Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
Man Convicted On Assault Charges
Early on the morning of May 6, 2011, a 38-year-old man was stabbed in the abdomen by an unknown male assailant while walking through Crissy Field, an area within Golden Gate NRA. On October, following a lengthy investigation, an arrest warrant was obtained from the United States District Court in San Francisco for a 33-year-old man for assault and attempted murder. He was arrested later that month and held in federal custody. On January 26th, on the advice of his defense counsel, the man pled guilty to assault with a deadly weapon. Based on the nature of this case and the man's past criminal history, he was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release. This case was investigated by the Criminal Investigations Branch of the Park Police's San Francisco Field Office. The lead investigators were detective sergeant Robert Jansing, detective Robert Reidy, and investigator Steven Polianos.
[Submitted by Lt. Thomas Hart, United States Park Police]
Shenandoah National Park (VA)
Rangers Intervene In Attempted Suicide
On Tuesday, January 31st, park dispatch received a call from police dispatch in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, regarding a suicidal man who was believed to be on the north end of Skyline Drive. The man reportedly made several cell phone calls to his wife in Pennsylvania stating that he'd just entered the park and planned to take an overdose of pills. Rangers responded and located the 28-year-old man at Signal Knob Overlook, six miles inside the park. He appeared to be under the influence and said that he'd ingested a large quantity of Tylenol PM pills. Warren County EMS transported him to a local hospital, where he spent three days in intensive care. The man had previously attempted suicide by pills and had an involuntary commitment order on file in Pennsylvania. The Warren County Sheriff's Office assisted in the response.
[Submitted by Stu Curtin, Park Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Olympic National Park (WA)
Superintendent Karen Gustin To Retire
Karen Gustin, superintendent of Olympic National Park since 2008, will retire early next month.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Olympic National Park," said Gustin. "The staff is a great group of people to work with, as are the communities of the Olympic Peninsula. The community support and our park neighbors have been wonderful here."
Under Gustin's leadership, Olympic National Park worked with many partners to celebrate and commemorate the beginning of the nation's largest dam removals on the Elwha River last September. The Elwha River restoration is now well underway and on schedule, with completion of dam removal slated for 2014.
Work has begun on the park's wilderness stewardship plan, with public scoping to begin this summer. Development of a wilderness stewardship plan is included in the park's GMP, completed in 2008.
Gustin has also worked to strengthen the park's relationships with eight Olympic Peninsula treaty Indian tribes under an MOU signed in 2008.
Several sizable public access projects were completed under Gustin's leadership, including close to $4 million in storm damage repairs to trails, roads and wilderness bridges in 2008 and over $2 million in road repairs and improvements around the park in 2011. In 2010, emergency repairs were quickly completed after a landslide destroyed a section of the Hurricane Ridge Road, resulting in a $2 million contract to a Port Angeles firm and restored access to the park's most popular winter destination. Slated to begin later this year is the long-awaited installation of a new bridge over Staircase Rapids, a $1.1 million project that will restore the popular Staircase Rapids loop trail.
Gustin and her family plan to relocate to Lexington, Kentucky. An avid horsewoman, Gustin will immerse herself in the equine industry.
"There are a host of non-profit organizations and companies that work in all facets of horse breeding, training, conservation and management," she says. "I look forward to making new contacts, taking advantage of employment opportunities, and learning more about the business," she explained.
Gustin's last day as superintendent will be Friday, March 2nd. Todd Suess, the park's deputy superintendent, will serve as interim acting superintendent.
[Submitted by Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Specialist]
Intermountain Region
Annette Martinez Named ARD For Workforce Management
Annette Martinez, a 27-year veteran of the federal government, has been named associate regional director for workforce management for Intermountain Regional Office. Martinez will assume her new duties on February 12th.
"I am delighted that Annette has accepted this key position, said Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels. "Annette brings innumerable talents and a wealth of experience in all aspects of human capital management to one of the most demanding positions in the regional office. We welcome Annette as part of our management team and look forward to her professional contributions and guidance."
Martinez currently works for BLM's Office of Human Capital Management in Washington, D.C., but is duty stationed in Lakewood, Colorado. She serves as a program analyst responsible for the full spectrum of strategic human capital management issues, initiatives and policies in the functional areas of human resources, equal employment opportunity and employee development.
As a member of the BLM assistant director's management team, Martinez participated in all major planning decisions by providing program advice on key projects and programs within the human capital functional areas. Previously, she was the division chief for human resources at BLM's National Operations Center in Lakewood.
Martinez also served as director of the National Human Resources Management Center at the BLM from 2004 through 2007, responsible for the management of the full range of human capital functions.
She was also the operations center director for the Human Capital Office of the Small Business Administration in Denver, where she managed and supervised the full spectrum of human resources functions for the National Operations Office of the Small Business Administration.
Martinez began her federal career as a position classification specialist with the Department of Defense at Lowry Air Force Base. She has a bachelor of science degree from Metropolitan State College of Denver, with a major in business management.
"I am honored to be part of Intermountain Regional Office team and look forward to providing professional guidance and customer service support to the regional office and park staff who seek workforce management assistance and direction," said Martinez. "I'm also eager to work for a progressive and innovative organization, and look forward to sharing my thoughts and knowledge as the National Park Service prepares for a second century of stewardship and engagement."
[Submitted by Patricia Turley, patricia_turley@nps.gov, 303-969-2701]
Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
GS-0201-12 Labor And Employee Relations Branch Chief
The Klamath/Bay Area SHRO has issued an announcement for a labor and employee relations branch chief.
Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties, area information, and procedures for applying.
It closes on February 17th.
More Information...
George Washington Carver National Monument (MO)
GS-0090-5 Park Guide
George Washington Carver National Monument is seeking candidates for a park guide position. The announcement, CK600218CF, closes on February 27th and may be viewed on USAJOBS at the link below.
Questions may be directed to Supervisory Park Ranger Randall Becker at 417-325-4151.
More Information...
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id=8728&lv=2&pgid=3504
All reports should now be submitted via this automated system.