Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Recovery of Stolen Elk Antlers
On February 5, a special agent at Yellowstone NP received information
that a set of six by six elk antlers were being auctioned on eBay as
"Yellowstone" elk antlers (investigators at Yellowstone routinely pursue
cases of items stolen from the park and sold on eBay). The agent
determined that the seller lived near Redwood N&SP and accordingly
contacted rangers there for assistance. The rangers confirmed that the
antlers had been stolen from the park and contacted the seller. He was
cooperative, acknowledged that the antlers were taken from Yellowstone,
and willingly surrendered them to rangers. Charges are pending with the
U.S. attorney.
[Submitted by Scott Wanek, Chief Ranger]
Big Cypress National Preserve (FL)
Search and Rescue
On February 16, rangers received a report of a couple lost inside the
Loop Unit. The pair had entered that area of the park on bicycles from
Loop Road and thought that they were on the Florida Trail. By late
afternoon, they realized that they were lost. They had no food, water or
compass with them, but did have a cell phone that they used to call 911.
Rangers contacted Collier County SO and asked for an infrared-equipped
helicopter for the night search. Rangers provided the sheriff's office
with supplies that they dropped to the lost couple after spotting their
campfire. A park pilot and a ranger flew by helicopter to their location
the next morning and returned them to their vehicle. The couple had made
no efforts to find out about the area before entering the preserve, and
had taken an old trail which was about two miles east of the Florida
Trail.
[Submitted by J.D. Lee, Chief Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Servicewide News
Police Officer Memorial Ceremony
National Police Week, an annual event honoring police officers killed in the line of duty, will be held in Washington, DC, during the week of May 11th. Along with remembrances of those National Park Service rangers and officers who perished in past years, this year the NPS will be honoring the lives of four rangers and officers whose names will be inscribed on the memorial:
- Ranger Randy Morgenson, Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs, who drowned after being swept over a waterfall while on solo backcountry patrol in July, 1996
- Ranger Kris Eggle, Organ Pipe Cactus NM, who was murdered by an assailant in a border incident in August
- USPP Officer Hakim Farthing, DC, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver the day after the shooting of Kris Eggle
- Ranger Tom O'Hara, Katmai NP, who was killed in a plane crash in that park last December.
Extensive information about activities during this week may be found at www.nationalcops.org.
The centerpiece of the week is the candlelight vigil, which will be held on the evening of May 13th. A large ceremony at the Capitol will be held on May 15th, which has been designated as National Peace Officers' Memorial Day.
Personnel planning attendance at the vigil or other memorial services should wear a winter service uniform. Hotels in the area are rapidly filling and efforts are underway to secure a block of rooms for the NPS. Please notify Pat Buccello, WASO, if you plan on attending and would like to be included in the NPS room block. Pat can be reached at 202-513-7131.
Other NPS activities may occur depending on funding and the number of anticipated employees interested.
[Submitted by Pat Buccello, WASO]
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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March
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: 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 31 - April 4: Fundamentals of Special Park Uses, Atlanta, GA. This course provides comprehensive guidance on all aspects of special park uses, including the permitting process, compliance issues, filming and photography and First Amendment activities. One page nomination form should be emailed to SER Employee Development by close of business on February 28. For more information, contact Lee Dickinson at 202-513-7092 or Sandy Taylor at 404-562-3158. [Lee Dickinson, WASO]
April
April 7 - April 9: Archeological Resource Crimes Investigation, Manassas NBP, Manassas, VA. This three-day course, instructed by Martin McAllister and ARI, Inc., is comparable to the new basic ARPA course offered at FLETC. The course is designed for law enforcement personnel, archeologists and managers. Tuition is $125. Closes on March 10. For more information, contact Will Reynolds at 202-329-1311. [Will_Reynolds@nps.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]
April 29 - May 1: Basic EMT Refresher, Zion NP, UT. Taught by Tod Levesh, a former parkmedic and current paramedic and FEMA urban SAR team member. Tuition: $75. Lodging is at the Driftwood Lodge, 435-772-3262. For more information, contact Cody Cole, EMS coordinator, Zion NP, at 435-772-0163. [Randy Coffman, WASO]
May
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]
Mary 12 - May 16: National Wildfire Investigation Training (XP-NWITP-303), Prescott, AZ. Topics include determining fire causes and origins, processing crime scenes, arson laws, and investigative techniques. Closes on April 3. [Wiley_Golden@nps.gov]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Mojave National Preserve (CA)
GS-025-14 Deputy Superintendent
The park has an opening for a GS-025-14 deputy superintendent. The vacancy announcement number is MOJA-03-03; it closes on March 19. Mojave National Preserve has a vast expanse of desert lands. You will find a wide range of elevations, springs, sheltered canyons, and a rich diversity of plant and animal species, some of which are found only in this area. The park also includes old mountain ranges, sand dunes, great mesas and volcanic features such as cinder cones, domes, and lava flows. The deputy superintendent is the superintendent's primary assistant, supervising all team leaders and answering all high level inquiries. The deputy serves as a sounding board for the superintendent on high level, controversial issues. The person in this position plays a key role with the advisory commission and actively participates in the interagency desert managers group. Park headquarters is located in Barstow, California, which is approximately 134 miles northeast of Los Angeles and 152 miles southwest of Las Vegas along Interstate 15. For more information, contact human resources assistant Teresa Moor at 760-255-8812 and check out the park website at www.nps.gov/moja.
[Submitted by Teresa Moor]
Pinnacles National Monument (CA)
Ranger and Maintenance Positions
The park has a number of positions open:
- GS-025-5/7/9 park ranger (PGSO-03-32-MPP, closes February 27) - The ranger selected will have parkwide law enforcement responsibilities and will work with research and resource management staff to develop and coordinate protection efforts throughout the designated wilderness and wilderness study areas. Limited but regular frontcountry patrols will also be incorporated into weekly schedules that include traffic enforcement and visitor services. EMS, SAR and fire are regular collateral duties. No government housing is available.
- WG-4749-6/WL-4749-5 subject-to-furlough maintenance worker/maintenance leader (PGSO-03-34-DEU, closes March 4) - The person selected will work half of his/her time in each position. The furlough period is for three months. Responsibilities include routine trail maintenance and rehabilitation of disturbed areas. Duties include operation of rock drills, general hand and power tools associated with trail maintenance and repair, and operation of motorized equipment. No government housing is available.
- Several seasonal and term positions are also open and posted on USA Jobs. No government housing is available.
Local communities with housing include Hollister and King City, which are, respectively, 32 and 28 miles from the park. Contact Lori Frusetta at 831-389-4485 ext. 227 with any questions.
[Submitted by Lori Frusetta]
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.