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Show NFS Names First Woman, Head of Arches For the first time in its history the National Park Service has named a woman to be in charge of a National Park. Mrs. Sherma E. Bierhause (pronounced Beer-house) was appointed unit manager of Arches National Park near Moab. The announcement was made by Lorraine Mlntzmyer, Rocky Mountain regional director of the National Park Service. Bierhause, 46, was born in Grand Canyon National Park (Arizona), where her father, the late Sherman Moore, was a ranger. She has been with the National Park Service for 19 years, and has been superintendent of Tim-panogos Cave National Monument near American Fork, since 1974. Twenty-two women are unit managers or superintendents among the 333 areas of . the National Park Service, which include national monuments, historic sites, battlefields, recreation areas and other classifications. There never has been a woman in charge of any of the 48 national parks, however. "I am enormously pleased that we have achieved this distinction," said Regional Director Mintzmeyer, "and trust that the service will continue to recognize the talents and abilities of women in higher-level managerial posts. Mrs. Bierhaus will assume her new duties at Arches National Park effective March 21. The park embraces 73,000 acres of arches, natural bridges, spires, balanced rocks and other wind-worn sandstone formations. It has a staff of seven permanent employees, and attracts some 300,000 visitors annually. The designation as "unit manager" differs from "superintendent" in that Arches relies upon nearby Canyonlands National Park and its staff for administrative and maintenance support. Mrs. Bierhause was born August 7, 1935, and attended school at Mount Pleasant. Her late husband, Gary, who also was employed by the National Park Service, died August 14, 1981. They have three children Glen, 25, Karen, 20, and Duane, 16, and nine grandchildren. At Arches, she succeeds Larry Reed, who was transferred late last year to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. . |