Yosemite Daily Report for Dec 7

Remember, when planning your Yosemite Vacation, go to YosemiteThisYear.com

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, December 7, 2011

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley

Today: Sunny, with a high near 48. 
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 32. 
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 49. 
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 46. 

El Portal

Today: Sunny, with a high near 63. 
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. 
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. 
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 62.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 57. 
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. 
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 59. 
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 56.

**************************************************

HAPPENING TODAY

Employee Holiday Party
This year's All-Employee Holiday Party will be a Hawaiian Luau held on Wednesday, December 7th from 11:30 - 1:00 pm in the Valley Auditorium. All park employees are encouraged to come out and enjoy some delicious home-cooked food and punch served to you by your Superintendent and Division Chiefs. This is a wonderful chance to celebrate the season with your colleagues and for the park's leadership to thank employees for their hard-work throughout the year. We'll be collecting donations for Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids, and non-perishable food donations for a local food bank. Don't forget to bring your mess kit! (K. Kosick - 12/5)

Wawona Tunnel Traffic Control

The High Voltage Crew will be controlling traffic at the Wawona Tunnel Wednesday, December 7, 2011 from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon to perform necessary repairs. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact Kent Summers in the High Voltage Shop at 379-1236. (M. Christiansen - 12/6)

Yosemite Conservancy Stores to Close for Annual Inventory
All YC stores will be closing individually for annual physical inventory as follows: Wednesday, December 7th: Yosemite Bookstore in Valley Visitor Center will be closed all day. Select Bookstore items including popular maps, and the National Parks Passport books and stamping station will be functioning from the Museum Store on Wednesday. (N. Brocchini - 12/2)

**************************************************

PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

Body Recovered in Yosemite National Park Positively Identified - news release
Ramina Badal was One of Three Hikers Witnessed Plunging Over Vernal Fall on July 19, 2011
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park has positively identified the body of Ramina Badal, 21 year old female, of Manteca, CA.  Badal was found in the Merced River, approximately 120 yards below the Vernal Fall footbridge, by a Yosemite National Park Ranger at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2011.  The footbridge is located approximately a half mile below the base of Vernal Fall.  

Badal has been missing since July 19, 2011, when she, Hormiz David, 22 year old male, of Modesto, CA, and Ninos Yacoub, 27 year old male, of Turlock, CA, were witnessed being swept over the 317 foot waterfall.  The body of David was found on August 5, 2011, by Yosemite National Park Rangers and Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel approximately 240 feet below the waterfall.  The body of Yacoub was found on November 29, 2011, by a Yosemite National Park Ranger approximately 100 yards below the Vernal Fall footbridge near the area where Badal was later located.

Yosemite National Park, along with several other agencies, have been searching for the victims since July.  Fluctuating water levels in the Merced River, changing weather conditions, and treacherous terrain contributed to a difficult and challenging search.  However, with low water levels in the Merced River and dry weather, Park Rangers have been able to access areas within the river corridor that were previously impossible to search.  All three victims of the July 19, 2011 incident over Vernal Fall have now been accounted for and positively identified. (K. Cobb - 12/7)
________________________________________________________

Body of Missing Man Recovered in Yosemite National Park - news release
Ninos Yacoub was One of Three Hikers Witnessed Plunging Over Vernal Fall on July 19, 2011

Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park has positively identified the body of Ninos Yacoub, 27 year old male, of Turlock, CA. Yacoub was found in the Merced River, approximately 100 yards below the Vernal Fall footbridge, by a Yosemite National Park Ranger at approximately 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 29, 2011. The footbridge is located approximately a half mile below the base of Vernal Fall.

Yacoub has been missing since July 19, 2011, when he, Hormiz David, 22 year old male, of Modesto, CA, and Ramina Badal, 21 year old female, of Manteca, CA , were witnessed being swept over the 317 foot waterfall. The body of David was found on August 5, 2011, by Yosemite National Park Rangers and Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel approximately 240 feet below the waterfall.

Yosemite National Park Rangers recovered another body in the same general area as Yacoub's this past Saturday, December 3rd. Positive identification has not been made, and is expected within the next several days. The park will issue a news release when the body is positively identified. (S. Gediman - 12/6)

**************************************************

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Foresta Road Closure - Slide Repair Between Rancheria and Old El Portal
Starting Monday, November 14th the Foresta Road will be closed between Rancheria and Old El Portal as crews complete a slide repair from a spring 2011 slide. The Foresta Road will be closed at 7:00 AM on November 14th and remain closed for approximately 2-3 months, while crews complete the stabilization work. The crews are planning to work 6-days per week, Monday thru Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Due to the safety concerns, it will require a hard closure, meaning that throughout the duration of the project, there will be no access for pedestrians, bicycles, passenger vehicles, trucks, etc... Access will be limited to construction crews and emergency vehicles only. Trucks will also be using middle road to access CA St. Rte. 140, so please be cautious as you are traveling thru this area of Hwy. 140. Also, crews will be bringing in equipment and materials starting Thursday, November 10th, with intermittent single lane traffic control along Foresta Road. (M. Pieper - 11/10)

*************************************************

ACTING DESIGNATIONS

Scott Gediman will be the Acting Chief of Staff on Dec 6, 7, and 8, 2011. If you have any questions, please give him a call at 209-372-0248 or email.
Julie Byerly will be acting Deputy Chief Ranger from Saturday 12/3 through Sunday 12/18, she can be reached at 372-0243.
Todd Newburger (209-379-1434) will be the Acting Branch Chief for Visitor Use and Social Science from Monday, December 5th through Wednesday, December 7th. Bret can also be reached on his cell throughout that time while in JOTR.
Ed Dunlavey will be acting Chief Ranger Dec. 3-7
Andy Fristensky will be Acting Deputy Chief of Interpretive Operations until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0599.

Jeffrey Trust will be Acting Yosemite Valley Field Interpretation Supervisor until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0307.

Jana Friesen McCabe will be Acting Branch Chief for Public Outreach and Engagement from November 15 to December 9. She can be reached at 372-0288.
Greg Torres will be Acting Trails Supervisor 11/30 through 1/3. He can reached at 742 8811.
Ron Watson will be the Acting Supervisory Information Technology Specialist until further notice. He may be reached at 379-1074.

Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) is on a detail as the Park Archivist. If you have need to access the Archives, or have archive related questions, you can call 379-1282 or 379-1104.
****************************************************
COMMUNITY NEWS
Winter Weather and Firewood Reminder
Freezing water pipes can lead to broken water lines which can cause major damage to your housing unit and personal belongings.  Please take precautions when you are away from your home during the next few months by leaving a little heat on in your house. Setting thermostats between 55-58 degrees will help prevent the water pipes in your home from freezing. 
If you burn firewood to help stay warm, here are a few reminders from the Yosemite Yard Care Policy:
Use only dry and seasoned wood in your stove or fireplace. Stacking firewood away from your house or other structures will lessen fire danger, protect the housing unit from damage, and will help prevent an invasion of rodents and other pest. Use of local wood can prevent spread of forest pests (http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/forest-pests.htm). Cover wood with dark or clear tarps. Blue tarps are not permitted. (C. Baker - 12/7)
___________________________________________________________
6th Street Cinema
Located upstairs in the historic Old Masonic Lodge on 6th Street, in downtown Mariposa. Film Entrance is $7 per film for non-members; non-member students pay $5. Monthly membership is $12 allowing film entry for $3 each. (Please note: we are not accepting credit cards this year.) www.sixthstreetcinema.org This week: Dec. 9th -10th (Friday Saturday) 7:30 p.m. Names of Love. Dec. 10th (Saturday) 9:55 a.m.: Met Live in HD: Gounad's "Faust" ($22 gen. public; $18 SSC members; $15 students. Next week: December 1 (Thursday) 7:30 p.m.: One Man, Two Guvnors sponsored by Carol Johnson. Filmed live From the stage at the National Theatre in London. This Thursday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. $15 gen. public; $12 SSC members; $10 students. Sponsored by Carol Johnson. This hilarious 5 star rated British play will be opening in New York on Broadway. (T. Arfsten - 12/7)
___________________________________________________________
Art on the River
Saturday December 10th (10am-5pm) and Sunday December 11th (10am-4pm) at the Briceburg Visitor’s Center and 5 homes in El Portal. Shop with local artists and enjoy a festive local event. Maps available at all locations. (L. Stewart - 12/6)