| Page 1541 | National Parks Traveler

Just to clear up a couple inaccuracies in your post: - The Coalition of NPS Retirees supported the proposal for the Museum by sending a letter to Director Bomar several months ago. - Art Allen does not "head up" CNPSR, although he is a member and has been a major force in trying to get the Museum on the radar screens of those who need to move it forward.

Nov 5th - 08:40am | repanshek

Frank and Beamis,

Nov 4th - 18:37pm | Merryland

By the way Kurt, nice pig...

Nov 4th - 09:26am | Durand Cornish

Our friends, my family, and I watched, with great dismay, for years, as the National Park Service DROVE OUT many locally-owned and operated shops that were scattered throughout the streets running along and including High Street.

Nov 4th - 04:53am | Michelle

Call me naive, but why should either development be approved? Trump it up as a "win-win" situation for the pretty trees and tweety birds.

Grand Canyon National Park: Open To Some Faiths

Nov 5th - 14:26pm | Lone Hiker

I, like Merryland, was under the impression that the structure was intended as a non-denominational gathering place, as was open to more than just the affiliations listed in Kurt's original text. That it should serve as a place for the local inhabitants should be viewed as a bonus.

Nov 5th - 09:41am | LINDA

THE THUNDERBIRD LODGE WAS NEVER TORN DOWN....SITS RIGHT WHERE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND IS NOW A HISTORICAL BUILDING AND CANNOT BE TORN DOWN. THE NEW VISITOR CENTER IS A JOKE WITH NO PARKING AND MOST PEOPLE CANNOT EVEN FIND IT. IT WAS BUILT FOR A TRAIN THAT HAS NEVER PUT INTO SERVICE AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE AND IS A BIG RAMBLING SKELETON.

Nov 4th - 17:46pm | Merryland

Now looking at both sides of the issue, there are a fair number of permanent residents there and they should be entitled to some sort of worship service without having to leave the park.

Nov 4th - 08:38am | Lone Hiker

I concur with Merrland's assessment of the building's lack of usage, and some might go so far as to label it "inappropriate" usage.

Nov 4th - 01:52am | Anonymous

PEER didn't 'suggest.' PEER claimed falsely, severely discrediting themselves in the process.

Nov 3rd - 23:50pm | Susan

I teach ancient history to sixth graders and before I introduce the Australopithecines, I give them a lesson on radiocarbon dating, and then show them the movie on Kennewick Man.

Nov 3rd - 23:37pm | Merryland

Right next door to the old visitor center, we used to use the Shrine as our indoor evening program facility in the winter months. Now that there's a new visitor center much further away, I doubt the Shrine gets much use... they should tear it down like the Thunderbird Lodge was a while back. It's by no means a concert-quality structure -- more like a school cafetorium at best.

Giving a Name to Yosemite Area Peak for Longtime Ranger Carl Sharsmith.

Nov 4th - 09:04am | pkrnger

To me, Dr. Carl W. Sharsmith was no mere mortal. He is an integral part of Yosemite's history. His Yosemite legacy stands with that of John Muir and Ansel Adams.

Nov 2nd - 23:18pm | Lone Hiker

Now for the dissenting opinion. Regardless of the stature of the man in his service to the park, I feel it the height of pretenctious, arrogant, self-serving behavior to connect a human name with the wonders of the natural world. It's a showboating way to immortalize a common human being. And the sorry fact is we, the human species, are quite common is all respects.

Nov 1st - 22:20pm | Anonymous

Yes, the old ranger, the oldest active ranger in the National Park Service during his tenure. I knew him like an old pipe...I can still smell that half/half pipe tobacco coming from his rustic cabin at Tuolumne Meadows. God, this guy was a real trip to hear his fabulous stories what the real Yosemite was like, back in the days when nature was crisp and raw with adventure.

Park Service's Top Investigator Pleads Guilty To Theft

Nov 3rd - 13:18pm | Lone Hiker

So in essence, the opinion you're all expressing is that the NPS system is no different than corporate America or our wonderful governmental corruption. Is that a surprise to anyone? The bigger they are the less they fall.

Nov 3rd - 09:18am | Anonymous

Frank and Beamis, crime to fit the punishment...depends who you are. Heard of cases where poor souls get thrown into the slammer (3 years for the first offense) for stealing a six pack of beer. How about being black and crossing the street behind a white women, next thing your accused of rape...later lynched! True case in the deep south!

Nov 2nd - 17:28pm | Anonymous

Beamis, my apology for not being more concise. Since you were a former government employee, would you know if you are allowed to keep your pension (retirement plan) if convicted on grand theft? Seems like, the higher you go up the government ladder (regarding your prestigious status) and if you get caught with your hands in the till, you still get to keep the fat retirement check. Right!

Nov 2nd - 16:05pm | Anonymous

Kurt, I'm surprised that are former NP rangers on this blog have not commented on this article...not a peep so far. Although, a pittance of a crime in comparsion in what some of Bushs lackeys have gotten away with. Ms. Bucello will pay for the crime and dwindle in the wind with a ruin reputation. I'm not sure if she looses her 30 year pension.

Hunting Across the National Park System: Good or Bad?

Nov 3rd - 12:13pm | Bear

Frank,

Oct 31st - 12:14pm | Alan S

When an attack happens in a National Park it is guaranteed to make national headlines. Yet we only read about one or two every year. But as our example of Googling "deer attacks" illustrated, far more attacks happen outside of parks. Many of these attacks, as well as bear, elk, moose etc. happen to hunters.

Will Bear Costume Get Presidential Candidates Talking About National Parks?

Nov 2nd - 22:32pm | Michelle

Great idea... ...so long as the poor beast doesn't make a political appearance at Katmai!

Nov 1st - 06:33am | Lone Hiker

disband the inefficient bureaucrasy

Museum of the National Park Service Will be Built in West Virginia

Nov 2nd - 21:59pm | Bart

Of course, once the place opens for business, the waste will just be getting started. Speaking of... During the past month I was required to attend four meetings. These consumed about 42 hours of my time (that converts to about 1,260 tax dollars). One of the meetings, which lasted a full three days, was attended by 16 people (that converts to about 11,520 tax dollars).

Nov 2nd - 15:10pm | Merryland

Building this museum will bring more Americans into the fold and actually be an important tool in the drive to get the message out about how important it is to support our national parks. There... didn't want you to have to wait for that to happen. :-)

Nov 2nd - 13:28pm | Kath

Of course it's going up in West Virginia. Senator Byrd is the King of Pork! Some enterprising reporter or blogger should follow the money. Somehow it leads into Byrd's campaign coffers.

Nov 2nd - 10:18am | Merryland

Sorry about the bad link -- try this one: http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=178213&format=p...

Nov 2nd - 07:48am | Ranger

Kurt: No one seems to know WHO Stonewall Heights, LLC is. Names are not being revealed. What's the big secret and how is their hotel and conference center different from what was just fought off with the last group of developers? They were building on their own land, too. The same property. Thanks.

Nov 2nd - 04:42am | Merryland

Plans revealed for museum near Harpers Ferry National Historical Park By DAVE McMILLION [email protected] CHARLES TOWN, W.VA

Watching Wolves in Yellowstone National Park

Nov 2nd - 04:34am | Merryland

We saw our first wolves at Yellowstone this summer -- and if it wasn't for the gaggle of people with spotting scopes we never would have known to stop and look in the first place. That group was very happy to share with us "muggles" and all the rest that stopped to look over the next 20 minutes.

Nov 1st - 12:48pm | Anonymous

If you don't have the cash to watch the wolves frolick in the Lamar with the privileged people, you can try it on your own if you have some mad skillz.

Lyle Laverty Confirmed as Assistant Interior Secretary Over National Parks

Nov 1st - 21:41pm | Bart

During my formative years of working for the NPS, I got the impression that the agency was a bastion of purity, not to be tampered with any way. You were expected to eat, drink, breathe, and bleed the Green & Gray, even during your private life.

Nov 1st - 10:39am | Anonymous

Looks likes to me another dog catcher confirmed to invoke more of the same (do nothing policies) and just ride the clock out with the nice perks!

Nov 1st - 08:31am | Lone Hiker

Uncle Frank has a multitude of poignant sound bites to many of the issues on this board. Most often I wind up thinking along the lines of, "Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmic debris?". But your's is better for this article Beamis.

Nov 1st - 00:45am | Anonymous

Sounds like a good man to me...great innovative mind to a system that sorely needs it.

Should the NPS Be Given Mount St. Helens?

Nov 1st - 03:42am | Merryland

Commissioners rescind support for national park around volcano By Barbara LaBoe Oct 31, 2007 Link here: http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/11/01/area_news/news10.txt

Ghost at Blevins Farmstead; Excerpt From 'Haunted Hikes'

Nov 1st - 00:08am | haunted hiker

Update: My latest source says that Oscar Blevins never wore overalls. So, depending on your beliefs, the rangers are seeing an image that represents the image concocted by their own guilty conscience or it implies that someone other than Oscar is haunting the Blevins homested.

4-Year-old Dies in Fall off South Rim of Grand Canyon

Oct 31st - 22:09pm | Anonymous

My husband and I visited the Grand Canyon in September of this year - 2007. We rode the train up to the Village and walked along the sidewalks near the hotels and shops. Even though there was a rock wall, it didn't cover the entire area and it was only about two-to-three feet tall, maybe not even that tall. It had a rim/edge on top that you could sit on.

Centennial Projects: Mountain Biking in Big Bend National Park

Oct 31st - 12:56pm | Mark E

Many national parks do allow mountain biking on narrow, single-track trails. One recent trial conducted in Kentucky concluded that shared-use trails for hikers and mountain bikers have few problems. Shared-use Big South Fork trail deemed a success By Morgan Simmons Knoxville News Sentinel October 7, 2007

Kids Detached From Nature? Here's One Example

Oct 31st - 12:39pm | Mark E

It seems important in discussions like this to try and remember what it's like to be a kid. Trees are, to nearly all kids, really pretty boring. It's not until later in life that the subtle appeal of passively studying the natural world holds much appeal. But kids do love to explore, ride bikes, play in the woods when they're given opportunities.

Katmai Bear Hunt: Outfitter Says It's No Walk in the Woods

Oct 31st - 08:24am | Bob Jackson

For anyone who would like a better visual of this year's bear hunt out on Katmai go to www.scottdickerson.com he's a photographer that took many still images of the bears milling around the hunters plane and camps. I think it further drives home just how simple it was for these guys to walk up to their animals and shoot!!

Alaska Regional Director Responds To Outrage Over Katmai Preserve Bear Hunt

Oct 31st - 08:19am | Bob Jackson

For anyone who would like to get a better visual of the bears milling around the lake and camps where the hunters are set-up go to www.scottdickerson.com he's a photographer that took many still images of the so-called bear hunt on Katmai.

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