Eminence, Missouri- Park staff at Ozark National Scenic Riverways have cleared hundreds of trees from park roads and opened pathways for people to travel in the Shannon, Dent, and Texas counties.

At approximately 9:00 AM on Friday, May 8, 2009, the area was struck by a severe storm, with winds gusting 70 to 90 mph, and driving rain which tore down thousands of trees throughout the park. By 9:15 AM, park staff were out clearing roads, using chainsaws and whatever heavy equipment was needed to ensure the safety of the park staff and visitors.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the local counties, the park staff cleared emergency lanes on state highways, county highways, and park roads, in order to gain access into the park areas. All major park points on the river were accessed by Saturday evening, which was the end of the second day of searching. The park staff worked in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and the local road authorities. The park also assisted the community of Eminence, which had major damage and no power, by using NPS generators to keep their Sheriff’s Office and Dispatch Center open, and their radio repeaters working while the county generator was repaired and power lines replaced.

There were no immediate injuries but multiple park visitors and local residents needed to be located and rescued. Due to the amount of area to be searched and roads cleared of downed trees, the park operated under the Incident Command System (ICS) with the Chief Ranger serving as Incident Commander. All park visitors and local residents have been contacted and evacuated but there will be weeks of park wide clean-up of the downed trees and power lines.

Projects include trail work in the Chubb Hollow area, replacing underground electric systems, and preventative road work. The work will be done with a mixture of park employees and contracted services.

“Ozark is fortunate to receive over two million dollars in Recovery Act spending.” Reed Detring, park superintendent commented, “This is an investment in our park and will help stimulate the local economy, providing for some day labor positions as well as contracts for our new projects. Visitors will see benefits from the projects, and possibly construction in some areas of the park.”

“Mommy, what’s that bug? Can I really touch a snake?”
This year, the Ozark Riverways are going all out to celebrate National Park Week (April 18-26) presenting Jr. Ranger Day at Round Spring campground, located between Salem and Eminence on Hwy. 19.
According to Bill O’Donnell – aka “Ranger Bill” – the activities at Round Spring April 25 from 9 a.m. to about 3 p.m. are designed to get kids from 6 to 16 excited about the outdoors.
“We’ve had the Jr. Ranger program for more than 20 years, as part of the larger NPS program. This is only our second Jr. Ranger Day,” he said.
“Snakes Alive” will begin at 9 a.m. Yes, touching a non-venomous snake will be part of the program.  At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Dickerson Park Zoo will present “Birds of Prey” – featuring a live golden eagle, owls and a turkey vulture. Other surprise outdoor entertainers and presenters will be on site. [Author note: Ranger Bill twisted my little pinky, and I will be doing a guided spring hydrology/geology walk at 12:30 p.m. So much for being an objective reporter.]
Cave tours will be offered free of charge at the same time as Birds of Prey, with tickets distributed at 9 a.m. “All adults MUST be accompanied by a child. I love that part!” said Ranger Bill.The day will conclude with a Stream Walk, beginning at 2 p.m.
All children will be given Jr. Ranger booklets. O’Donnell said that all child participants that day will receive a badge, whether or not they complete the booklet that day. “We’d rather they be onboard [with the program] than they necessarily be perfect,” he said.
The rest of the year, he said, kids work on a booklet, complete it at their own pace, return it for inspection, and are awarded the badge. “Some folks, like myself, make a big to-do, and give them a made-up oath and such, others just hand them the badge. I think my way is better,” he stated.
“The real world of nature is so much fun and interesting and wholesome,” Ranger Bill said. “Outdoor experiences are one treatment for video game and TV overdose.”
No reservations nor registration is required. O’Donnell suggests bringing along lunch, and a change of shoes and socks for the Stream Walk, but kids who can just stop by for an activity or two are very welcome also.
The website address is: http://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/junior-ranger-day.htm.

In many ways, we are doing the same at the park. Many events and daily activities come together to be the operations portion of Ozark National Scenic Riverways, which kicks off soon. I began the year reflecting on the successful cultural events we hosted in October and December at Alley Spring and Park Headquarters.  We continued with an Owl Prowl in February and are looking towards June and our Heritage Days.  With each of these events comes planning, something we are doing now.

Planning also involves knowing what we have.  The Ozarks boast a number of horse trail ride operations.  Currently the park is working on Commercial Use Authorizations for these service providers.  Until we can accurately assess this as an issue in the park, we cannot protect the resource or provide a quality recreation experience.  If you are interested in pursuing this authorization, the website is: www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/permits.htm.  Information is also available at park headquarters or by phone at 573-323-4236.

We are moving forward with our General Management Planning Process, finalizing the maps, making sure places on the map are really where they are.  The planning discussions are for the whole community; we want to have an open dialogue with our neighbors and stakeholders to do what is best for the resource, protecting it for future generations, while still serving as a recreational location for the people of today.  This mission directed by the United States Congress to the National Park Service 92 years ago provides challenging issues to us every day, but these issues are not insurmountable.  We will strive to achieve an acceptable balance as we continue this important planning effort.

During the week of June 22nd, we will be hosting a series of open houses for the public to join us in determining how to best meet those challenges. We look forward to engaging people at several locations around the state.  It will provide a great opportunity for all interested parties to provide their input into the planning process of Ozark National Scenic Riverways. For more information on these meetings or for a copy of the latest newsletter discussing potential alternatives, please visit our website at: www.nps.gov/ozar.  The General Management Plan link is on the front page.

I look forward to seeing people in the park this year.  I hope you will join us in your community in June.

Reed E. Detring
Superintendent

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
Eminence High School New Gym, 1 Redwing Drive (College Drive), Eminence, MO 65466;

Wednesday, June 24, 2009 5:00 PM-8:00 PM
Ozark Natural & Cultural Resource Center, 202 S. Main Street (Hwy 19), Salem, MO 65560;

Thursday, June 25, 2009 3:30 PM-7:00 PM
Courtyard by Marriott, 3301 Lemone Industrial Blvd, Columbia, MO 65201;

Friday, June 26, 2009 3:30 PM- 7:00 PM
Crowne Plaza Hotel, 7750 Carondelet Avenue, Clayton, MO 63105;

The park’s General Management Plan is the guiding document that will steer the management of the park for the next 15 years and more. The Wilderness Study is an evaluation of an area near Big Spring for possible designation and management as “wilderness.”
Your input into this process is necessary for a successful outcome. The balance between resource protection and recreation is not fully understood without knowing what the public thinks. If you have ideas, suggestions or concerns, we appreciate your submissions.
Public comments during September 2006 meetings and from the comment forms and website helped shape the preliminary alternatives. The next phase is to present these alternatives to interested stakeholders, the people who care about Ozark National Scenic Riverways.
We will be sending out our Preliminary Alternatives newsletter to our mailing list in early June and place a link on our website at the same time.
Keep in mind that we are gathering comments and information that will be used to make future plans. Let us know what you want the park to look like in 15 – 20 years.
This website has updates, newsletters, news, and the ability to submit comments about the General Management Plan / Wilderness Study process: http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=158&projectId=15793 (Deadline for comments is July 31, 2009.)
Deadline for comments on the planning alternatives is July 31, 2009. Of course, we are always interested in hearing from you on any issue. To send general e-mail to the park’s managers, go back to the home page and click on “contact us.”
Or send written comments to:
Superintendent, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, P.O. Box 490, Van Buren, MO 63965

Park Ranger Bryan Culpepper (right) is shown here receiving the prestigious Freeman Tilden Award presented to him by Superintendent Reed Detring of Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Bryan Culpepper, park ranger at Ozark National Scenic Riverways, was awarded the Midwest Region Freeman Tilden Award for his continued contribution to Ozark Heritage Days and the National Park Service. The award recognizes outstanding public contributions in interpretation and visitor services by park employees. Nominees were judged on creativity, originality, and positive contributions to enhancing the public’s understanding of national park resources.

The award is named for Freeman Tilden, the author of The National Parks, What They Mean to You and Me and Interpreting Our Heritage. Tilden’s writings have had considerable influence on National Park Service interpretation and education programs.

— National Park Service news release

Add to Technorati Favorites

]]>
			http://riverhillstraveler.com/blog/2008/12/12/111/feed/
		0
		
		
		
		http://riverhillstraveler.com/blog/2008/12/01/voice-of-ozarks-to-meet/
		http://riverhillstraveler.com/blog/2008/12/01/voice-of-ozarks-to-meet/#comments
		Mon, 01 Dec 2008 01:47:33 +0000
		Administrator
				
		

		http://riverhillstraveler.com/blog/2008/12/01/voice-of-ozarks-to-meet/
		
			The annual meeting of Voice of the Ozarks will be Saturday evening, Jan. 31, 2009, at the old gymnasium in Eminence.  Further details will be announced.

It will soon be time for membership renewal.  Dues for 2009 will be good

through 12/31/2009. Members are encouraged to renew and new members are invited.

Through the group’s recent public meetings with the Ozark National Scenic

Riverways Superintendent, Reed Detring, members have learned the National Park Service is working on a General Management Plan which will lay out plans for the park which may be in force over the next 20 years.  Although the park employees and

administration will have already formulated ideas and plans they would like to institute, it is their responsibility to hold public meetings for comment about these plans.  The public opinion gathered at these meetings must be used in this process.

“The Voice of the Ozarks is working to make sure your views are represented

to these people to ensure we have our rights to access and our rights to

use this park are protected,” said John Brewer, president of Voice of the Ozarks. “We will keep you informed about the drafts of the plan.”

The plan is supposed to be ready by April of 2009. Watch for announcements of meetings regarding the General Management Plan.
Add to Technorati Favorites
]]>
			http://riverhillstraveler.com/blog/2008/12/01/voice-of-ozarks-to-meet/feed/
		0