Latest news with #Heatley
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Resignation of Crater Lake head leaves Oregon congressional delegation concerned
Crater Lake on a hazy afternoon Aug 4, 2021, caused by wildfires in southern Oregon. (Photo by Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle) While Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation expressed alarm at the sudden resignation of the leader of the state's only national park, the Republican who has the park in his district declined to take a position Friday. Kevin Heatley, the new superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, resigned from his post May 30 over staffing concerns after just five months on the job. Heatley, who had previously worked at the Bureau of Land Management, told Oregon Public Broadcasting, KGW, The Washington Post and several other news organizations that staffing was already lean at Crater Lake, and layoffs of probationary employees President Donald Trump ordered, followed by hiring freezes, mandates to leave vacant positions unfilled and new federal incentives from the Office of Personnel Management and the office known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to resign or retire were making it worse. Oregon's congressional delegation met the news with differing levels of concern. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, representing Oregon's 3rd Congressional District, wrote Wednesday to Doug Burgum, secretary of the Department of the Interior, demanding to know if he or the agency had undertaken any analysis of what staffing levels were like there or how bad it had gotten. Dexter is also a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, said it is clear to him that Trump is 'hellbent on destroying natural treasures like Crater Lake.' U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, who represents Oregon's 2nd District —his district includes southern Oregon's Crater Lake — said on the phone Friday he'd 'look into it.' 'The person's (Heatley) concern may be well founded. It may not. Until I know the facts better, I'm not going to take a position on it, but now that you've raised an issue, we'll look into it,' he said. The national park in southern Oregon, famous for its vibrant and translucent volcanic lake that is among the deepest in the world, typically sees about half-a-million visitors each year. But this summer, 60 to 65 seasonal positions will need to be filled, Heatley told journalists in several reports, and just eight ranger positions have so far been filled to keep visitors in the 286-square-mile park safe. 'I mean, the train is still running on the tracks, but it's not heading in the right direction,' Heatley told OPB on June 2. 'I cannot, in good conscience, manage an operation that I know is moving in the wrong direction.' Spokespeople for Crater Lake did not respond to Capital Chronicle requests for staffing and hiring data. The federal jobs portal USA Jobs does not list any current vacancies at Crater Lake. The Kansas-based company running Crater Lake's lodging, concessions, retail and boating operations had 18 vacant positions listed on its site as of June 5. The National Parks Conservation Association, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit conservation group, called the staffing issues at the 63 National Parks a 'full-blown staffing crisis.' They report that the Department of the Interior's own workforce database shows that as of May 13, the Park Service had just over 18,000 employees across all parks, a more than 16% drop from 2023, the previous fiscal year — a decrease equal to that of the previous ten years combined. The association said the recent sharp drop was driven by Trump-incentivized buyouts, early retirements, deferred resignations and leaving vacancies unfilled. Interior Department data also shows 39% of seasonal and temporary staff at the national parks have been hired so far — about 3,300 employees. That's less than half the number of seasonal employees Park Service officials said they'd hire in a February memo. In her letter to Burgum, Dexter called Heatley's resignation a 'flashing red warning sign that something is very wrong,' in a news release Wednesday. This article was first published by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oregon Capital Chronicle maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Julia Shumway for questions: info@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Resignation of Crater Lake head leaves Oregon congressional delegation concerned, clueless
Crater Lake on a hazy afternoon Aug 4, 2021, caused by wildfires in southern Oregon. (Alex Baumhardt / Oregon Capital Chronicle) While Democratic members of Oregon's congressional delegation expressed alarm at the sudden resignation of the leader of the state's only national park, the Republican who has the park in his district declined to take a position Friday. Kevin Heatley, the new superintendent of Crater Lake National Park, resigned from his post May 30 over staffing concerns after just five months on the job. Heatley, who had previously worked at the Bureau of Land Management, told Oregon Public Broadcasting, KGW, The Washington Post and several other news organizations that staffing was already lean at Crater Lake, and layoffs of probationary employees President Donald Trump ordered, followed by hiring freezes, mandates to leave vacant positions unfilled and new federal incentives from the Office of Personnel Management and the office known as the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to resign or retire were making it worse. Oregon's congressional delegation met the news with differing levels of concern. U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, representing Oregon's 3rd Congressional District, wrote Wednesday to Doug Burgum, secretary of the Department of the Interior, demanding to know if he or the agency had undertaken any analysis of what staffing levels were like there or how bad it had gotten. Dexter is also a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. On X, formerly known as Twitter, Oregon's U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat, said it is clear to him that Trump is 'hellbent on destroying natural treasures like Crater Lake.' U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz, who represents Oregon's 2nd District —his district includes southern Oregon's Crater Lake — said on the phone Friday he'd 'look into it.' 'The person's (Heatley) concern may be well founded. It may not. Until I know the facts better, I'm not going to take a position on it, but now that you've raised an issue, we'll look into it,' he said. The national park in southern Oregon, famous for its vibrant and translucent volcanic lake that is among the deepest in the world, typically sees about half-a-million visitors each year. But this summer, 60 to 65 seasonal positions will need to be filled, Heatley told journalists in several reports, and just eight ranger positions have so far been filled to keep visitors in the 286-square-mile park safe. 'I mean, the train is still running on the tracks, but it's not heading in the right direction,' Heatley told OPB on June 2. 'I cannot, in good conscience, manage an operation that I know is moving in the wrong direction.' Spokespeople for Crater Lake did not respond to Capital Chronicle requests for staffing and hiring data. The federal jobs portal USA Jobs does not list any current vacancies at Crater Lake. The Kansas-based company running Crater Lake's lodging, concessions, retail and boating operations had 18 vacant positions listed on its site as of June 5. The National Parks Conservation Association, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit conservation group, called the staffing issues at the 63 National Parks a 'full-blown staffing crisis.' They report that the Department of the Interior's own workforce database shows that as of May 13, the Park Service had just over 18,000 employees across all parks, a more than 16% drop from 2023, the previous fiscal year — a decrease equal to that of the previous ten years combined. The association said the recent sharp drop was driven by Trump-incentivized buyouts, early retirements, deferred resignations and leaving vacancies unfilled. Interior Department data also shows 39% of seasonal and temporary staff at the national parks have been hired so far — about 3,300 employees. That's less than half the number of seasonal employees Park Service officials said they'd hire in a February memo. In her letter to Burgum, Dexter called Heatley's resignation a 'flashing red warning sign that something is very wrong,' in a news release Wednesday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Crater Lake superintendent steps down amid staffing cuts under Trump admin
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The superintendent of Crater Lake National Park announced his decision to resign from the post — citing concerns over staffing shortages after the Trump administration's efforts to slash the federal workforce. Sixty-four-year-old Kevin Heatley took on the superintendent role in January, he explained in an interview with the Washington Post, published Monday. But less than five months later, Heatley accepted a buyout offer from the administration to leave the position. 'It is really not an easy decision and not something I take lightly to walk away from Crater Lake,' Heatley told the Washington Post. 'But I'm tired of waking up at 3 in the morning and not being able to fall back asleep because I'm concerned about how I'm going to navigate the latest staffing communiqué.'Heatley explained that staffing shortages have persisted for years at Crater Lake National Park, but issues have intensified since President Donald Trump took office and implemented a federal hiring freeze, even though some seasonal workers were later exempted from the freeze. The former superintendent noted that low staffing almost led Crater Lake to cancel its annual cycling event, Ride the Rim, but at the last minute, regional travel bureau Discover Klamath offered 40 volunteers for the event. 'That's not a sustainable model for running an organization — or a park,' Heatley told the Washington Post. Retired football star Jason Kelce gives shoutout to 'incredible' Oregon restaurant In the meantime, Heatley told the Post, 'I'll still stay involved in natural resources,' adding, 'And I'll continue to support Crater Lake however I can, even if it's just as a volunteer.' Heatley's resignation comes after Interior Secretary Doug Bergum directed national parks in early April to 'remain open and accessible,' as reported by the Associated Press. Park advocates, on the other hand, questioned how parks could comply with the directive after workforce reduction efforts under the Trump administration. The AP reported in April that the park service has lost around 1,500 permanent employees since the beginning of 2025, noting the Trump administration initially restored 50 positions and hired some seasonal workers 'following an uproar over an aggressive plan to downsize the agency.' Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to AP, more workers were offered their jobs back in March, following a judge's order, but some workers decided to leave their government jobs, and others were placed on administrative leave. In a statement to KOIN 6 News on Friday, a National Park Service spokesperson said, 'We are working closely with the Office of Personnel Management to ensure a prioritization of fiscal responsibility for the American people. While we do not comment on internal personnel matters, we remain committed to ensuring the continued success of Crater Lake National Park and to providing a world-class experience for all visitors. Our focus remains on protecting our public lands, supporting our staff, and upholding the mission of the National Park Service. A transition plan is in place, and we are confident in the team's ability to maintain high standards of stewardship and service during this period.' As reported by the Washington Post, Interior Secretary Bergum previously reassured Congress that national parks are adequately staffed. Tillamook opens first owned-and-operated facility outside of Oregon However, the Park Service's workforce has seen a sharp decline since Trump's inauguration, the Post said, citing internal Interior Department data from advocacy group National Parks Conservation Association. On May 21, in the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on interior, environment and related agencies, stating that around 26,500 people work in the park system. However, as of May 13, the Park Service employed 18,066 employees, the Washington Post reports. The staffing level marks a near-16.5% decrease in Park Service staff since fiscal year 2023, the Washington Post reported, noting the decrease includes staff who accepted buyout offers, deferred resignations, early retirements and fired probationary workers who chose not to return after a judge reinstated their positions. A spokesperson for Crater Lake National Park told KOIN 6 News they cannot comment on personnel matters, noting Deputy Superintendent Sean Denniston — who has been with Crater Lake since 2015 — is now in charge of the park. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Midland father seriously injured in propane tank explosion over holiday weekend
MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Friends and loved ones of Jeremy Heatley, a Midland father, have asked for help from the community following an explosion that left Heatley seriously injured. Over the Memorial Day weekend, Heatley was spending time with his family when a small fire broke out in an outdoor kitchen. 'In an effort to protect loved ones, Jeremy tried to stop it from spreading. Tragically, a propane tank exploded, leaving him with third-degree burns across the lower part of his body,' said Hollie Lamb in a statement to Gofundme. Lamb said that Heatley was taken to Harris Methodist Hospital for treatment and faces a long and challenging road to recovery. His injuries reportedly will require extensive care, including multiple surgeries, skin grafts, and physical therapy. 'If you know Jeremy, you know he's the first to lend a hand and always shows up for others. He's a dedicated father, husband, and friend — someone who brings integrity, humor, and heart to everything he does. Now, it's our turn to show up for him. We're asking for your support to help relieve the financial burden on Jeremy and his family during this incredibly difficult time. Funds raised will go directly toward medical expenses, rehabilitation, and supporting his family while he recovers,' Lamb said. If you'd like to donate, you'll find the fundraiser here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carrick Rangers retain Irish Premiership status with Annagh win
Carrick Rangers have retained their Irish Premiership status with an 8-3 aggregate win over Annagh United. Stephen Baxter's side led 5-2 from the first leg and a double from Paul Heatley and Danny Gibson's goal secured the tie at Taylors Avenue with a 3-1 win in the second leg. Advertisement Heatley broke the deadlock after 15 minutes and he benefited from quick thinking by strike partner Gibson. When Craig Taylor's long throw was hooked clear by Joe Crowe, Gibson immediately turned defence into attack and Carrick surged forward in numbers. The striker spotted Heatley in space and slid the ball into his path, which allowed the winger to jink inside and unleash a left-footed strike, which took a heavy deflection off Nathan Kerr and looped cruelly over Joel Little. Annagh hit back late in the first half through James Conive's moment of brilliance. The midfielder's 25-yard free-kick flew into the top corner beyond Ross Glendinning's outstretched arm – a carbon copy of their first-leg goal and a rare moment of quality from the Championship runners-up. Advertisement However, Carrick quickly restored their momentum just after the break when Gibson effectively ended the contest on 52 minutes. Heatley turned provider with a lofted delivery into the box, where Gibson controlled expertly on his chest and guided the ball into the far corner. Heatley put the icing on the cake eight minutes before the end when Gibson crossed low into the six-yard box, and the former Crusaders forward applied the simplest of finishes. Ciaran McGurgan's charges never lacked spirit, but across both legs, Carrick Rangers ultimately demonstrated their superior class to preserve their top-flight status.
