Park News August 29,2008

Southeast/Intermountain Regions

Parks along the Gulf Coast are making preparations for Tropical Storm Gustav, which will likely return to hurricane strength when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico, while those in Florida and on the eastern seaboard are keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Hanna, which may make landfall somewhere in that region. The three parks most likely to be affected by the former are preparing for closure if necessary:

• Jean Lafitte NHP&P/New Orleans Jazz NHP – The parks have activated their hurricane plan and are working together on preparations. The governor of Louisiana has declared a state of emergency, and local officials are discussing the real possibility of evacuating coastal parishes as soon as today or tomorrow. The Louisiana State Police have announced that a “contra-flow” traffic pattern may go into effect as soon as Sunday if needed (this will make all interstate lanes one direction only in southeastern Louisiana, with all lanes being used to handle outbound traffic). The state has put 2,000 National Guard troops on standby. The parks will begin closing on Saturday if conditions warrant and will remain closed until the storm threat passes. Many park employees live in low-lying areas and are likely to be evacuated.


• Gulf Islands NS – The park began preparations yesterday morning. Both districts went to a higher hurricane plan preparedness level, as both are within the National Hurricane Center’s five-day forecast cone for areas where landfall may occur.

Meanwhile, other parks in the area are in the planning and monitoring phase:

• Cane River NHA/Cane River Creole NHP


• Natchez Trace Parkway


• Big Thicket NP


• Padre Island NS


• Palo Alto Battlefield NHS

The National Park Service is also preparing to support any potential requests for support from FEMA.

 

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

On April 16th, a federal judge issued a consent decree ordering the National Park Service to take specific steps to protect certain nesting shorebirds and sea turtles. In order to meet this objective, the park upgraded its law enforcement capacity and has been closely monitoring its beaches. Although nesting shorebird activity has ended for the season, turtle activity continues. Forty sea turtle nests have successfully hatched to date. There are 112 closures currently in place, all to protect sea turtle nests. Five violation notices have been issued in the last several weeks for closed area violations.  With the Labor Day holiday weekend approaching, additional law enforcement personnel have been ordered and the operation is again being managed by a Type 3 incident management team.

 

Gates Of The Arctic National Park & Preserve

The park has announced the closure to visitor use of an area west of Anaktuvuk Pass after a woman was mauled by a grizzly bear at her campsite in the Okokmilaga River drainage. The woman, whose identity is not being released until she has receives medical attention and family members are notified, was attacked at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday morning by a lone adolescent bear. The incident was reported by other members of the seven-person group. Her injuries are significant but not life-threatening according to medics who tended to her in Coldfoot, where she was first flown by Coyote Air yesterday morning. She was transferred this afternoon to Fairbanks for additional medical care. The closure was ordered by the superintendent and applies to National Park Service lands. A map of the closed area is posted on the park’s web site, www.nps.gov/gaar, under the “Management” link; it is also available from park offices in Fairbanks, Bettles and Anaktuvuk Pass. Park rangers and an Alaska state trooper were told that the incident began when a bear breached the group’s food tent and destroyed one or more water jugs. Food was in barrels and was not reached by the bear. The bear then moved to the victim’s tent. Other group members heard the incident in progress and chased the bear off with a mix of bear spray and noise. No firearm was used. Additional interviews are expected to take place with group members, and when possible, with the victim. The Okokmilaga is a very sparsely used and the closure is not expected to displace other visitors. Bear-human incidents are very rare in Gates of the Arctic. An area along the Alatna River was closed three years ago due to an aggressive black bear threatening people along the river. A bear attack in 1996 near the Noatak River was the park’s only bear fatality.

 

United States Park Police

Retired sergeant Relis "Rico" Woods passed away on Sunday, August 17th.  Sergeant Woods retired from the Park Police in February 2006 as a sergeant in the Training Branch. 

Rico was born on September 2, 1950, in Carrollton, Mississippi, to Walter and Emma Woods. After graduating high school he joined the Army and served as a medic in Korea.  After being honorably discharged from the military, he went on to graduate with honors from George Mason University with a degree in criminology. 

On February 20, 1979, Rico was hired by the United States Park Police and began his career. He served as a patrol officer throughout the National Capital Region.  Rico was also detailed to Miami, Florida, for the Cuban flotilla detail.  

Rico began his career as a trainer while still a patrol officer when he acquired instructor certificates for PR-24 and STARS, which was soon followed by scooter instructor.  In 1987 Rico became a permanent instructor assigned to the Training Branch.  Rico also assisted the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center as a guest instructor for firearms and driver training.  

After a promotion to sergeant in 1992 and a short return to the Patrol Branch, he returned to the Training Branch as a firearms/physical skills supervisor and was soon moved over to the administrative side of training as the training sergeant, where he was responsible for the recruit programs in the Washington metropolitan area. Rico helped establish a field training program for new recruits and was instrumental in its success.

Rico received numerous awards throughout his career, including the combat medal award from the Police Association of DC, a lifesaving award from the U.S. Park Police, chief’s certificates for excellence in police service, and numerous outstanding police service commendations.   

Rico’s favorite pastime was bowling.  Focusing on bowling was symbolic of Rico’s way of battling anything he had to overcome, while enjoying the companionship of close friends. After years of bowling, Rico achieved ultimate greatness by getting a perfect 300 game. 

Rico’s memory is cherished by his devoted family, his wife, Renea Naylor Woods, his children, grandchildren, and other family members and friends.  A funeral was held for him at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Centreville, Virginia, on August 26th. 

 

Natural Resource Stewardship and Science

The Washington Office of Natural Resource Stewardship and Science is currently recruiting for a GS-1301-14/15 supervisory physical scientist or a GS-0401-14/15 supervisory biologist to serve as its deputy director.

A copy of the announcement, including a full description of duties, can be obtained by clicking on the “More Information” link below. The announcement is open until August 27th.



 More Information...

 

Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park is seeking a permanent GS-0303-7 supervisory visitor use assistant (fees) interested in a lateral transfer. The person selected for this position will be stationed at the Kipahulu area of the park.

Haleakala National Park is located on the island of Maui. The Kipahulu area is the remote coastal area of the park 63 miles from Kahului, the island’s largest commercial center (population approximately 25,000) and 50 miles from park headquarters, located at the Summit area. The Kipahulu area is located at sea level where weather is warm, humid, windy and rainy. Temperatures are relatively constant year-round, with highs in the 70s to 90s and lows in the 60s to 70s.  The town of Hana (population 800) is nine miles from Kipahulu and has a local clinic, two small grocery/all-purpose stores and an elementary and high school.  Private schools are available in Makawao, and Kahului areas. Complete shopping and medical facilities are available in the Kahului area, about 63 miles and two hours from Kipahulu.  Public transportation is not available to the park; personal transportation is essential.  Haleakala does not have any park housing in the Kipahulu area. Rental prices or high with an average studio or one-bedroom starting at $700/month, one to two bedroom cottages range from $1200 to $1800/month and a three-bedroom house from $1800/month and up; purchase prices begin at about $500,000 and range considerably upward.

Interested persons should submit the following items:

• Resume


• Copy of your latest SF-50 that indicates your current title, series, grade and step


• OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment


• Copy of your latest performance appraisal

These forms will be accepted by e-mail to Jennifer_Chung@nps.gov or Elizabeth_Jameson@nps.gov or by fax to (808) 541-3696. For further information, please contact Claire Takemoto at (808) 572-4403. The closing date is Tuesday, September 12th.