Park News October 2,2008

Shenandoah National Park

Rangers are entering the fourth day of a search for a missing 50-year-old Staunton area man. Earl Funk was last seen around 1 p.m. on Monday, September 29th, in the Cedar Mountain area. A hasty search of the area was conducted by volunteers and friends on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Friends then reported Funk missing to the Albemarle County Police Department on Tuesday morning, and county officers searched the area until late Tuesday night. Yesterday’s search centered on the Cedar Mountain area of the park. Funk is described as a white male with brown hair and green eyes, 5’ 8” tall, weighing about 145 pounds, and wearing dark pants and a light shirt. Over 40 searchers – including a dog team – are currently looking for him.  The search is a joint operation between Shenandoah National Park and the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office.  The agencies are currently being assisted by the Albemarle County Police Department and a Virginia State Police dog team. Anyone with any information about Earl Funk is encouraged to call Shenandoah National Park at 1-800-732-0911. For additional information about the search and rescue operation please call 540-999-3300.

 

Rock Creek Park

A park maintenance worker came upon a suspicious looking device in a playing field north of Morrow Drive early on the morning of October 1st and notified the Park Police. The responding officer determined that it could be a hand grenade. A perimeter was established and nearby residents were directed to evacuate the area. The Metropolitan Police explosive ordnance unit responded, examined the device, and determined that it was in fact a grenade. They contacted a military explosive ordnance unit and asked for assistance. The grenade was recovered, rendered safe, and found to be real but without any explosives inside. It was turned over to the Park Police. The surrounding area was checked and the scene was cleared. The incident is currently under investigation.

 

Northeast Region

Rick Harris has been selected as the new associate regional director for natural resources for Northeast Region. He begins his assignment in mid-November.  

“Sound science lays the foundation for responsible stewardship,” said regional director Dennis Reidenbach. “This is a critical time—especially as more people become aware of the complex challenges facing our environment. We established this natural resources senior level position to ensure that the science programs in the Northeast Region had the attention, expertise, and advocacy that they deserve.  Rick’s background in natural resources, strategic planning, and park management provides a strong mix to support the science programs in our parks.”

Harris comes to the Northeast Region from Chamizal National Memorial in Texas and Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, where he has served as general superintendent since 2005. Before that, he was director, deputy director, and program analyst for the NPS Office of Strategic Planning in Washington, D. C., and served as a member of the Natural Resources Challenge Council, the National Wilderness Steering Committee, and advisor to the Natural Resource Advisory Group.  Harris also served on the Department of the Interior Climate Change Strategy Group.

He previously worked as program chief for resources stewardship and science at Curecanti National Recreation Area and Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, as resource management specialist and branch chief for natural resources at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Padre Island National Seashore, and Mount Rainier National Park.

“I have been privileged to work with, and for, superintendents and regional and park natural resources professionals who now work in the Northeast Region,” said Harris.  “Working collaboratively and strategically, we will insure  that sound, scientifically-based natural resources management will continue to provide the best information to inform decisions and inspire future generations of stewards to be advocates to protect and preserve their national parks.”

Harris holds an undergraduate degree in natural resources management and a graduate degree in natural resources and public policy from Oregon State University.  He is a graduate of the NPS natural resource specialist training program and he began his federal career in wilderness management with the United States Forest Service.

 

Gulf Islands National Seashore

The park is currently recruiting for a supervisory operations services specialist. The announcement closes on October 15th. The duty station is Ocean Springs, Mississippi. For more information, contact facility manager R.W. Jenkins at 850-934-2610. For a copy of the announcement, click on the link below.

 

Redwood National and State Parks

Redwood National and State Parks has an opening for a permanent, full time GS-2210-12 supervisory information technology specialist. The announcement is open to all qualified federal merit promotion candidates and closes on October 27th. The USA Jobs vacancy announcement number REDW 08-36MP. It can be obtained by clicking on “More Information.”



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