Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Border Incidents
Rangers dealt with several significant incidents during late January and early February:
- January 24 — Rangers were notified that state police and county deputies were pursuing a stolen vehicle southbound on Highway 85 into the park. Speeds were reported to be well over 100 mph in heavy traffic. They were asked to place tire deflation devices on the highway in order to stop the car, as a similar effort by the Border Patrol had been unsuccessful. Rangers from the park and from the Pacific West Region SET team stopped northbound traffic, shutdown the Lukeville port of entry, and laid the deflation devices on the road at two locations a mile apart. The car hit them, but continued southbound with deflating tires at more than 90 mph for about two miles before running into the rear end of another southbound vehicle. The passenger in the pursued vehicle was able to flee on foot, but the driver was severely injured and had to be airlifted from the accident scene. The passenger was eventually caught; he and the two occupants of the vehicle that was hit were all taken by ambulance to local hospitals. Arizona DPS is investigating. The driver will be prosecuted by the Pima County SO.
- January 25 — Rangers learned of two vehicles being driven off-road in an area frequented by smugglers. They established several surveillance points and soon spotted and stopped the two vehicles in a wash as they were heading back to Mexico. The drivers were arrested at gunpoint. One of the vehicles had been stolen in 2002 and the other had no valid registration in either the U.S. or Mexico. Both vehicles were impounded. The NPS and the Border Patrol are filing multiple charges against the drivers.
- January 25 — Rangers stopped a red Chevy S-10 truck that had an expired registration. The park drug dog alerted on the truck, and rangers subsequently found a hidden compartment in the truck bed that contained 31 packages of contraband weighing a total of 107 pounds. Two suspects were arrested. Assisting agencies included the Border Patrol and Customs.
- February 1 — Rangers chased and stopped another vehicle driving off-road in a remote section of the park, this time off North Puerto Blanco Drive. The area is used by smugglers. They were able to stop the vehicle by using tire deflation devices, but the two suspected smugglers fled on foot and evaded apprehension in the dark.
[Submitted by Fred Patton, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Big Thicket National Preserve (TX)
GS-11/12 Supervisory Park Ranger
Dates: 02/11/2004 - 03/03/2004
Big Thicket is looking for applicants interested in a Supervisory Park Ranger (Chief of Interpretation, Education and Partnerships position. This position is being advertised at GS-11 and GS-12 grade levels. The job is posted on USAJOBS under announcement number BITH 2004-06 beginning 2/11/04 through 03/03/04. Beaumont, Texas is the duty station of this position. The incumbent of this position will manage and supervise all interpretive and educational activities for Big Thicket. Serves as one of the principal advisors to the Superintendent and park staff; serves as a member of the management team, evaluating issues and building concensus on actions dealing with all aspects of park management. Responsibilities include program management, planning, development and implementation of the park's interpretive activities, visitor center operations, outreach activities, etc. Applicants must have strong supervisory and managerial skills. Applications must be mailed to NPS, Big Thicket National Preserve, Attention: Human Resources Specialist, 3785 Milam Street, Beaumont, Texas 77701. Please call (409) 839-2689, extension 240 or 244 for additional information about this position.[Submitted by Nellie Martinez, Nellie_Martinez@nps.gov, 409-839-2689, ext. 240]
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Ranger Walt Kelly Retires
Longtime Ranger Walt Kelly will be retiring February 29, 2004, after completing 35 years of Federal service, 32 of them with the NPS. Walt began his career at Colonial National Historic Park, VA, as a seasonal interpreter. After his first permanent position at Lincoln Home National Historic Site, he moved to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in 1976. A Sergeant First Class in the California Army National Guard, Walt was deployed for one year with his unit immediately following the September 11 attacks. He will be retiring to the open ranges of eastern Oregon. A party to commemorate Walt's accomplishments will be held in Three Rivers, CA, on February 28 at 7 p.m. Please contact Dave Walton at 559-565-3711 or dave_walton@nps.gov if you are interested in attending.[Submitted by Pat Grediagin, Pat_Grediagin@nps.gov, 559-565-3710]
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.