National Park Service Bans “Drones”

National Park Service Bans “Drones”
The National Park Service announced today that they are banning the use of drones and model aircraft in all National Parks, subject to a few limited exceptions. According to a policy memorandum released by Jonathan Jarvis, Director of the Park Service, the directive is an interim measure while the park service attempts to properly evaluate drone and other model aircraft uses. While the policy memorandum has flaws, it is at least more clear than the National Park Service’s prior method of announcing potential fines and jail time through Twitter, Facebook, and website postings. This approach may also be a reasonable first step, assuming the National Park Service opens the regulatory process up to public comment, there exists the possibility that some uses of drones may be allowed in the future. http://onforb.es/1nX0u5F

2014 Southwest Kiln Conference Scheduled for Labor Day Weekend
Events will be held August 29th through the 31st at the Sandia Ranger Station, the Tijeras Pueblo Interpretive Center, and the Oak Flat Picnic Area. A suggested donation of $25 includes entry to the conference, a T-shirt, and a BBQ dinner. Registration is required. Access the registration form at the event website or call  Judy Vredenburg 505.400.8687, email judyvr@aol.com; or Sandra Arazi-Coambs 505.281.3304 ext 104, email scoambs@fs.fed.us. http://bit.ly/1uUp8VE – SW Kiln Conference

Taos Park Name Change Leads to Debate over Kit Carson’s Place in History
Reaction to the Taos Town Council’s recent gesture aimed at making peace with the past by renaming Kit Carson Memorial Park shows that old wounds over Carson’s legacy are hardly cauterized. Native Americans and Taos activists have praised the move as long overdue, while historians and others see it as political correctness based on poor reading of history. http://bit.ly/1m1W219 – Albuquerque Journal

3D Model Being Created to Share Site of Submerged Paleoamerican Remains at Hoyo Negro
The scientific dive team only has about an hour of bottom time on every dive because of the limitations of decompression diving, and when you’re diving it’s not conducive for discovering all the different elements of the site,” he explains. “So far the mapping of the cave has been done entirely by the dive team, but a site as complex as Hoyo Negro requires a more sophisticated level of mapping. We need to step up our game. http://bit.ly/1pYWPHK – Phys.Org

Salmon and Aztec Ruins Add Virtual-Tour Exhibits for Visitors
Now you can fly between Chaco Canyon and Aztec Ruins in a matter of seconds. A new interactive computer exhibit that brings Puebloan society to life in a virtual guided tour spanning hundreds of years is available at Salmon Ruins and Aztec Ruins. Called “Chaco’s Legacy — Ancient Migration in the Pueblo World,” the twin digital exhibits officially opened June 5 after a beta version was tested in May.  http://bit.ly/UnB2Mp – Farmington Times

Central Arizona Cities Put Preservation Front and Center of Civic Agenda
Bob Flatley, Coolidge city manager, had more than a few words of advice when his turn to speak came up during a panel discussion on historic preservation as part of Pinal Partnership’s monthly breakfast series. “I’d like to tell all of you what not to do,” Flatley said. “At one time, (Coolidge) was the largest city in Pinal County for years until they became very happy with themselves and decided that when Interstate 10 was built, it should be pushed as far away as possible. Because of that, our historic downtown, and a lot of our historic buildings, died.” http://bit.ly/TlDvX5 – Tri Valley Dispatch

Lecture Opportunity – Cortez
The Hisatsinom Chapter of the Colorado Archaeology Society is pleased to present Dr. Karen Adams on Tuesday, July 1st at 7:00 PM at the Methodist Church, 515 Park Street, Cortez, CO, to discuss “Ancient Yucca quids with Tobacco Contents: Antelope Cave, NW Arizona.” Adams’s presentation will focus on her research on yucca quids found in Antelope Cave that date to the Pueblo I period. Contact Kari Schleher at 505-269-4475 with questions.