RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Tuesday, May 16, 1989

INCIDENTS

89-90 - Lake Mead - Follow-up on Fatal Shooting by Park Rangers

On the morning on May 13th, a fisherman saw a swamped canoe in Devil's Cove
and reported it to the park. While rangers Don McBee (Lake Mead) and John
Peterson (Grand Canyon) were en route by boat to the cove, two other
fisherman in the area also spotted the canoe and recognized it as one which
was owned by 33-year-old D.N. of Westoff, Texas, who had been
living in a little shack in a narrow canyon near the cove since January.
Noftser was known to rangers at Lake Mead. Sometime earlier this year, a
family camping in the cove awoke to the sounds of D.N. loudly chanting at
an altar near his hut and had complained to the park. Since D.N. had
exceeded the 90-day limit on backcountry camping at Lake Mead, he had also
been warned more than once that his permit had expired and that he would
have to leave. The two fisherman found D.N. on shore and asked him if he
wanted to go out fishing with them. D.N. joined them, but spent most of
his time sleeping in the bottom of the boat. When he awoke, he began
talking irrationally, then picked up a rifle he'd brought into the boat with
him and took a shot at one of the fisherman, just barely missing him. At
about this time, McBee and Peterson arrived on scene and approached the
boat. Peterson took possession of the rifle, which was in plain view. The
two boats headed toward shore side by side; when they neared the beach, the
two fishermen jumped out and D.N. pulled out a hunting knife and began
making threatening remarks to the rangers. Both rangers drew their weapons.
The two rangers then spent over 20 minutes unsuccessfully trying to get
D.N. to put down his knife, at the end of which time D.N. suddenly
jumped into their boat. McBee was in the bow, D.N. was amidships, and
Peterson was in the stern. The two rangers kept talking to him, but D.N.
suddenly lunged toward the bow, telling McBee "I'll cut your guts out."
McBee fired six rounds at Noftser - four hit him directly, one grazed him
and the sixth missed. D.N. fell back into the middle of the boat, then
got up again and started toward McBee, who was reloading his empty revolver.
Peterson fired twice at D.N., hitting him both times. A Flight For Life
helicopter was called for medical assistance, but D.N. was pronounced
dead on arrival. The Las Vegas Metro PD homicide unit is investigating the
incident. Following the shooting, a check was made of D.N.'s shack.
Investigators found sheets of notebook paper with strange inscriptions
posted on the walls, a six month supply of canned food, several potted
plants (possibly marijuana) and 1200 prescription pills which were
identified as common medication for disturbed mental patients. D.N. had
no known criminal record. (Newt Sikes, CR, IAME, via Herb Gercke, RfiD/WRO
and directly to RAD/WASO).

89-92 - Acadia - Explosion and Structural Fire at Laboratory

An explosion and fire occurred at Jackson Laboratories, located near Sand
Beach in the park, on May 10th. About one acre within the park burned, and
32 park employees responded to provide assistance in fighting the fire and
in redirecting traffic through the park. The park's 2,000-gallon tanker
truck was employed in the suppression effort. There were five injuries and
a half million fatalities - all of the latter were laboratory mice. The lab
was declared a total loss. The fire is thought to have been caused by the
ignition of fumes from wall board adhesive being applied within the
building. (RAD/NARO).

89-93 - Independence - Demonstrators Arrested

Late on the morning of May 15th, eight members of a group known as the
Pledge of Resistance entered a closed area in the Assembly Room in
Independence Hall, handcuffed themselves together and unfurled a banner -
protesting United States policies in El Salvador. Responding rangers
offered them the opportunity to leave and obtain a permit, but they declined
the offer. The eight were then arrested and charged with trespassing and
interfering with an agency function. They were to appear before a
magistrate yesterday. (Chris Andress, RAD/MARO).

89-94 - Kennedy Center - Vehicle Collision with Building

At 4:50 a.m. on May 8th, Park Police officers discovered a Chevrolet
mini-van parked in the Hall of Nations in the Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts. The vehicle had apparently been driven through glass plate doors, and
had been left there with its engine running. The driver could not be found.
The vehicle was searched by a dog trained to detect explosives, but nothing
was found. A search of the building and surrounding area also had negative
results. (RAD/NCRO).

89-95 - George Washington Carver - Cemetery Vandalism

A vandal or vandals destroyed all 18 headstones and several footstones in
the park's cemetery on the evening of the 13th. The total damage is
estimated at $12,000. Two young boys seen in the park earlier in the
evening are the only suspects at this time. The incident is being
investigated by the park and the Newton County Sheriff's Office. Five days
earlier, a rock had been thrown through one of the windows of the Carver
house, which is presently undergoing restoration. As a result of these
incidents, the park is extending its patrol hours. (Rebecca Harriett, GWCA,
via Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO).

FIRE ACTIVITY

1) FIRE SITUATION

a) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

* Wilderness Ridge Fire - Guadalupe Mountains - unknown acreage:

There is no further information on the status of this fire.

* Margaret Basin Fire - Big Bend - 2,500 acres:

There's no new information on the fire and no estimate of containment.

b) OTHER AGENCY

* West End Fire - Loxahatchee NWR - 38,000 acres:

The fire grew by 8,000 acres over the past 24 hours and is threatening
homes. The fire was to have been contained by yesterday evening.

* Camp Fire - Lincoln NF - 830 acres:

The fire is burning in rough terrain and being influenced by erratic winds.
It is threatening the forest's visitor center and archeological sites.
Containment was predicted for yesterday evening.

2) FIRE ACTIVITY - 1 fire for 4 acres reported on Monday. Year-to-date
totals for 1989: 19,332 fires for 444,265 acres. Year-to-date totals for
1988: 43,252 fires for 498,978 acres.

3) ANALYSIS - No significant activity reported.

4) PROGNOSIS - Fire activity is expected to continue in the southwest and
southern regions. Ho resource shortages are anticipated.

(NIFCC Intelligence Section, 1630 MDT, 5/15/89).

OFFICE NOTES

1) The announcement for the Assistant Director, Visitor Services is now on
the street, The position is a GM-025-15, and closes on June 12th. It is
open to "all sources". The announcement number is APE-88-10R. Contact the
WASO Branch of Employee Evaluation and Staffing for further information at
202-343-5304.

2) The announcement for the secretarial position in Ranger Activities (WPO-
89-58, closing on May 23rd) has been amended, from GS-318-7 to GS-318-6/7.

STAFF STATUS

Kreis on SL.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: FTS 343-4874/6039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax: FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER