Shenandoah National Park (VA)
Follow-up on Trial of Suspect in Double Homicide
Last week, the United States attorney who has been overseeing the
prosecution of D.R. for the May, 1996, murders of J.W.
and L.W. asked that the murder charges against D.R. be
dismissed without prejudice and directed agents from the NPS and FBI
and prosecutors from the Western District of Virginia to
"vigorously continue their investigation into the killings." Here are
excerpts from his statement: "The United States Attorney and law
enforcement are committed to finding and seeking justice for the person
or persons who committed these vicious crimes...The investigation into
these murders since April 2002 has yielded additional forensic evidence
that requires the government at this time to seek a dismissal without
prejudice. The investigation has revealed the presence of evidence
at the crime scheme that currently could cast doubt on the government's
case against D.R.. Given our commitment to the highest standards
of justice, the United States has requested that the current case
against D.R. be dismissed without prejudice in order for the government
to continue to investigate these crimes in light of the new forensic
evidence." D.R. is currently serving a 135-month federal term of
imprisonment stemming from his guilty plea to a 1997 attempted abduction
of a young woman in the Shenandoah National Park.
For more
information on this case, see the related news story in today's
InsideNPS.[Submitted by United States Attorney's Office]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Interpretation/Education Division
Nominations Sought for Hartzog Awards
Nominations are being sought for the George B.Hartzog, Jr. Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service, which recognize the contributions of volunteers and staff in promoting volunteerism throughout the National Park Service.
Nominations are due to your Regional VIP Coordinators by March 12th.[Submitted by Joy M. Pietschmann, joy_pietschmann@nps.gov, 202-513-7141] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Office of International Affairs
Short-term International Opportunity in China
Experts in Park Planning and Development of Visitor Facilities needed for short-term NPS international assignment
Opportunity: The NPS Office of International Affairs is seeking applications to provide short-term technical assistance to the national park system of the People's Republic of China's (PRC). This short term assignment will take place sometime in early Spring 2004.
Background: Quangdong Province, China, has requested assistance by the U.S. National Park Service in developing a park management plan for Redstone National Park, also known as Danxia Mountain. NPS planning and international staff met with a delegation from Quangdong in late 2003. NPS and the National Park Agency in the PRC's Ministry of Construction renewed an international agreement for cooperation in parks management in November 2002. In the PRC, Chinese national parks, often known as national scenic areas, are designated federally in Beijing, but administered locally, by provincial and sometimes city municipal governments. Such is the case with Redstone National Park in Quangdong province, which is administered by the Shao Guan city government. Redstone covers 290 square kilometers and contains more than 680 stone hills, walls, pillars and natural bridges. Administration is undertaken by three separate government entities. Redstone wants to focus on providing visitor facilities at the park and must submit a management plan to the central government by June 2004.
Assignment: One NPS representative will undertake this assignment. Time out of the office will be approximately 10-15 working days, not including completion of a post-trip report. Assignment will be to assist in the development of a general management plan for Redstone National Park.
Costs: All travel costs associated with this assignment (airfare, lodging, meals) will be provided by the Shao Guan city government. The selected NPS representative's park will only have to pay his/her salary.
Application Requirements: NPS staff wishing to be considered for this assignment:
• Must have demonstrated experience in park planning and/or the development of protected area management plans and visitor facilities;
• Must have demonstrated ability to work with and adapt to the needs and abilities of agencies and professionals of different ethnic or cultural groups;
• Previous international experience is desirable, particularly experience with protected area systems in other countries.
• Ability to work in areas with little or no infrastructure, such as lack of indoor plumbing, primitive accommodations, or traveling in 4 wheel drive vehicles off-road.
• Must be in good physical shape, as assignment will entail some excursion into mountain terrain.
Candidates must indicate that they have supervisory approval for their participation in this program.
How to Apply: Persons interested in being considered for this international assignment should send a resume or brief letter summarizing relevant work experience. A form SF 171 or OF-612 is acceptable. Please submit applications (electronically is preferred) to: Rudy D'Alessandro, NPS Office of International Affairs, at (202) 354-1805, email rudy_dalessandro@nps.gov.
Applicants are also encouraged to post their skills on the Office of International Affairs Skills Roster (www.nps.gov/skroster) so that they may be considered for future assignments.
Applications are due by February 27, 2004.
[Submitted by Rudy Dalessandro, Rudy_Dalessandro@nps.gov, 202-354-1805] More Information...
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.