025-11 Supervisory Protection Ranger
The Southeast Arizona Group has posted an announcement for a district ranger for Coronado NM. The person selected will be responsible for law enforcement and emergency services within the group. For details on duties, click on the link to the announcement below. For more information, contact Chief Ranger Matt Stoffolano at 520-366-5515 x 2501 or Matt_Stoffolano@nps.gov.
More Information...
Northeast Region
GS-0301-12/13 Program Management Assistant
Dates: 08/07/2012 - 09/01/2012
Northeast Regional Office has posted a vacancy announcement for a Program Management Assistant, GS-0301-12/13. It closes on September 1st.
[Submitted by Tamika Tucker, tamika_tucker@nps.gov, (267) 528-3175] More Information...
Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources
Dave Galentine Has Retired
On Thursday, July 26th, long-time support services specialist Dave Galentine said goodbye to his NPS friends and colleagues in Lakewood, Colorado. Dave retired after 50 years of federal service, the past 25 with the National Park Service.
Dave has been integral to supporting the operations of GSA-leased NPS buildings in Colorado, including receiving, supply, and mail management services, where he carried out his duties with proficiency and good humor. Dave, a native of San Jose, California, moved to Colorado in 1986, after retiring as a master sergeant from the US Army after nearly 25 years of service.
When asked if he has any advice for his junior fed-service colleagues, Dave said, "If you are going to do anything, do it right. Comply with directives and, if problems come up, follow up on them.”
Throughout his time working in Lakewood, Colorado, Dave commuted daily from Colorado Springs. His current vehicle has over 318,000 miles on it.
Dave and his wife will celebrate quite a milestone in December - their Golden Anniversary. Dave is looking forward to catching up on his reading, taking walks, puttering around the house, and improving his bowling in his retirement.
[Submitted by Holly McIntire, holly_mcintire@nps.gov, 303.969.2645]
Fire and Aviation Management
Heather Sanders Selected As Human Resources Assistant
Heather Sanders has been selected as the human resources assistant for the Division of Fire and Aviation Management, at the National Interagency Fire Center.
Prior to her selection, Heather worked at NIFC as a customer service representative for the wildland firefighter medical standards program. Before arriving at NIFC, Heather was a member of the US Air Force. For ten years she worked as a health care administrator and precision measurement equipment laboratory technician and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan with the Joint Theater Trauma System. In 2010, she received a medical retirement.
As the human resources assistant, Heather will provide new employee orientation and in-processing, processing personnel actions, payroll and timekeeping, and guidance on employee benefits. She will be a member of the interagency Human Resources Office located at NIFC.
"Heather will be a huge asset to the division. Her attention to detail made her stand out and made our selection very easy. We are thrilled to have her,” said Sheila Williams, acting branch chief for administration.
Heather is currently working on her undergraduate degree in human resource management from Columbia Southern University, which she plans to complete in 2013.
"I feel extremely honored to be continuing my new career with the National Park Service,” said Heather. "I look forward to a long and rewarding career serving the fire and aviation community.”
Administration is one of six branches within the NPS Division of Fire and Aviation Management. For more information, go to www.nps.gov/fire/
[Submitted by Roberta D'Amico, Roberta_D'Amico@nps.gov, 208.387.5239] More Information...
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.