Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve (AK)
Park Staff Join In Major SAR For Missing Local Resident
On May 3rd, park personnel were asked to assist the Gustavus Fire Department in responding to a vehicle submerged in the water adjacent to the local municipal pier. Divers found no one in the vehicle, but information obtained from the community revealed that a local minor associated with the car was missing. Park staff were asked to manage the emergency response, which included a large number of community volunteers who aided the search via vessels and aircraft. State troopers later arrived and assumed responsibility for managing the incident, which was supported by the Coast Guard, the Civil Air Patrol, Gustavus FD and the NPS. The incident evolved into a large land- and water-based search that covered more than 14 miles of coastline and a large area of ocean known as Icy Straight. More than 70 local volunteers joined park personnel in the search. The body of the missing minor was recovered by divers on the afternoon of May 4th. The tragedy is being felt throughout the small, tight-knit community and the park, where the victim had recently begun service as a volunteer. [Submitted by Randy Larson, Chief Ranger]
Yosemite National Park (CA)
Man Sentenced For Abusive Sexual Contact With Child
In May 2007, Yosemite rangers received a report of past acts of sexual abuse against a child committed by Norman Chenowith, then 76. Chenowith had been a maintenance worker at Camp Wawona, a Seventh Day Adventist church camp that is on private property within the park, when the alleged abuse occurred. Special agent Daniel Horner was assigned as case agent. His investigation revealed that the sexual abuse of this particular victim began in 1995, when the victim was four years old, and continued for four years. Horner’s investigation further revealed other alleged incidents of sexual contact with different children. After a three-month-long investigation, Horner filed a criminal complaint charging Chenowith with 15 counts of abusive sexual conduct (18 USC 2244(a)(5)). Chenowith was arrested and indicted by a federal grand jury in Fresno on 18 counts of abusive sexual contact and ordered detained under supervised house arrest with electronic monitoring. Last December, Chenowith pled guilty to one count of abusive sexual contact with a minor under age 12. He was remanded to custody pending sentencing. On April 17th, he was sentenced to three years of incarceration, followed by five years of supervised release. [Submitted by April Lee, Special Agent]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Cumberland Island National Seashore (GA)
Fred Boyles Named Park’s Superintendent
Fred Boyles has been appointed superintendent of Cumberland Island National Seashore, effective June 7th.
“I am pleased to place such a seasoned manager at Cumberland Island,” said Southeast Region regional director David Vela. “Fred’s long and successful experience in working to develop partnerships that protect resources and serve visitors has been exceptional and is the right fit for Cumberland Island.”
Boyles has been an NPS superintendent for 23 years. For the last 19 years, he has been the superintendent at Andersonville National Historic Site in southwest Georgia. He was instrumental in working with the American Ex-Prisoners of War in the development of the National Prisoner of War Museum that is housed at the site. He also worked with the Friends of Andersonville to develop an endowment that has provided more than $270,000 to the park over the last 10 years.
Boyles is also superintendent of the Andersonville National Cemetery, an active cemetery with more than 160 burials annually. In that capacity, he has represented the NPS on the Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Cemeteries and Memorials.
For 15 years while serving at Andersonville, Boyles was simultaneously superintendent of Jimmy Carter National Historic Site. In that capacity, he led the site through its general management plan and supervised the restoration of the Plains High School Visitor Center, the Plains Depot and the Carter Boyhood Farm.
From 1985 to 1989 Boyles was superintendent of Moores Creek National Battlefield in North Carolina. Prior to that, he served as park historian at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park in Kentucky. He began his career in 1979 in Southeast Regional Office.
Boyles also is a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve and currently serves as commanding officer of the Surface Deployment and Distribution Command 202 at Fort Eustis, Virginia. In 2004, while serving as commanding ifficer of Navy Cargo Handling Battalion Eleven in Jacksonville, he was mobilized and deployed to Kuwait. There, he and his sailors performed logistics services for the U.S. Army in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Boyles is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Clemson University. Prior to working for the NPS, he taught school in Waycross, Georgia.
“I am looking forward to working with the staff and the community at Cumberland Island to ensure that the park’s resources are well preserved and that the integrity of the park’s wilderness area is maintained,” Boyles said. “My time at Andersonville and Jimmy Carter was very fulfilling, and I will miss working with those great employees and communities. However, I believe that there is great opportunity at Cumberland Island, and I want to be a part of ensuring that wonderful island is preserved for future generations to experience and enjoy.”
Boyles and his wife, Debbie, have two grown children.
[Submitted by William F. Reynolds]
Midwest Region
GS-1010-11 Exhibits Specialist (Term)
Dates: 05/01/2009 - 05/22/2009
Herbert Hoover National Historic Site is announcing a term position (not-to-exceed four years and subject-to-furlough) for a GS-11 exhibits specialist. The maximum period of time the incumbent will be in a non-pay status is 13 pay periods per year.
The sxhibits xpecialist is responsible for planning, evaluating, initiating, administering, managing, and performing work on in-house and contracted preservations projects for the 58 historic structures and 186 acres of land that comprise the historic site. Projects are often complex and unique.
The complete announcement can be found at the "More Information" link below.
[Submitted by Cheryl Schreier, Cheryl_Schreier@nps.gov, 319-643-7870]
More Information...
San Juan National Historic Site (PR)
GS-12 Chief Ranger Detail
Dates: 05/06/2009 - 07/06/2009
San Juan National Historic Site is recruiting for a ranger to serve on a long-term detail (not to exceed one year) as the park's GS-12 chief ranger. Housing, travel and per diem will be provided. While desirable, the ability to speak Spanish is not a screen-out factor.
Please send your resume to Superintendent, San Juan National Historic Site, 501 Calle Norzagaray, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 00901. For additional information contact deputy superintendent Aleta Knight at 787-729-6777, x238.
San Juan National Historic Site is a medium sized park set in the urban setting of historic Old San Juan. The community is diverse and offers all of the basic amenities - groceries, drug stores, restaurants, museums, etc. The climate is tropical with year-round high temperatures of mid to upper 80's and lows in the 70's. Our visitation is heavily comprised of cruise ship passengers during the fall, winter and spring months, with locals largely dominating our summer visitation.
The majority of visitor protection situations are typical -- first aid, illegal parking, vandalism, etc. The person detailed into this position will be expected to help draft policies, agreements, and implement procedures outlined in a recent program review. This position provides an exciting opportunity for career growth and development.
[Submitted by Aleta Knight, aleta_knight@nps.gov, 787-729-6777 ext. 238]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
All reports should be submitted via email to Lane Baker in the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services in the Washington Office and to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with copies to your regional office.