Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Weather
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
955 AM PDT THU MAY 15 2008
...HOT WEATHER TO BRING POTENTIAL HAZARDS THROUGH THE WEEKEND..
STRONG HIGH PRESSURE IS MOVING INTO CALIFORNIA THIS WEEK. THIS WILL PUSH
TEMPERATURES TO WELL ABOVE SEASONAL AVERAGES. HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY...LOWER FOOTHILLS OF THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA...AND THE
DESERTS OF KERN COUNTY COULD REACH OR EXCEED THE 100 DEGREE MARK BEGINNING
TODAY AND LASTING INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK.
HERE ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP YOU COPE WITH THE HEAT.
AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE SUN. WHEN POSSIBLE...STAY IN THE SHADE OR
AN AIR CONDITIONED ROOM. WEAR LOOSE FITTING...LIGHT COLORED CLOTHES. DRINK
PLENTY OF NON ALCOHOLIC FLUIDS.
NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS IN A VEHICLE...EVEN FOR SHORT PERIODS OF TIME.
TEMPERATURES INSIDE VEHICLES CAN CLIMB RAPIDLY TO LIFE THREATENING
LEVELS...EVEN WITH WINDOWS PARTIALLY OPEN.
PERIODICALLY CHECK ON CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY. ALSO...REMEMBER THAT
ANIMALS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE HEAT. MAKE SURE THAT PETS AND FARM ANIMALS
HAVE PLENTY OF WATER AND ACCESS TO SHADE.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL INTO THE SOUTHERN SIERRA NEVADA FOR RELIEF
FROM THE HEAT...REMEMBER THAT THE INCREASED FLOW IN MOUNTAIN
RIVERS...STREAMS AND CREEKS HAS ITS OWN HAZARDS. EVEN THOUGH A STREAM OR
RIVER LOOKS COOL AND INVITING...THE WATER IS ACTUALLY VERY COLD AND MAY BE
DANGEROUSLY FAST. OUTDOOR ENTHUSIASTS ARE ADVISED TO USE EXTREME CAUTION
NEAR STREAMS AND RIVERS. IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON CAMPING...REMEMBER THAT THE
HIGHEST WATER LEVELS OCCUR AT NIGHT...USUALLY WITHIN AN HOUR OR TWO EITHER
SIDE OF MIDNIGHT. A CAMPGROUND MAY LOOK DRY AND SAFE IN THE LATE
AFTERNOON...BUT CAN TAKE ON WATER AT NIGHT.
Yosemite: TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. WINDY. LOWS 45 TO 55 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY... 36 TO 46 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY. GUSTS UP TO 55 MPH OVER THE CREST
AFTER MIDNIGHT.
THURSDAY...SUNNY...BREEZY...WARMER. HIGHS 83 TO 93 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...60
TO 70 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
THURSDAY NIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 46 TO 56 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...38 TO 48 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
FRIDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 85 TO 95 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...62 TO 72 IN THE HIGH
COUNTRY.
FRIDAY NIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 46 TO 56 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...38 TO 48 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. HIGHS 85 TO 95 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY...61 TO 71 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY. LOWS 42 TO 52 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY...36 TO 46 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
El Portal: Today: Sunny, with a high near 95. West southwest wind between 9
and 16 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 53. West southwest wind between 13 and 16
mph becoming calm.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 96. East northeast wind 5 to 11 mph
becoming west.
Friday Night: Clear, with a low around 54. West wind 6 to 11 mph becoming
north.
Saturday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 101. Northwest wind between 7 and
13 mph.
Happening Today/This Week (Check the Community News section for other
events)
The Chowchilla Mountain road will open to the public at 1630 onThursday May
15. (D. Dozier - 5/15/08)
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Flags To Fly At Half Staff Today(Embedded image moved to file:
pic11020.gif)
May 15, 2008 - President Bush has directed that all flags be lowered to
half staff on Thursday, May 15th, for Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. Flags
will return to full staff on Friday. For the text of President Bush’s
proclamation, click on the link below.
http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announce...
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An after action de-brief for the Highway 120 Incident (Bus MCI) of 5/8 will
be held at 1100 am on Thursday 5/15/08 at the Valley SAR training room.
Anyone involved in this incident is encouraged to come and participate.
For those that are unable to attend and have constructive comments they
wish to have addressed, or other comments please email them to
Michael_W_Foster@nps.gov. Thanks for a job well done. (M. Foster - 5/12/08)
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Effective May 15, 2008, the Valley Boilers will be shut off for the summer.
Expect cool mornings with warm afternoons. If an unseasonable cold spell
occurs the Valley Boilers will be relit for your comfort. Any questions,
please call Valley Buildings and Grounds at 372-0545. (T. Ford - 5/13/08)
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PLEASE JOIN US IN BIDDING FAREWELL TO
Joella Domingues
Joella will be leaving us after 35 years of service. Please join us as we
celebrate and remember her career in Yosemite!
We will be at the East Auditorium in Yosemite Valley on May 15th from
12:00pm to 2:00pm.
There will be cake and coffee provided by the PCO Staff. Please bring your
favorite dessert or beverage to share, as we share our memories with each
other!!! For more information you may contact Alan Hawksley at 379-1278 or
Dan Benitag at 372-0533. (T. Hawksley - 4/4/08)
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Appreciation Feed - Come to Clarks Community Center on Thursday, May 15,
2008 at about 5:00pm and have an Indian Taco served by Joella and Gilbert -
to thank you for your generous help whe Gilbert was hurt and to wish Joella
a happy retirement. This will be the last Indian Taco feed for 2008. (J.
Domingues - 5/13/08)
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Mounted Patrol Graduation Ceremony-- You're invited!
The 2008 Mounted Patrol School is finishing their six-week long training
course and you are cordially invited to attend the graduation ceremony.
Join us to learn about current and historic mounted patrol duties, and to
watch this year's class members show off their horsemanship skills.
Everyone is welcome!
Friday, May 16, 2008
10am
Arena behind the Ahwahnee Hotel (Please consider carpooling or taking the
shuttle) (A. Freeman/KJ. Maples - 5/13/08)
New Today
Scheduled Power Outage for Yosemite Valley - To facilitate needed
construction activities on the Narrows road project a Valley-wide Power
outage is required. The outage will include all electric service east of
the Power House including; Glacier Point, Wawona Tunnel, Turtle Back,
Sentinel Dome and BOF Tunnel. Facilities with stand by generation will be
operational, the Utilities Branch will not be able to provide additional
generators to other facilities.
The date and time is May 21, 2008, 8 am through 4 pm, 8 hours
An additional outage will be required at a later date of a longer duration
and will be scheduled as soon as the contractor can assemble the materials
and crews needed.
If you have any questions contact:
Glen Rothell at 379-1139 or Paul Laymon at 379-1055 (P. Laymon - 5/15/08)
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Asian/Pacific Islander presentation: Please come to a special power point
slideshow about the National Park of American Samoa, which will be
presented by Epi Suafoa on Wednesday, May 21st at noon in the East
Auditorium
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KEEP YOUR CAT INDOORS OR ON-LEASH. House cats have recently been observed
roaming outdoors and killing wildlife in park housing areas. Please help
protect Yosemite’s birds and other wildlife by keeping your cat indoors or
on-leash. Free-roaming cats are strictly prohibited by Yosemite National
Park regulations:
Code of Federal Regulations [36CFR2.15 Pets].
Yosemite National Park Pet Policy, condition of the Housing
Assignment Agreement.
Superintendent’s Compendium.
The breeding season for most birds, small mammals, and reptiles has begun,
and baby animals are especially vulnerable to predators. Domestic cats are
instinctive, keenly efficient predators, and are one of the biggest factors
in songbird decline. A conservative estimate is that free ranging house
cats kill 4.4 million birds each day or 1.6 billion birds each year in the
United States alone. Ultimately, cats are not responsible for killing our
native wildlife, their owners are. Please prevent killing of wildlife by
domestic cats by keeping your cat(s) indoors or monitored closely while
on-leash. (N. Nicholas - 5/15/08)
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TSP changes effective in May:
The TSP has issued rules allowing investors to make only two interfund
transfers per month, with a third transfer allowed only to move money into
the government securities fund—-the TSP's most conservative fund and one in
which investors often park their money while preparing to take out a loan
or withdrawal. The notice in the April 24 Federal Register repeated the
TSP's oft-stated reasoning for the change: that a small minority of
investors are abusing the policy that allows transfers every business day,
adding overhead costs that under the TSP's structure must be shared by all
investors. The policy change does not affect decisions regarding ongoing
investments, only money already in accounts.
While we're speaking of TSP, here's a perspective from the outside looking
in. Walter Updegrave, a senior writer for Money Magazine wrote an article
for CNN.com that states "I've got to hand it to the feds: When it comes to
investing their own money for retirement, they really know what they're
doing. In fact, the Thrift Savings Plan -- the equivalent of a 401(k) plan
for members of Congress and other government employees -- is one of the
best retirement plans around." The full article is at
http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/12/01/8395...
. (H. Whitman - 5/15/08)
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The Relay for Life of Mariposa is this weekend! There is still time to
join the Yosemite Community Team and help raise funds to find a cure for
cancer.
WHEN? May 17-18 2008. You only have to spend a mere hour to do
your part.
WHERE? Mariposa Fairgrounds. Just come look for the Yosemite
Community table.
HOW? Sign up by internet (www.events.cancer.org/rflmariposa.ca
) or else let Team Captain Jun Kinoshita (966-7398, jrafek@hotmail.com)
know you want to join the team and which hour you want to walk.
WHY? By working together we are finding better treatments
every year and we will find a cure someday. (J. Kinoshita - 5/15/08)
Park News
Tioga Road Update as of 5/13/08
Beginning Wednesday, May 14, 2008, Tioga Road will be opened to
Administrative traffic, but only for those authorized employees with
current avalanche training certification and fully equipped per "Tioga Pass
Road Opening and Closing Plan." Four avalanche zones remain and are signed
accordingly. These employees should be personnel who are essential for the
preparation of infrastructure such as Buildings and Grounds and Utilities.
All avalanche trained personnel entering the Tioga Road, where gated, will
contact the designated Access Coordinator. Ed Appling will be the
coordinator Monday thru Wednesday. Ed's radio call number is #360 or his
designee. Bob Brantley will be the coordinator Thursday thru Saturday. His
radio call number is #261 or his designee. For Sunday, the access
coordinator will be designated by the Mather District Ranger. Park
dispatch will be informed of who is the designated Access Coordinator each
day.
All personnel entering a specified Avalanche Zone will contact another
vehicle in their convoy (partner vehicle) prior to and when exiting
controlled avalanche zones.
All personnel entering the Tioga Road will adhere to the daily schedule for
exiting through the Avalanche Zones as established by the Avalanche Team
and implemented by the designated Access Coordinator. This means personnel
must exit the Tioga Road each day at the time established by the
coordinator. No exceptions. All persons granted administrative access must
be prepared for the possibility of remaining in place overnight and have
sufficient clothing, food and other equipment in the event changing
conditions prohibit return travel through the avalanche zones.
All authorized personnel need to be aware of ongoing snow removal
operations, tree removal operations, sign maintenance operations and other
administrative functions. Please drive with utmost caution. (T. Brochini/T.
Ludington/B. Benitag - 5/13/08)
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Comprehensive Interpretive Plan - Workshop - May 20, 2008
Yes, we just wrapped up our first workshop, but the next is just around the
corner!
We will address Audiences, Critical Issues facing Interpretation/Education,
and Delivery of Interpretive Services in the Yosemite region. Please use
the attached link to review our 2005 Visitor Study for some background. I
will be forwarding an agenda next week.
http://www.nps.gov/archive/yose/planning/documents/2005survey.pdf
Please RSVP by Friday, May 16th for this workshop. More soon! (T. Medema -
5/9/08)
Announcements
The Property Management Office is again accepting property for disposition.
If you have any property you are no longer using, fill out a Request for
Survey form (attached below) and bring the form and property item to our
office. We highly recommend that you do not keep property you are not using
and do not need. Experience has shown that "stashed" property is frequently
forgotten and hard to find during inventory. If your unneeded item is still
usable, our office will offer it to others who may have a need. Also, the
park pays an annual IT assessment for every computer and laptop; don't
waste money by keeping computers and laptops that you are not using. TURN
THEM IN!
If you have any questions, please call Don Ramsey at 379-1024. (K. Kolbeck
- 5/14/08)
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DNC plans to start offering the half day stables ride from Yosemite Valley
to Clark's Point on Thursday, May 15 and will open the Wawona Stables
operation for the season on Friday, May 16. (A. Catamec - 5/14/08)
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Drop in program: Come join the Habitat Protectors of Yosemite (HaPY)
program! Program runs Fridays from May2- October 31st. Work with park
staff to remove invasive plants and learn basic ecological principles. All
volunteers are required to wear pants and closed-toe shoes. Long sleeves,
sunscreen, water, and snacks are recommended. Meet in front of Yosemite
Valley Visitor Center at 9am. Bring a lunch and join us! (M. DeBree -
5/1/08)
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2009 Albright-Wirth Grant Program - New Deadline extension date - !!! May
16, 2008 !!!
The Albright-Wirth Grant program has recently experienced computer
technical problems that may have prevented or delayed applicants from
receiving supervisory approvals. As a result the deadline date for
accepting applications is extended to May 16, 2008. Those employees who
previously submitted applications need not reapply and supervisors of grant
applicants will be able to access the application for endorsement after the
May 16th deadline date.
Albright-Wirth Grant applications now accepted thru May 16, 2008
!!!! Don’t delay, Apply today!!!!
Go to the web link to read the announcement and start your application
today!
http://mylearning.nps.gov/awgrant
Grants are available up to $5,000 for individuals and $15,000 for groups of
3 or more qualifying employees.
Do you need technical assistance? Email nps_helpms@nps.gov or contact
Grant Administrator at lonnie_lowe@nps.gov or call Lonnie Lowe at
202-354-1487.
The Albright-Wirth Grant Program is managed by the Supervision, Management
& Leadership Programs, Capital Training Center, 1201 Eye St. NW,
Washington, DC 20005. Sandy Taylor, Program Manager, 202-354-1413 and
Lonnie Lowe, Employee Development Officer-202-354-1487
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Leave Share Participants
Currently, YOSE leave share participants are:
Shari Baudoux
Kevin Bowman
Kimberly Cunningham-Summerfield
You can find leave share participants Servicewide on InsideNPS at:
http://insidenps.gov/index.cfm?handler=leaveshare
If you are interested in contributing annual leave, please do so by
completing a Request to Donate Annual Leave to Leave Recipient (Within
Agency) Under the Leave Transfer Program, OPM Form 630-A. A fillable PDF
version of the OPM 630-A may be found at:
http://opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm630a.pdf (T. Hawkins - 1/31/07)
Community News
CalTrans meetings: The California Department of Transportation wil hold two
public information meetings/open houses in May to explain how it proposes
to permanently restore the section fo State Route 140 that was damaged by
the Ferguson Slide.
May 21, 2008 4-7pm - Mariposa County Government Center, The Board of
Supervisors Chambers, 5100 Bullion Street, Mariposa
May 22, 2008 4-7pm - El Portal Community Center "Adjacent to the El Portal
Post Office", El Portal
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6th STREET CINEMA is a non-profit theater located in downtown Mariposa,
atop the historic Masonic Lodge on 6th Street. It is the presentation arm
of the Rural Media Arts and Education Project, a 501(c)(3) corporation,
and is supported by the California Arts Council, SierraTel, the James
Irvine
Foundation, Mariposa County, and the Geoff and Josie Fox Family Foundation,
a Donor Advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. We are
also generously supported by Iron Mountain Systems and Stonecutter.com.
The views expressed by the films, in print materials, or by discussion
facilitators are not necessarily those of these funders. This activity is
funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, and the
National Endowment for the Arts, a national agency. Monthly membership is
$12, allowing film entry for $3 each; non-members pay $7, and non-member
students pay only $5. Film/theater information: (209) 966-1333 or
http://www.sixthstreetcinema.org Staff: 209 742-6666. E-mail us:
sixthstreetcinema@sti.net
This week's film:
Friday - Saturday, May 17-18, 7:30 p.m. I'M NOT THERE. (Rated R; 135
minutes) This 2007 biographical film depicts six distinct stages of Bob
Dylan's life and public persona. An ensemble cast of actors: Marcus Carl
Franklin, Ben Whishaw, Heath Ledger, Christian Bale, Richard Gere, and Cate
Blanchett, play characters based on Dylan but with different names. Filled
with Dylan music, directed by Todd Haynes, this Oscar nominated film is an
essential film to see. Come early...seats will be at a premium.
UPCOMING EVENTS (at 7:30 unless otherwise noted):
"Bamako," May 23-24
TED, May 31, FREE ADMISSION with no-host bar
"Harry and Tonto," a benefit for the Catnip Society, June 7, 6:30 p.m. $15
(T. Arfsten - 5/13/08)
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YOU ARE INVITED....
FUNDRAISING DINNER FOR IRAQI CHILDREN
SATURDAY, MAY 17 - YOSEMITE BUG RESORT, 6 P.M.
Neighbors Across Borders, a group of Mariposa area residents, is hosting a
dinner on May 17th to raise funds for medical assistance to war-injured
Iraqi children. The event, which will be held at the Yosemite Bug Mountain
Resort, Bodie Room, at 6 p.m., will include peace poetry, acoustic music, a
silent auction and a space for kids to express their artistic nature.
Neighbors Across Borders came together after a number of Mariposa area
residents attended a presentation in Mariposa by Cole Miller, founder of a
non-profit organization called No More Victims. No More Victims works to
obtain medical sponsorships for war-injured Iraqi children and to forge
ties between the children, their families and communities in the United
States.
Tickets for the Neighbors Across Borders fundraising dinner cost $35, and
may be obtained by contacting Jon Paul at (209) 617-1945 or by emailing
Amelia at abiagi@hotmail.com. Kids under 5 eat for free.
You can read more on No More Victims and their mission at
www.nomorevictims.org
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Attention High School Seniors
The Yosemite Scholarship Commission would like to announce the availability
of three schlarships for seniors graduating in June 2008. The Yosemite
Community Scholarships are sponsored by the Yosemite Employees Association,
the Yosemite Rotary Club, the Yosemite Lions Club, and the Yosemite Winter
Club. Two of the scholarships are for $2,000 over two years for attending a
four-year college or university. The third scholarship is $1,000 over two
years at a community college. In existence since 1934, the Yosemite
Scholarship Commission is supported by the Yosemite and El Portal
communities. Only one application is necessary to apply for all three
scholarships.
Students eligible for the scholarships are any high school graduating
senior whose parent or guardian is employed on a year round basis in
Yosemite National Park or the El Portal Administrative Site. Employment
must be for no less than six months per calendar year and for at least one
year prior to the time application is made. More than just an academic
scholarship, the following items are taken into account in making the
selection: scholastic ability, financial need, leadership ability,
community participation, and general apptitude. There is no particular
significance in the order nor does one qualification have any special
weight.
Further information and applications may be obtained from Mariposa County
High School, Yosemite High School, Tioga High School, or from Jan van
Wagtendonk, or Linda Eade. Applicants must attach a copy of their current
high school transcripts to their application and send the application and
the transcripts to the Yosemite Scholarship Commission at PO Box 313, El
Portal, CA 95318. Applications will be accepted until May 15, 2008.
Jan van Wagtendonk (209) 379-2668
Linda Eade (209) 372-0280 (L. Eade - 4/23/08)
Acting Designation
Jim Allen will be acting Branch Chief of Utilities on May 15, 2008. He can
be reached at 379-1039 or you can leave a message with Rhonda Soden at
379-1059. (R. Soden - 5/15/08)
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Craig Anthony will be acting Safety Officer for Roger Farmer, Thursday May
15 and Friday May 16. He can be reached at 379-1064. (C. Ronay - 5/15/08)
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Glen Rothell will be Acting Chief of Project Management May 16th. You may
phone Glen at his El Portal office at 379-1139 or at his Valley office at
372-0429. If he is unavailable you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison
at 379-1202. Randy Fong will be Acting Chief of Project Management May
19-23rd. You may phone Randy at his El Portal office at 379-1022. If he
is unavailable you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison at 379-1202.
(D. Harrison - 5/13/08)
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Gretchen Stromberg will be Acting Chief of Planning for Linda Dahl for the
week of May 12-16. Gretchen can be reached at 379-1006. (C. Geis - 5/12/08)
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Sueann Brown (379-1222) will be acting Branch Chief for History,
Architecture & Landscapes from May 12th through May 16th; Bret Meldrum will
be acting May 19th and 20th. (D. Humphrey - 5/12/08)
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Starting Monday, May 12th, Marshall "Glen" Taylor will be acting Sign Shop
Supervisor until further notice. He can be reached @ 379-1286 or email:
marshall_taylor@nps.gov.
Thanks to Erin Anders for holding down the Sign Shop fort for the last four
months. (B.Benitag 5/8/08)
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HR Specialist Charlotte Randolph will be out of the park from May 2 through
May 19, 2008. If you have any employee relations, classification, or
employee development issues or questions, please contact Heather Whitman
in her absence. (H. Whitman - 5/2/08)
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For the month of May, Mike and Kevin have asked me to backfill for Kevin
while he is on leave. I will continue my duties as AO from the Valley and
you can contact me there as needed. However, there will be times when I
may not be available to address some issues in Admin. During those times
please feel free to contact the following administration branch chiefs for
assistance. They have authority to make decisions and adjust
administration resources to meet your needs when I'm not available.
May 12th - 15th Dan Sohn 379-1173
May 18th - 22nd Lorene Schafer 379-1873
May 26th - 30th Skip Sheets 379-1195 (L. Harris - 5/1/08)
