JM's Note:
The two biggest news items for me have been the Yellowstone Quakes and the plan for Elk Management in Theodore Roosevelt NP. Today there are two pieces that I have posted on the TR NP plan below.

-JM

Gulf Islands National Seashore
CLOSER WALK WITH NATURE Park reopens visitor center after Katrina
OCEAN SPRINGS One of the area's most popular nature and recreation sites marked a milestone in its rebound from Hurricane Katrina with the official opening of the William Colmer Visitor Center.
http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississippipress/news.ssf?/base/news/12316725213500.xml&coll=5

Lake Mead National Recreation Area:
The bodies of two boaters reported missing Friday were recovered Saturday from Lake Mohave, the National Park Service said.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jan/10/missing-boaters-found-dead-lake-mohave/

Misc. Parks News:
National Park Rangers: Jan. 9, 2009 - A Day to Remember More Guns in National Parks (Editorial by the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees (CNPSR))
TUCSON, AZ. January 9, 2009 - Current and former National Park Service employees, many of them Law Enforcement Rangers and Park Interpretive Rangers today expressed serious alarm over the potential risks of the new rule to be implemented by the Department of the Interior that would allow concealed firearms in national parks.
http://yubanet.com/usa/National-Park-Ran...ional-Parks.php

Olympic NP:
Olympic National Park wants to move Ridge weather station
The Olympic National Park plans to relocate the weather station at Hurricane Ridge about 100 yards to provide a more accurate reading of snow depth.
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090110/news/301109997

Theodore Roosevelt NP:
Note - this is interesting as it has been a topic of huge debate as hunters have not been allowed into the parks. This does not mean that animals are not shot, just typically by the Parks Dept or via sharpshooters who do not harvest the deceased. The first link includes the actual plans. The second link is a reaction by the NRA. It is particularly interesting in relation to the new rules which have allowed weapons in the parks. This is a watershed moment and I am curious if hunting may be coming to all of the National Parks.

Listed in the table below are Theodore Roosevelt NP plans or projects currently or recently open for environmental review. Simply click on the title for more information.
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkID=167
http://www.nraila.org/Legislation/Read.aspx?ID=4289

Yosemite NP:
4 enshrined in California Outdoors Hall of Fame (See part on Steve Rajeff)
Steve Rajeff is the world's greatest caster. William Lemos is California's greatest outdoor educator. No person has taught more people to ski in the United States than Nic Fiore.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/11/SP8M155881.DTL