Park News October 17,2008

Virgin Islands National Park

Hurricane Omar, a Category 3 storm with winds up to 120 mph, passed through the islands on Thursday. An initial assessment of the park revealed roads blocked by downed trees, mudslides and boulders, storm debris everywhere, washed out gravel roads and culverts, and damage to signs and trash cans. Power is out, and the generator at park headquarters has been knocked out by lightning or a power surge. Phones are also out. Ferry service will not resume until the Virgin Islands government completes a damage assessment and power and communications are restored on St. John.

 

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Timothy Lambert, 47, a former motorcycle officer for Easton PD, and his daughter, Taylor, 16, were killed in a motorcycle accident on River Road on the evening of Sunday, October 5th. The father was operating the BMW motorcycle, with his daughter riding on the back. Both died on impact when Lambert lost control of the bike and hit a tree. Both were wearing helmets at the time. The cause of the accident is not known; the section of road they were on was straight and dry at the time.


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Baltimore-Washington Parkway

In the early morning hours of October 14th, Park Police officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash in the area of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway north of Route 32.  Officers Roy Williams and Keith Johnson were already in the area handling a previous collision when the call came in. Williams was the first officer on scene, arriving before either fire or medical personnel. The crash involved a vehicle that had been traveling south on the parkway when the operator lost control. It crossed the center median, turned onto its roof as it crossed the northbound lanes of the parkway, then came to rest on the driver’s side on the east shoulder of the parkway. The driver and sole occupant was ejected and partially trapped underneath the vehicle.   Anne Arundel police, fire and EMS units also responded. Williams, Anne Arundel police and emergency personnel, and concerned citizens worked together to tilt the vehicle off of the injured 32-year-old woman, freeing her so that assessment and treatment could begin.  Johnson then arrived, made the scene safe, and secured and provided information to responding units. The woman was taken to Baltimore Shock Trauma Hospital, where she is currently be treated for internal injuries, head trauma, and a broken arm. Due to the seriousness of the injuries, members of the Criminal Investigation Branch and crash reconstruction units investigated and documented the scene.

 

Catoctin Mountain Park

Catoctin is recruiting for a GS-5 or 7 permanent interpretive ranger. The position has promotion potential to GS-9. The ranger selected will staff the visitor center, perform roving patrols and give formal interpretive and education programs. The park is also involved in several community outreach activities. Government housing may be available. There are several small nearby communities that provide a full range of high quality educational, medical and shopping opportunities. Washington, DC, is less than two hours away and other cultural/recreational areas are available within a few hours drive. Catoctin is comprised of about 5800 acres of land in the South Mountain range of northwestern Maryland. The park has a visitation of about 700,000 and manages two campgrounds and three residential camps. A beautiful wooded park, Catoctin has two streams, one of which boasts the first catch and release stream in the country. 

This is an excellent opportunity for a team-oriented ranger to work with a great staff.  For more information, see the announcement on USAJobs. The job will be announced via all sources (top link) and merit promotion (bottom link):

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=76485264

http://jobsearch.usajobs.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=76690427

You can also email or call supervisory park ranger Sally Griffin at 301-663-9338.