Park News August 19,2008

Grand Canyon National Park

The evacuation of people from Supai Canyon following this weekend’s serious floods continued yesterday. Another 85 people were airlifted from Supai Village to the Hualapai Hilltop area on Monday morning, while other drove to the American Red Cross evacuation center located at the tribal gymnasium in Peach Springs. Seven helicopters from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the National Park Service and the Arizona National Guard were employed in the operation. Anyone who hiked out of Supai Canyon after this event who has not spoken with law enforcement officials is asked to call the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office at 928-774-4523. Rescuers are continuing their efforts to determine if anyone is still missing and are conducting extensive air and ground searches in efforts to locate everyone. Supai remains closed to all campers and tourists. It’s believed that a number of weather-related events contributed to the flash floods in the canyon. According to the National Weather Service, the Coconino Plateau experienced significant rainfall on Friday afternoon, Saturday afternoon, and again on Sunday afternoon. It appears that the flooding in Supai late Saturday night and early Sunday was the result of heavy rainfall on Saturday afternoon. Water levels in the canyon remained high through Monday morning due to additional rainfall that fell on Sunday. Total rainfall for the period of Friday through Sunday was relatively light in the Supai area, but as high as six inches 20 to 40 miles upstream. A drying trend is expected through the week with only isolated showers expected. Anyone concerned about friends or family members who may have been evacuated as a result of this event may contact the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org and click on “Registers” and “Safe and Well.”

 

Grand Canyon National Park

Park dispatch received a report early last Sunday afternoon that a woman had fallen over the edge of the canyon and was injured. The woman had reportedly approached the edge of the canyon to take a picture and lost her footing when she turned to return to the trail. Rescue personnel found her about 30 feet below the rim and 300 yards west of Mather Point. An emergency responder immediately rappelled over the edge to assess and treat her injuries. The woman was found to have suffered an unstable lower left leg fracture. She was lifted to the canyon rim, then flown to Flagstaff Medical Center.

 

Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

Douglas Sykora, 57, was killed during construction work in the Cumberland Gap Tunnel this past April when he was pinned between a cement truck and another piece of heavy equipment.  The operator of the cement truck, Christopher Cunningham, was charged with operating while revoked for DUI and unsafe operation. On August 15th, Cunningham pled guilty to operating while suspended and unsafe operation and received a jail sentence of 45 days. The combination of NPS ownership of the tunnel and funding/operations by the state of Kentucky have complicated the legal considerations in this case.

 

Natchez Trace Parkway

On the evening of Friday, August 15th, ranger Gabe Bell stopped at the Birdsong Hollow scenic overlook in Williamson County, Tennessee, and informed several visitors that the overlook closed at sunset. He was able to contact everyone but the operator of one unoccupied vehicle. Bell checked on the vehicle and found that the 25-year-old male owner had been reported missing and possibly suicidal. Bell found the man’s body underneath a bridge a short distance from the parking lot. He’d succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his head. A note was also found on his person. Bell is the case ranger; Williamson County deputies, EMS, and the local medical examiner assisted.

 

Golden Gate National Recreation Area

Donny Robinson, son of Golden Gate NRA maintenance worker Dennis Robinson, will be completing on the U.S team in the Olympic BMX (bicycle motorcross) competition this week. Seeding and quarterfinals are Wednesday; semifinals and finals are Thursday.

Donny has his open web page on NBC’s Olympics web pages. Click on the link below to see it.



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Catoctin Mountain Park

Catoctin Mountain Park is currently accepting resumes or applications from qualified candidates seeking a non-competitive lateral reassignment to a GL-0025-7/9 park ranger (protection) position.  This is a permanent full-time, 6(c) enhanced annuity retirement covered position. The ranger selected will be responsible for a full range of law enforcement duties, including road patrol, proactive resource protection, interaction with three residential camps and two campgrounds, and trail and boundary patrols.  Seasonal activities include hunting patrol, fishing patrol, use of ATVs, skis, snowshoes, and snowmobiles. The ranger selected for this position will play an important role in interfacing with park partners, including state parks, local agencies and the military and will provide security for Presidential visits. Rangers at Catoctin interface with all aspects of park management, including resource education and resource management. 

Catoctin Mountain Park is located adjacent to Thurmont, Maryland, a rural foothills community.  All services are readily accessible in Thurmont and nearby towns, with a wide range of cultural interests available in Washington, DC (~60 miles SE of the park) or Baltimore (~70 miles ESE of the park).  Park housing may be available.  Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be authorized.  Please contact supervisory park ranger Chris Mengel at 301-416-0100 for more information regarding the position.

To apply, please submit a copy of your resume/application, most current SF-50, and a copy of your current/latest performance appraisal either by email to cato_jobs@nps.gov  (listed as "NCR CATO Jobs" in Lotus Notes) or by regular mail to Catoctin Mountain Park, 6602 Foxville Road, Thurmont, MD  21788  to the attention of Chris Mengel.

Applications must be received by COB August 29th.

 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways

Ozark National Scenic Riverways is seeking candidates to fill the position of maintenance mechanic. Duties include performing a variety of tasks associated with carpentry, plumbing, equipment operation and repair, electrical work, masonry, welding, and painting.  For more information on this vacancy please click the link below for the full announcement. The park contact for this vacancy is Leslie Richardson, Human Resources Assistant, 404 Watercress Drive, PO Box 490, Van Buren, Missouri  63965 (573-323-4236 ext. 234). The closing date is September 12th.



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