Park News July 22,2008

Yosemite National Park

Park dispatch was notified of a tour tram fire near the Tunnel View overlook on Highway 41 on the morning of Saturday, June 14th. Protection rangers, firefighters and EMS personnel were dispatched to the location and found a tram tour tractor engulfed in flame. The flames continued toward the rear of the tractor’s cab and an attached propane tank. The tank started to vent, then ignited, causing a 20-foot vertical flame to issue from it. The fire was suppressed with the help of a Delaware North Corporation structural engine and a contract helicopter. The 60 passengers on the tram were all safely evacuated and there were no injuries.

 

Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River

Rangers were contacted by Sullivan County 911 last Friday afternoon and advised of a river rescue operation in progress near a canoe livery base in Minisink, New York. Another call revealed that the person had been recovered, that CPR was in progress, and that he was being taken to Bon Secours Hospital in Port Jervis. Salvatore Valenziano, 20, of Staten Island, New York, had been swimming in the Delaware River with four companions when they attempted to swim across the river to the Pennsylvania shoreline. When they were about half way across, Valenziano begin having difficulty staying afloat, called for help, then went under. His companions attempted to assist but could not rescue him. Employees and campers from the canoe livery, Lander’s River Trips, heard the calls for help and responded in canoes. They pulled Valenziano into a canoe and began CPR, then turned him over to an ambulance crew on shore. He was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead after additional life support efforts failed. About three hours before the incident occurred, staff from Kittatinny Canoe, another canoe livery, advised them not to swim across the river and to wear lifejackets while in the water.

 

Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

On June 30th, John Morgan of Bowling Green, Kentucky, told friends that he was going camping in the park for about a week. Two weeks later, friends advised Bowling Green police that he was overdue and missing. The park was apprised the next day, July 15th, and a BOLO (‘be on the lookout’ message) was posted for his vehicle. Morgan’s truck was found the next night in the Leatherwood Ford parking lot near the Angel Falls trailhead. No information was found in the vehicle as to where he might be. Family members told rangers that Morgan liked to hike to the falls and was a regular visitor to the park. Searchers checked all trails in the Leatherwood Ford area that day, but found no sign of him. A full scale search was begun the next day and his body was found about two hours later near a creek about a thousand feet from the trail. Indications were that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound and that he’d probably been dead since the day he was reported to have come to the park. An autopsy was conducted which confirmed the probability of suicide.

 

U S S Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is seeking a protection ranger, either via a detail or as a permanent employee.

Opportunities for challenges and advancement both personally and professionally are abundant. Career development opportunities include the opportunity to build a comprehensive emergency services, law enforcement and resource protection program.

The division currently has four full time positions. Rangers are involved in bicycle patrol, surveillance, physical security, dignitary protection, antiterrorism, and responding to medicals. There is great opportunity to network with other law enforcement agencies at the federal and state level. Networking will be a must to build intelligence in an effort to prevent car burglaries.

The law enforcement program manages two contracts for seven security guards with an opportunity to be assigned as a project inspector for the work that they perform. The division is in the process of implementing a new commercial use authorization program while responding to the many requests for special use permits.

Recreational opportunities in the area are endless, particularly any type of water sport. If you have always wanted to explore the Hawaiian Islands, then this is the job or detail for you. If you are interested in engaging in many recreational activities on the same day, such as diving, surfing, or hiking, you will find the opportunity to do so here. 

The USS Arizona Memorial is an international icon receiving an average of 1.5 million visitors a year. The Memorial is a prime destination point on the Hawaiian Islands located at Naval Station Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona Memorial is one of the four Pearl Harbor Historic Sites. The old visitor center at Pearl Harbor will soon be replaced with a new $52 million facility, so it is an exciting time to be here. Additionally, a unique period of history exists to interact with the “greatest generation” and their stories on a personal level, an opportunity that will soon pass. 

Interested individuals should submit a resume to the park. For information about a detail, contact the chief ranger.  Details of 30 to 90 days, permanent lateral, and dual career possibilities exist.

For detailed area and duty information, please contact David Stransky, chief ranger, at 808-422-2771 ext.112 or cell at 808-620-3066.

 

American Battle Monuments Commission

The American Battle Monuments Commission has an opening for a GS-12 director of visitor services for the Normandy American Cemetery in Normandy, France. Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement, which closes on August 8th.

The director manages a $30 million visitor center with 14 employees and an annual visitation of about 500,000 people.

Created in 1923, the ABMC manages 24 overseas military cemeteries and 25 monuments (for more information on the agency and the Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center see the ABMC website at www.abmc.gov). The mission is to honor the sacrifice of the soldiers buried in these cemeteries. Until recently, the agency primarily focused on immaculate maintenance of the cemetery and outstanding service to the families who visit their loved ones buried on the grounds. About five years ago, the agency decided to build a major visitor center facility at Normandy and to focus on improving visitor services. We are now almost a lifetime beyond World War II. It is necessary to help the public understand these historic events. It is an exciting time to work for an agency in the process of transforming its mission.

The commission is particularly interested in those who have experience such as that gained by working at a National Park Service site. There is a French language requirement. You need to pass the Interagency Language Roundtable at a level 1+ (it is on a scale of 1 to 5, so 1+ is a modest level of French). Housing is provided in one of the local communities. If you have children, there are local French language schools available. It is a chance to work at a very interesting job and serve overseas.



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Alaska Region

Dates: 07/21/2008 - 08/01/2008

GS 12 Supervisory IT Specialist

Denali National Park and Preserve is currently advertising for a GS12 Supervisory IT Specialist. This exciting position will serve as the IT Team Leader for the park and supervises a GS11 IT Specialist; GS09 Telecommunication Specialist and GS05/07 seasonal IT Assistant. The position resides in the Administration Division. Besides regular IT Systems management for 175-200 users, the park has many projects underway which involve varying technologies; examples are video conferencing, Tachyon satellite communications, a 90-mile long wireless backhaul, VoIP over Wireless, VoIP over Satellite, and a separate guest LAN in addition to the park's NPS campus area network. We are also currently in the process of converting our existing Avaya PABX to Cisco VOIP. Denali employees are duty stationed in Anchorage, Talkeetna, Fairbanks and the park itself. The park has 4 remote work camps and the Eielson Visitor Center which are all off the grid, providing interesting IT challenges!

This position is duty stationed at Denali National Park Headquarters. The park is located in the Interior of Alaska. Anchorage lies 250 miles to the south, Fairbanks 125 miles to the north. The small community of Healy (pop. 1,000) 15 miles to the north has a K-12 school, medical clinic, small grocery/liquor store and 2 year round restaurants. This is an incredible professional opportunity, and a chance to work in one of the world's premiere national parks! How many IT Specialists get to watch out for moose, grizzly bears, wolves, fox, and lynx while they walk between office buildings? You can see them all here, and live beneath the Northern Lights! For more information about this position, you can read the announcement at usajob.gov/ or call DENA HR at 907-683-9504 or 907-683-9502.