Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve (AK)
Follow-up on Fire in Park Building
An employee of the Federal Aviation Administration weather station in
Bettles was walking his dog at 2:30 a.m. on the morning of January 27th
when he saw smoke coming out of the building that houses a visitor
center, a park ranger station, and the summer offices for the building's
owner, Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. The town's volunteer fire
department — with their sole fire vehicle, a 1954 Ward LaFrance
water pumper — responded. Although they put about 3,000 gallons of
water on the flames, the fire was fanned by a strong wind and quickly
engulfed the building. According to a witness, "it was pretty much gone"
within an hour. The park office contained computer equipment, food, a
washer and dryer, and paperwork. Ammunition for rangers stored at the
building also caught fire, making it sound "like a small gunfight" was
going on. A nearby building that is used for seasonal housing may be
turned into an office for the three rangers who are there for the
winter. During the summer months, that number increases to seven or
eight rangers. The loss to the NPS alone has been placed at more than
$10,000.
[Submitted by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner; John Quinley, PIO,
ARO]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (WV)
Request for Information on Climbing Bolts
The park recently received a request from a local climbing group to replace permanent climbing bolts in the Maryland Heights section of the park. The existing bolts were installed sometime in the early 1970s at a time when environmental compliance required by NEPA was in its infancy. Before answering this request, they would like to hear from other units in the National Park System that may have a record of decision or park-level guidelines on this topic in non-wilderness areas. They're most interested in decisions or guidelines that address impairment or impact considerations on the geologic resources of the park and those that address what, if any, liability may attach to the government for climbing bolts installed by a private entity. Please send any discussion points, recommendations, similar decisions, or guidelines via e-mail to Scot McElveen, the park's chief ranger, via email.
[Submitted by Scot McElveen, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Fort Clatsop National Memorial (OR)
GS-025-09 Law Enforcement Park Ranger (Lateral)
Dates: 01/28/2004 - 02/11/2004
The interest in Lewis and Clark Bicentennial is increasing the visitation at Lewis and Clark sites and will peak in 2005-2006. The Fort Clatsop National Memorial is looking for an energetic and creative person to be part of the team managing high profile activities for the commemoration that include:
- work on coordinating new shuttle bus operation
- implementing new ticket system for visits to the fort
- planning and managing special events
- Developing and maintaining cooperative relationships with law enforcement and medical services in the region.
Fort Clatsop National Memorial is located in a rural coastal community with affordable housing and two hours from Portland, Oregon.
If interested please contact or send resume or SF 171 to the contact information by February 11, 2004.
[Submitted by Jill Harding, Jill_Harding@nps.gov, 503-861-4421]
Western Pennsylvania Parks
New Appointments Named to Parks
The National Park Service (NPS) has finalized the selections of a new management team for five units of the National Park System in Western Pennsylvania. according to NPS Northeast Regional Director Marie Rust.
Ken Mabery is the new superintendent of Fort Necessity National Battlefield (NB) and Friendship Hill National Historic Site (NHS) in Farmington. Keith Newlin is the superintendent of Johnstown Flood National Memorial (NMem) in Johnstown and Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS in Gallitzen. Both Newlin and Mabery will be working closely with Joanne Hanley, who was appointed executive director of the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania and superintendent of Flight 93 National Memorial last spring.
"I'm truly pleased that at the start of 2004, I am able to announce this very strong management team for Western Pennsylvania," said Regional Director Rust. "The newest member Ken Mabery brings to this job nearly 30 years of NPS experience. A chief ranger with impeccable credentials, we are very fortunate to welcome him to the Northeast. Keith Newlin too is a superb manager and Joanne Hanley has an outstanding record especially in the area of partnerships and community relations," she said.
Prior to this appointment, Mabery served as the NPS representative on the Northwest Forest Plan in Portland (OR).
While in this post, he initiated the Northwest Forest Plan's Biodiversity Monitoring Steering Committee and served as its initial chairperson. The Northwest Forest Plan is an effort of eleven federal agencies to manage the forest ecosystem in the Northwestern United States. "I am really looking forward to the engaging stories, people and resources of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Friendship Hill and Fort Necessity are magnificent treasures that have shaped the American experience in the past and clearly can continue to contribute to the future. I am truly fortunate to be asked to serve as superintendent," Mabery said.
As a second generation careerist, Mabery was born and raised in western national parks. In 1974, he began his career as a seasonal general park ranger at Canyonlands National Park (NP)(UT). His first permanent assignment was at Theodore Roosevelt NP (ND) in 1978. During a second NPS assignment in (1979) at Chaco Culture National Historical Park (NHP) (NM), he rose from general park ranger to chief ranger. He served as chief ranger at El Morro National Monument (NMon) (NM) and El Malpais NMon (NM) from 1985 to 1996. Mayberry has enjoyed a variety of experiences from assignments at headquarters offices in Washington (DC) to the regional headquarters in the southwest. While in New Mexico he served as acting superintendent at Pecos NHP, Fort Union NMon , Capulin Volcano NMon , El Morro and El Malpais . This new assignment marks his first as permanent superintendent.
Mabery earned a Bachelors Degree in International Relations and Geology at Highlands University (NM) and worked on a Masters in Resource Geography at Oregon State University. He is a graduate of the NPS Management Trainee Program (1993). He is credited with initiating the NPS critical incident stress management program (1991). Other highlights include serving on the Department of the Interior (DOI) Assistant Secretary's Natural Resource Management Committee (1994-5), the NPS Careers Council (1994-96) and current service on a DOI team that provides technical assistance to the Republic of Georgia's national parks.
After hours, he serves as the president of the Association of National Park Rangers, the national organization representing the needs of park rangers. He has also volunteered and served on the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce in Grants, NM
The appointment of Mabery completes the construction of the new Western Pennsylvania management team which began last spring, when Regional Director Rust decided that with the creation of Flight 93 National Memorial and the number of major development and partnership projects underway in Western Pennsylvania, a stronger management team was warranted. She appointed Joanne Hanley who had served as superintendent of Fort Necessity NB, Friendship Hill NHS, Johnstown Flood Nmem and Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS since 1998 as the new executive director with Keith Newlin as superintendent of Johnstown Flood and Allegheny Portage Railroad.
Since 1999, Keith Newlin of Martinsburg (PA) has served as assistant superintendent of the five Southwest Pennsylvania parks. Most recently he has facilitated a boundary expansion at Allegheny Portage NHS and is leading the design for the 6-10 Trail which will connect Cresson to Holidayburg (PA).
A twenty-three year NPS veteran, Newlin began his career at Independence NHP (Philadelphia, PA) as a line interpreter. He held successive assignments at Hopewell Furnace NHS (Elverson, PA) and Antietam NB (MD). In 1985 he entered the Williamsport Preservation Training Center and graduated from the program in 1988 with a certification in Historic Structures Stabilization. Subsequently he joined the NPS Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta (GA) where he worked on the birth home of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway. In 1990 when he joined the NPS Service Center, he led the preservation of the Lincoln and Jefferson National Memorials (DC) and coordinated approximately 17 million dollars in research and construction projects throughout the nation. In 1994 he was appointed deputy chief of maintenance for the National Capital Region (DC) where he supervised some 200 employees and oversaw a ten million dollar budget. His work included supporting presidential inaugurals, facilitating Park Police activities, setting up special events and working on special projects such as the construction of the FDR Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. In 1997, he was appointed chief of maintenance at Allegheny Portage Railroad NHS before becoming assistant superintendent.
Newlin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Shippensburg University in 1979. Currently he's married to Nancy, his wife of 23 years, and has one daughter, Samantha (10).
Newlin and Mabery will be responsible for the day to day management of their respective parks. Development projects and Flight 93 National Memorial will be handled by Joanne Hanley of Ligonier. Hanley began her NPS career in 1978 with the agency's Denver Service Center as an environmental specialist. Over the years she has worked at Mount Rainer National Park (WA), the George Washington Memorial Parkway (DC) and was site manager for the Glen Echo Recreational Park and Clara Barton National Historic Site (MD).
She served as international affairs specialist in the National Parks Service's Office of International Affairs, providing technical assistance for national parks in Thailand, Burma, and Zimbabwe. She has also worked as an interpretive planner in the Parks Service's national office.
Prior to coming to southwest Pennsylvania, Hanley was superintendent of Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls, NY. There she was successful in raising the profile of Women's Rights and protecting the many areas related to notable early women's rights activities. She was a key figure in organizing the July 1998 national celebration in Seneca Falls commemorating the 150th anniversary of the first Women's Rights Convention.
Hanley is a native of New York City and holds an undergraduate degree from Long Island University at Southampton and a graduate degree in natural resources from Washington State University. She is married and has a twelve-year old daughter.
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.