Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Joe Alston to Retire

I received an email from Tom Martin of River Runners For Wilderness that pointed me to a news release announcing the retirement of Grand Canyon Superintendent Joe Alston. Superintendent Alston is the person who had ordered the removal of the bronze plaques at the canyon overlooks, had tried to block the sale of the creationist book in the canyon bookstores, and was apparently the one who responded "no comment" when asked by the LA Times reporter about the age of the Grand Canyon.

Is it purely a coincidence that he's retiring in early February, or is this somehow all related to the brouhaha surrounding the PEER news release? Is he leaving because he's ready to go, or is he being pushed? These are probably questions that we'll never know the answers to.

Link: GC Announces Alston's Retirement - RRfW
Link: Joe Alston hangs up flat hat after 31 years - NPS (PDF)

Update: In case you missed it earlier, PEER's blog now includes a post addressing the controversy.

Comments

[Frank Sheehan]

As it has been quite a while since I last ventured to the home of "Ratiional Thought" I need Help Please someone help, my town has become infected with the scurge of the "religious fundermentalist christians". And one of my students now has ventured down the path of irrational logic. he is bright 90% in all tests etc in all subjects but due to being geeky has a very low self esteem as such he is venturing down the path of wako science etc

How can i help defeat this baloney before another bright mind is wasted.

please reply to my email address which is oneredflag@hotmail.com

Regards Frank Sheehan Australian (I never thought they could make it here. how wrong was I)

just a poet, playwright who teachers kids a couple of hours a week

[Frank Sheehan]

Please note this is a quick correction-because even I make mistakes-Firstly the Lad does not have a "very low self esteem" and i apologise for saying that, He is bright, with a great wit and a good sence of humour, i was actually thinking of my brother at the time & hit enter without reviewing it (now that bugger does have a problem)i had to correct it because you cant correct a post after its posted- I do say though he is misguided in relation to science & rational thought. and i still do need help. bright minds of the world-I Need You

How do you defend against these wacko groups, religious nutters, ufo wally's, conspiricy theroy who corrupt the minds of youth