Big Thicket Reporter, Number 30, November-December 1997 Page: 2 of 6
This periodical is part of the collection entitled: Big Thicket Association Publications and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Lamar University.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
INTERPRETERS GATHER
Over 900 members of the National Association of
Interpreters convened in Beaumont Nov. 8-12,
1997, entitled "Celebration of Diversity," and
headquartered at the Beaumont Hilton and Holiday
Inn's Holidome.
Preparations for the workshop required months of
work, led by Chair Bob Valen [a.k.a. Chief of
Resources Education, BTNP] who was aided by
platoons of committees. Speakers presented papers
and demonstrated interpretive techniques in
sessions, forums, luncheons, banquets, field trips,
etc. An innovative "discovery station" interpreted
the role of fire in maintain diversity. [By-the-by,
did you know they call Rice's Dr. Paul Harcombe,
"Dr. Fire"?]
Then disaster struck. After a luncheon meeting at
the Holidome, about 90 persons were hauled off to
area medical facilities - including the Conference
Chair! The medical folks responded to the crisis
admirably, and most of those struck down were
back in action the same day -- if somewhat
subdued.
It's a bummer! A fine conference! Yet Beaumont,
and Big Thicket may be remembered not for the
successes but for the misfortune.
SOUTHEAST TEXAS PARTNERSHIP
At the invitation of Supt. Pete Peterson, Steven
Buser of the Partnership of Southeast Texas and
Jef Russell, Beaumont Visitor and Convention
Bureau, met Sept. 30 at BTNP-HDQ with a few
NPS officials, and local interests to discuss
Partnership goals. PSET covers nine counties and
hopes to attract businesses to the area.
A survey is apparently in progress on opportunities
for recreation on Village Creek, and, according to
Russell, "infra-structure" needs to be increased,
especially for water resources. Everyone agreed
that the forthcoming Preserve Visitor Center will
have a major impact on attracting and managing
visitors to the area.
Among NPS attendees were Alan Ragins (Rivers
and Trails), Attila Bality, and Joan Mitchell
(Planning). John Parker and Murt Sullivan
represented Village Creek State Park. Shaun
Davis (Temple-Inland) also was present.STANTON DIRECTS N.P.S.
Robert G. Stanton was sworn in as Director of
NPS August 4, 1997. An experienced park
professional, Stanton has an excellent background
for the assignment. He came out of retirement to
accept the position, having served from 1988-1997
as NPS' Regional Director of the National Capital
Region, where he was responsible for 40 park
units, including the White House, Washington
Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials and
several historical parks.
He began as a seasonal park ranger at Grand
Teton NP in 1962. His early assignments include
hitches in personnel management and public
information, National Parks-East superintendent,
Virgin Islands, superintendent, and NPS Southeast
Region deputy regional director, and various
positions at the Washington office.
A native of Fort Worth, Stanton earned his
bachelor's at Huston-Tillotson College in Austin.
He did graduate work at Boston University, and
George Washington University.
Stanton is the 15th person to serve as NPS
Director since the agency was established in 1916,
and the first African American to hold the
position.
TRANS-TEXAS, SOUTHEAST
The latest draft memorandum from TTWP projects
water needs and supply of the Upper Neches and
Sabine River basins. The upstream reaches of
both basins are outside the Southeast study area.
Future needs for the Upper Neches basin by 2050
are estimated at 24,000 acre-feet more than 1990.
A built-in assumption is that a reservoir at Eastex
would impound runoff that would have flowed into
Rayburn.
For the Sabine basin, a shortfall of 103,061
acre-feet -- or more -- and probably more are
needed by 2050. Freese and Nichols engineers
observe that no new reservoirs are being developed
in the Upper Sabine, but that it would be
"prudent" to consider that the need to draw water
from the Southeast area may be from 100-200,000
acre-feet per year.Big Thicket Reporter, No. 30, Page 2
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Big Thicket Association. Big Thicket Reporter, Number 30, November-December 1997, periodical, November 1997; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1654842/m1/2/?q=%221997-12%22: accessed August 15, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Lamar University.