Servicewide News
Flags Ordered to Half-Staff in Memory of Crew of Columbia
President Bush has ordered that all flags be lowered to half staff
through Wednesday in honor of the seven members of the crew of the space
shuttle Columbia who were lost when the ship disintegrated on reentry
Saturday morning. Flags are to be returned to full staff on Thursday,
February 6.
INCIDENTS
Shenandoah National Park (VA)
Follow-up on Double Homicide
Attorney General John Ashcroft has authorized federal prosecutors to
seek the death penalty against D.R. for the 1996 slayings of two
hikers in the park. D.R., 35, has been charged with two counts of
capital murder in the slayings of Julianne Williams and Lollie Winans,
and faces two additional counts of capital murder on grounds that he
intentionally selected his victims because they were female and gay.
D.R. is currently serving an eleven-year sentence for assaulting a
female bicyclist in the park in 1997. For additional details on the
story, click on http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13442-2003Feb2.html
[Submitted by Associated Press]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Director/Deputy Directors
Update on Hiring of Two Associate Directors
The NPS leadership team is proud of the accomplishments of Ernie Quintana and his team during his acting tenure as Associate Director for Resource and Visitor Protection, but a clarification is needed on the estimated date for the announcement of the selection of his successor in that position - and for the Associate for Partnerships, Interpretation and Education, Volunteers and Outdoor Recreation. Interview for both positions were conducted last week and will continue this week. Selection will follow the completion of those interviews and the subsequent review and approval process. It's likely that the announcements of the names of the persons selected for these positions will take place within several weeks.
[Submitted by Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini, Associate to the Director]
Servicewide Training
Weekly Listing of Operations Training Opportunities
This calendar appears every Monday as an addendum to the Morning Report and a separate entry for InsideNPS. It is not meant to be replace the Learning Place; rather it is a quick summary of available training with links (as available) to relevant Learning Place pages. Please note:
- New entries are in bold face.
- Submissions for other training courses should conform to the style used here.
- Please include the URL to the web sites where readers can obtain the requisite forms and/or find out additional information about the training course. If a URL is not specifically listed, the announcement can likely be found on the Learning Place, the NPS training page found at http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/index.doc.
- Closing dates for applications are underscored.
- Contact names are listed at the end of each entry with parentheses and are given as email addresses.
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February
February 24 - 27: Second Annual NPS Dispatch Workshop, Boulder City, NV. There will be presentations on benchmark PD's, RM-9, narrowband P25 and digital radio systems, and standardization; a presentation by APCO has also been tentatively scheduled. Vendors from such companies as Orbacom, Positron, Motorola and others will be available to meet with workshop participants. The cost is $50 per participant. For more information, contact Dena Barnes or Bill Tynan via email or at 702-293-8998. [Dena_Barnes@nps.gov]
February 26: Supervisor's Guide to Workers' Compensation. National TEL station broadcast from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. EST and 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. EST. The course is designed to provide supervisors with an overview of workers' compensation and the responsibility and resources a supervisor has when dealing with workers' compensation issues. For more information, contact Steve_Rosen@nps.gov. [Shirley_Rowley@nps.gov]
March
March 3 - March 7: Law Enforcement for Managers, FLETC, Glynco, GA. This training program is for upper level managers with supervisory or oversight responsibility for law enforcement programs. Topics include changes in federal law, NPS guidelines, DOI policies, internal investigations, ARPA/NAGPRA, civil and employee liability, ethics and conduct and the history of law enforcement in the NPS. Applications MUST go through your regional office. Closes on February 12. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
March 3 - March 7: GIS Technical Specialists Training, Atlanta, GA. Training on use of geographic information systems. For more information, contact Don Washco at 602-906-5535. The announcement is at http://inside.nps.gov/documents/ACF49.pdf. [Don_Washco@tc.blm.gov]
March 11 - 14: NREMT-B Level Refresher, Redding, CA. The 32-hour course meets the requirements for NREMT re-registration and for NORCAL-EMS re-registration. Class is limited to 25. Tuition is $25. Contact Kelly Roche at 530-595-4444 ext. 5183 to register and obtain more information. [Randy_Coffman@nps.gov]
March 17 - 21: Certified Structural Fire Officer Training, Headquarters, Glen Canyon NRA, UT. The course will provide participants with technical knowledge and leadership skills essential for command and control of emergencies using ICS. Topic include pre-planning, communications, decision-making, fire attack strategies and tactics, and logistical support functions. Skills will be reinforced and evaluated through dynamic group sessions and video simulations. Participants must meet the 'arduous' level of the work capacity test and comply with DO-57 of NFPA 1582, which covers medical requirements for firefighters. It's strongly recommended that applicants have proof of successful completion of the NPS certified firefighter course and the NPS pump operator course, or state equivalents, and that applicants submit copies of recent successful completion of hazmat awareness/operations, intermediate ICS (I-300), and fire operations in the urban interface (S-215). Tuition is $400. Closes on February 14. For additional information, call Lisa Ford (928-608-625) or Hal Spencer (208-387-5245) or contact them by email. [Harold_Spencer@nps.gov]
March 17 - March 28: Physical Security Training (PSTP-304), FLETC, Glynco, GA. Physical security systems and procedures. Announcement: http://www.nps.gov/training/announcements/PSTP.304.doc. Closes on January 28. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
March 17: Search and Rescue Awareness, Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry, WV. This course will provide a basic overview of SAR. Designed for employees who may participate in SAR operations, but do not have SAR as a primary function of their jobs. Closes on March 7. Fore more information, contact Randy Coffman at 202-513-7093. [Randy_Coffman@nps.gov]
March 18 - March 20: Basic Search and Rescue, Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry, WV. This is a basic course that provides an introduction to SAR and provides the basic skills for working in a SAR operation, including tactics, communications, personal preparedness, and basic rescue skills. Designed for employees who will participate in SAR operations as a primary or secondary function of their jobs. Closes on March 7. Fore more information, contact Randy Coffman at 202-513-7093. [Randy_Coffman@nps.gov]
March 24 - March 28: National Wildfire Investigation Training (XP-NWITP-301A), Yakima Reservation, WA. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Announcement: http://www.nps.gov/training/announcement/XP-NWITP-301A.doc. Closes on February 14. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April
April 7 - April 11: GIS Technical Specialists Training, Sacramento, CA. Training on use of geographic information systems. For more information, contact Don Washco at 602-906-5535. The announcement is at http://inside.nps.gov/documents/ACF49.pdf. [Don_Washco@tc.blm.gov]
April 7 - May 16: Mounted Horse Patrol Training, Yosemite NP, CA. The course develops horsemanship skills for both frontcountry and backcountry stock use and is designed for employees with no previous riding skills. Participants should have jobs which require the use of horses and/or mules for patrol, maintenance or interpretive functions. Students should have an interest in the care and efficient utilization of horses or mules in park operations and be in excellent physical condition. The tuition is $300. One page nominations in park priority order should be sent to Billie Patrick, Mounted Patrol Supervisor, Yosemite NP, PO Box 517, Yosemite, CA 95389. For further information, contact Billie at 209-372-0240. Closes on March 1. [Billie_Patrick@nps.gov]
April 21 - 25: National Wildfire Investigation Training (XP-NWITP-302), Grand Junction, CO. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Closes on March 14. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
April 21 - April 25: Servicewide Basic Technical Rescue Training, Island in the Sky District, Canyonlands NP, UT. The training course is designed for personnel who routinely evacuate injured or stranded persons from heights and difficult terrain. The course will provide participants with the skills to perform difficult technical rescues. Students will be required to bring climbing gear, including seat harness, climbing helmet, carabiners, rappel rack and ascenders. This is a very physically demanding course, conducted outdoors with frequent exposure to severe heights. All participants must be in good physical condition. Closes on March 3. For more information, contact Ken Phillips at 928-638-7792. [Ken_Phillips@nps.gov]
May
May 5 - May 9: GIS Technical Specialists Training, Salt Lake City, UT. Training on use of geographic information systems. For more information, contact Don Washco at 602-906-5535. The announcement is at http://inside.nps.gov/documents/ACF49.pdf. [Don_Washco@tc.blm.gov]
May 5 - May 9: High Angle Rope Rescue Training, New River Gorge, WV. The course will focus on basic to advanced high angle rope rescue techniques. All participants must be in good physical condition and be able to spend extended periods of time on fixed ropes. Climbing ability is not necessary. For more information, contact ranger Rob Turan at 304-763-3145 ext. 14. [Rob_Turan@nps.gov]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Big Thicket National Preserve (TX)
GS-7 or GS-9 Protection Ranger
The park is seeking candidates interested in a permanent GS-7 or GS-9 protection ranger position. The announcement is posted on USA Jobs and closes on February 20. The ranger selected will be responsible for daily patrol by foot, vehicle, boat and/or all terrain vehicles. The park has many resource issues that rangers address on a regular basis, including hunting violations, boundary management and protection of nationally significant natural resources. The park offers excellent training opportunities and a wide variety of traditional ranger duties. This is not a required occupancy position, but housing consisting of a three-bedroom house in a quiet area of the park may be available. For further information, please contact chief ranger Mark Peapenburg at 409-839-2690 ext. 227.
[Submitted by Mark Peapenburg, Chief Ranger]
Permanent GS-9 Protection Ranger
The park is seeking candidates for a lateral transfer after April 1 to a permanent GS-9 protection ranger position. This is a 6c position and requires a Level I law enforcement commission. The ranger selected must currently be in a GS-9 permanent position. Colonial NHP encompasses 10,000 acres in Tidewater Virginia, consisting of Yorktown Battlefield, Jamestown Island, Colonial Parkway and several satellite areas. The primary duty is frontcountry law enforcement patrol along the 23-mile-long Colonial Parkway and the tour roads at Yorktown Battlefield and Jamestown Island. Rangers are also involved in cultural resource protection (ARPA), natural resource protection (illegal hunting and fishing, boundary encroachments), and emergency operations (wildland fire, emergency medical care and minor searches). The park is near Williamsburg, Virginia, and is 35 miles from Virginia Beach. Park housing may be available. For further information, contact Hiram Barber at 757-898-2427.
[Submitted by Hiram Barber, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.