Park News October 3,2008

Shenandoah National Park

The search for Earl Funk, 50, of Staunton, Virginia, enters its fifth day on Friday. So far, no clues have been found regarding his possible whereabouts. Funk is described as a white male with brown hair and green eyes, 5’ 8” tall, who weighs approximately 145 pounds and was last seen wearing dark pants and a light shirt. Over 70 employees and trained volunteers, including ground searchers and two dogs team, are currently involved in the search. The search is a joint operation between Shenandoah National Park and the Albemarle County Sheriff’s Office. These agencies are currently being assisted by the Albemarle County Police Department, a Virginia State Police dog team, Dogs East, Blue and Gray Search and Rescue Dogs, Greene County Sheriff’s Office and Appalachian Search and Rescue. 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, call 540-999-3300.

 

Rocky Mountain National Park

A 40-year-old visitor who attempted to solo ski Taylor Glacier along the Continental Divide apparently fell to his death during the afternoon of September 30th. Dispatch was notified by concerned friends that he was overdue on the night of September 30th. A cursory search began that night at probable trailheads and confirmed that his vehicle was parked and unoccupied at Glacier Gorge trailhead. A hasty search was begun the next morning by rescue rangers and the missing man’s friends. His body was found near the bottom of Andrews Glacier and extricated by helicopter that afternoon. Family members are being notified and the investigation is on-going.

 

The White House

President Bush has directed that all flags be lowered to half staff on Sunday in honor of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service. Flags will return to full staff on Monday.

 

Olympic National Park

Over 3,000 mourners gathered last Monday under a cloudless sky to honor and remember U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer Kristine Fairbanks.  A former NPS seasonal ranger, Fairbanks was murdered on September 20th while patrolling in the Olympic National Forest.

Co-workers eulogized Fairbanks as a dedicated and enthusiastic peace officer, with a quirky sense of humor and undying love for the resources she protected.  Friends and her former pastor spoke of her devotion to family, particularly her 15-year old daughter Whitney, and to her community.

National Park Service personnel and retirees from around the country (including two representatives from the NPS Honor Guard) attended the services, along with many Olympic National Park staff and representatives from many other agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, US Border Patrol, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Coast Guard, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Corrections, Washington State Patrol, and numerous sheriff’s departments and police and fire departments from around Washington and Oregon.  For details on the ceremony, see the following:

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080930/NEWS/809300301

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080930/NEWS/809300302

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080930/NEWS/809300303

Condolences to Kris’ family can be mailed to them in care of: U.S.F.S. Olympic National Forest, Pacific District – North, 437 Tillicum Lane, Forks, WA 98331.

 

Intermountain Region

Leigh Hinrichsen of WASO budget's Denver office will retire on October 4th after 37 years of service.

Leigh began her career as a seasonal ranger in Yosemite National Park. Subsequent postings included Petrified Forest, Grand Canyon, Chiricahua, Ft McHenry, Montezuma Castle, Allegheny Portage Railroad, and the Mid-Atlantic Region (now Northeast Region). She has also served at Albright Training Center, Bandelier, and Intermountain Region's budget office. Her most recent assignment at the WASO budget office saw her managing line item construction and Federal Highways earmark funds, and she has been instrumental in the development of a new construction allocation system (CAS) software, which will automate line item construction funding throughout the National Park Service.

Leigh plans to stay in the Lakewood/Denver area for the near future.  Her plans include studying geology at the Colorado School of Mines, climbing a few fourteeners, and learning to drive a steam locomotive (she’s a volunteer at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden).  Her travel plans include visiting Alaska before all the glaciers disappear, exploring Egypt, and visiting old friends and favorite places.  She’s also looking forward to volunteering in the rails/trails program, local theater, and museums.

 

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Dates: 10/01/2008 - 10/15/2008





































Denver Service Center has issued a vacancy announcement for a GS-0318-6/7 secretary (office automation). This position is located in the office of the director of DSC. The secretary assists the DSC director and DSC deputy director by performing a variety of administrative and secretarial tasks. This position is open to current and former competitive service Federal employees and people eligible under special hiring authorities. The announcement closes October 15th. For the full announcement, click on More Information.


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Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is seeking candidates for a GS-0025-9 law enforcement park ranger position in the Cow Creek area of Death Valley National Park. Candidated must currently possess or be able to obtain a Level 1 law enforcement commission and National Registry EMT certification.  This is a permanent, full-time, primary/rigorous position, covered by the 20-year special enhanced retirement system.  Applications are due by the end of the business day on October 15th.  If you are interested in this position, please contact Brent Pennington at 760-786-3245.  You may fax your resume and most recent SF-50 to our HR office secure fax line (760-786-3224).  Individuals must have career or career-conditional status to be eligible for this lateral transfer.  If you wish to confirm that your fax was received please contact the HR office at 760-786-3223 or 3274. 

If you do not have career or career-conditional status, we are currently advertising for this position at the GL-7 (full performance level GL-9) on USAJobs under the open competitive vacancy announcement number FS-211311-KB; however, the vacancy announcement closes on October 15th. Applications and supporting documents should be sent electronically to OPM on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration.  Please see timeline on the vacancy announcement for more details.  Follow instructions in the "how to apply" section of the vacancy announcement for detailed instructions. Click on “More Information” below for a copy of that announcement.



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