Park News October 21,2008

Zion National Park

James Welton, 34, of Durango, Colorado, fell to his death while climbing a popular climbing route called “Touchstone” on Friday, October 17th. Around 7:15 p.m., two climbers who were ascending a nearby route stopped a Zion Canyon shuttle bus and reported that another climber had fallen. Rangers on scene determined that Welton had fallen approximately 300 feet and confirmed it was a fatality. His two climbing partners witnessed the fall. Eleven members of the Zion search and rescue team responded and worked through the night removing the victim and investigating the fall. “Touchstone,” located across the canyon from Angels Landing, is one of the most popular big wall climbs in the park. Over 1,000 feet high from river to rim, it is usually a two-day climb requiring an overnight stay on a “port-a-ledge,” a cot-like device attached to the wall. Welton was considered a very experienced climber and had recently completed a climb of El Capitan in Yosemite. This is the first fatality in the park for 2008, and the sixth climbing fatality since 1983. Preliminary investigation reveals that Welton was climbing a rope using mechanical ascenders. It appears that a short fall occurred, causing the ascenders to sever the rope.

 

Natchez Trace Parkway

During the first two weeks of October, rangers made 20 arrests while conducting four separate plainclothes operations in the Ridgeland and Tupelo Districts in an effort to deter disorderly conduct violations. These operations targeted public sexual misconduct, solicitation and indecent exposure incidents that were known to be occurring at several parkway sites and trails. Several people were also charged with drug offenses. Other districts participated by providing personnel. Additional support was provided by the Lee County (Mississippi) Sheriff’s Department.

 

Blue Ridge Parkway

Plateau District rangers received a report that a man had jumped off the Roanoke River Bridge around 1 p.m. on October 17th and responded along with county and local fire, EMS and law enforcement personnel. They found a Ford Mustang parked on the bridge in the southbound lane. Witnesses said that the driver – later identified as a 45-year-old Roanoke man – had stopped, gotten out of the car, then jumped over the bridge railing. An off-duty Roanoke firefighter who saw the man jump made his way down to the river and found the body about a half mile downstream. County fire personnel trained in swiftwater rescue removed his body from the river. Ranger Jon Holter is the case agent.

 

Colorado National Monument

On the evening of October 18th, a ranger and a sheriff’s deputy successfully disarmed a 35-year-old suicidal woman from Grand Junction about a half a mile east of the visitor center. A ranger and several sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a suicidal woman heading up to the monument to kill herself.  A friend of the woman found her car on the side of Rim Rock Drive and reported his location to 911 dispatch. The ranger and a deputy arrived on scene a few minutes later and found the women sitting on the ground with a 9mm handgun in her lap. Fortunately, the slide on the handgun was locked back. The ranger drew his handgun and the deputy ordered the woman to drop the gun.  When she failed to comply, the deputy and the ranger tackled and disarmed her. The gun was found to be unloaded, with many unspent rounds on the ground. Apparently the woman did not know how to operate the handgun properly. She was later transported to a mental health center in Grand Junction. 

 

Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

On September 21st, a woman and two young girls from Madison, Wisconsin, came to Kemil Beach. The girls – ages nine and ten – were playing in the water when both began having trouble. The ten-year-old disappeared underwater and it took rescuers about 25 minutes to find her. Resuscitation efforts were begun immediately and the girl was taken to St. Anthony’s Hospital in nearby Michigan City, then airlifted to Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee. After an extended stay in the hospital, she was transferred to a hospice in Madison. On October 16th, she passed away from an unrecoverable brain injury due to lack of oxygen. Due to the circumstances surrounding the case, no autopsy is planned. Click on the link below to see the original report.


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Midwest Region

Dates: 10/20/2008 - 11/10/2008

Midwest Region has issued announcements for the superintendent positions at Agate Fossil Beds, Ulysses S. Grant and Dayton Aviation. Please see the listings below and click on the "More Information" link below for copies of the announcements on USA Jobs.

Title: Park Manager (Superintendent)
Series/Grade: GS-0025-12
Duty Location: Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, Harrison, Nebraska
Announcement #: MWRO-09-MP-0004
Area of Consideration: Merit Promotion, NPS Employees Only
Open: 10/20/2008
Closes: 11/10/2008
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Title: Park Manager (Superintendent)
Series/Grade: GS-0025-12, promotion potential to GS-0025-13
Duty Location: Ulysses S Grant National Historic Site, St Louis, Missouri
Announcement #: MWRO-09-MP-0005
Area of Consideration: Merit Promotion, NPS Employees Only
Open: 10/20/2008
Closes: 11/10/2008
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Title: Park Manager (Superintendent)
Series/Grade: GS-0025-13/14
Duty Location: Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park, Dayton, Ohio
Announcement #: MWRO-09-MP-0006
Area of Consideration: Merit Promotion, Governmentwide
Open: 10/20/2008
Closes: 11/10/2008



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Big Bend National Park

Dates: 10/21/2008 - 11/07/2004





































Big Bend National Park is searching for a qualified person for a temporary promotion, NTE 120 days, to a GS-0201-9 or GS-0201-11 human resources specialist position. This person will provide a broad range of human resources services, including advising on employee benefits, position management, and recruitment.  The primary focus will be on staffing and recruitment activities for a wide variety of temporary and permanent General Schedule and Wage Grade positions.

Big Bend will cover travel costs, provide housing, and pay one-half of the salary during the temporary assignment.  The selectee's home park will be responsible for the other half of the salary.  The beginning date for this assignment is negotiable, but no later than January 4th.

Big Bend National Park is a great place to spend the winter.  The average high temperature in January and February is around 60 degrees, with the average low in the mid-30s.  Recreational opportunities abound, and include hiking, camping, birding, bicycling, and river rafting.  

Interested employees should send a copy of their resume to Susie Celaya, chief of administration, at susan_celaya@nps.gov, or fax it to 432-477-2345.  Call her at 432-477-1105 for more information about the position and the park.