Free Republic

For the past couple of weeks, I have been dragging myself along, super-tired from jet lag from the Eastern Seaboard time zone change (that Maine trip), losing hours of precious sleep due to plane delays and plane diversions, and then forcing myself to rise early (3 a.m. early) each day of the work week to sync my hours with the rest of my departmentÂ’s team currently located in London (you do the math). A fuzzy brain makes writing an article on a single subject quite a challenging prospect. So, Traveler Editor-in-Chief Kurt Repanshek suggested a Q&A article. I liked that...

Called to testify before the House Natural Resources, and Oversight and Government Reform committees, National Parks Service Director Jonathan Jarvis stood by his actions during the shutdown. The most serious challenge to Jarvis' actions came from Representative Rob Bishop (R-Utah) who accused him of violating the Anti-deficiency Act. This Act prohibits agencies from undertaking additional work during a lapse in funding such as occurred during the recent shutdown. Jarvis didn't deny that sending Park Rangers to barricade open air monuments and harass tourists violated this statute. “I will grant that the text of the statute would appear to prohibit the...

Betty Reid Soskin couldn't be more delighted to be dressing for work and getting ready to head into the office.Betty Reid Soskin couldn't be more delighted to be dressing for work and getting ready to head into the office. For Soskin, the "office" is the the visitor's center at the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historic Park in Richmond, Calif., which has been shuttered since Oct. 1 because of the partial government shutdown. "I'm absolutely delighted," she told NBC Bay Area on Thursday morning, after Congress voted to end the shutdown late Wednesday night. "Right now, I'm...

House Republicans on Wednesday pilloried National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis for his handling of national park and land closures during the government shutdown, raising questions about whether the agency’s reputation has been sullied by images of landmarks being barricaded to keep the American people off their own land. A tense joint hearing of the House oversight and natural-resource committees took place Wednesday following allegations that the NPS and its rangers had allowed themselves to become a political arm of the Obama administration, erecting the barriers to score political points and remind Americans of the primacy of government stewardship.

National Park Service director Jarvis said he discussed closing the open-air monuments and memorials with the White House, as well as the secretary of the Interior Department.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Gov. Bill Haslam says a deal to open the Great Smoky Mountains National Park parks in Tennessee for the weekend came too late for the state to send money to the federal government. The price tag? $60,000 per day.

With the Parks' restrooms at the World War II Memorial in Washington, DC closed, a truckload of portable restrooms of the sort used at construction sites was donated by private citizens. NPS Rangers blocked these from being unloaded. “The President has instructed us to shutdown this site,” explained NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis. “As everyone knows, our efforts have been thwarted by aged veterans breaching our barricades. We certainly can't reward this disobedience by allowing bladder and bowel evacuation facilities near the Memorial.” Jarvis scoffed at the notion that this could be construed as vindictive. “Hah, these guys faced worse when...

SALT LAKE CITY — National Park Service workers were busy Friday preparing to open eight national recreations sites in Utah that were closed the past 11 days due to the federal government shutdown. Zion National Park opened Friday with limited services, according to a recorded message at the park's main telephone number. Trails that don't require permits and the Zion Mount Carmel Highway are open. Both visitor centers, the Kolob Caynon scenic drive, the south campground will open this afternoon, according to the recording. The park's shuttles will begin running Saturday morning.

Soooo I'm searching for info on a Civil War historic site and click on a National Park Service page presented  (high) in the Google results- yet all I get is this: "Because of the Federal Government Shutdown,  all national parks are closed  and the National Park Service webpages are not operating.  For more information, go to www.doi.gov" It costs less somehow to generate/post disingenuous Obama propaganda and close down all their other pages, then? And these messages are putting themselves up? That ain't how it works with my server- Just in case you missed that, a big, black banner promptly...

A semi carrying porta potties pulled up yesterday beside the WW II Memorial in Washington D.C.. The porta potties were donated by private citezens to help out the visiting veterans since the facilities are closed. However, the park rangers turned the truck away and they were not allowed to unload. Michele Tennery witnessed this event and was astonished that the rangers could be so heartless in their treatment of the veterans. Michele added, “The photos show the attempted delivery of Port-A-Johns by Don’s Johns. The NPS Ranger would not allow the Port-A-Johns to be left at the WWII Memorial site...

There are a lot of good comments on various news stories around the web blaming Obama for the issues of National Parks and monuments denying access to citizens. That's all well and good but the public must be educated as to WHY Obama is at fault. If they're not educated many will dismiss the Obama blame as just more politics. A simple statement on the comments of news stores can do wonders. For example: "The National Park system is under control of the Secretary of Interior. The Secretary of the Interior is part of Obama's cabinet. These types of orders...

Find a National Park nearby, using this map, and go enjoy it this weekend. It's yours.

The bus stopped along a road when a large herd of bison passed nearby, and seniors filed out to take photos. Almost immediately, an armed ranger came by and ordered them to get back in, saying they couldn’t “recreate.” The tour guide, who had paid a $300 fee the day before to bring the group into the park, argued that the seniors weren’t “recreating,” just taking photos.“She responded and said, ‘Sir, you are recreating,’ and her tone became very aggressive,” Vaillancourt said. The seniors quickly filed back onboard and the bus went to the Old Faithful Inn, the park’s premier...

We're going to have a little test that will determine if you are an a-hole. But first, let's have a look at the real Barack Obama. Let us review what kind of person he is. Obama is supposed to be the President of all of the United States and not just the President of his party. He is supposed to watch out for the general welfare of all of us. The Presidential Oath reads: "I, name, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and I will to the best...

This has to be read to be believed. A group of competitive trail riders, having just completed 75 and 50 mile endurance rides, were evicted from Talladega NF in the middle of the night. Exhausted horses and humans were forced to move trailers out of a pine grove in the dark under threat of fines and prosecutions. The local park rangers were sympathetic, but U.S. Marshals were brought in (no doubt at great expense) to ensure that the rangers caused as much pain as possible despite their personal sympathy. Coming soon to a government function near you . . ....

What is this horrid government shutdown I keep reading about? It isn’t for Federal employees, since the House passed legislation paying all non-essential Federal employees that were furloughed for their missed time. (I President Obama signs it, that is). Stated differently. Non-essential Federal employees received a taxpayer-funded vacation. The government shutdown is a way for the Administration and Senate to punish Americans for Republicans not rubber-stamping the funding of Obamacare. John Nolte has created a list of unnecessary shutdowns. 1. Treatments for Children Suffering From Cancer – The GOP have agreed to a compromise by funding part of the government,...

Remember when the media rushed to talk about transparency in the Barack Obama “Hope and Change” era? Good times, good times. Leonard Downie, who once worked as the executive editor of the Washington Post and wrote a novel about Washington corruption and the Iraq War, finds a bigger and non-fictional problem in the successor to George W. Bush. Downie gives the Post a preview of his report from the Committee to Protect Journalists which outlines the Obama war on reporters and their sources: “A memo went out from the chief of staff a year ago to White House employees and...

Wisconsin GOP Gov. Scott Walker has decided not follow Washington's order to close several state parks that receive federal funding during the shutdown. State officials say Wisconsin provides more than half of the parks' funding, so they can be kept open with state money, The Hill reports. The federal government allotted Wisconsin $701,000 for its state parks in fiscal 2013, which ended Sept. 30. The state also has opted to disobey a Fish and Wildlife Service order to forbid hunting and fishing on federal lands. State officials said hunting can continue in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, according to The Hill....

One more lying Obama agency – The Parks Department. As you know, the permit for a no-stop ride through DC tomorrow September 11, 2103 was denied. A Park Department employee Sheila Gotha allegedly told media the Biker’s application for a permit was never received and that’s why it was denied. Odd since the organizer, Belinda Bee says: “From my understanding, [Gotha] has told two other media outlets that she had never heard of our permit, that we have never had a conference call. I shot them the email showing where she scheduled the conference call and on that conference call...

ELYSBURG - The Grand Carousel at Knoebels Amusement Resort was given a birthday bash Thursday for its 100th year. The anniversary arrived about the same time the Travel Channel named the park No. 2 in its Top 10 amusement parks across the country, topping such heavies as Walt Disney World, Six Flags and Hershey Park. The affordable prices, family friendly atmosphere and old-fashioned ambiance won it the distinction. Hundreds of park-goers stopped to watch a small parade make its way to the carousel, led by Buddy and Dick Knoebel and their sister, Leanna Knoebel Muscato, with mainstay mascot Kozmo and...