RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date: Thursday, February 22, 1990

*** There will be no morning reports on February 23rd or 26th ***

INCIDENTS

90-36 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Motor Vehicle Fatality

On the evening of February 15th, park rangers investigated two suspicious
vehicles parked at the Cosby campground. The rangers had not seen either
vehicle being operated prior to the contact. Investigation revealed that
only one of the persons in the two cars had a valid operator's license and
that all persons in the two vehicles were related by marriage. They were
ordered to leave the area in one car, which was to be driven by the licensed
driver. One of the rangers left the campground area and waited a distance
down the access road. Shortly thereafter, he saw both cars leaving the area
and pulled behind them. Both immediately increased their speed. Rather
than risk a chase on the winding road, the ranger continued to follow at a
normal speed. Near the end of the access road, he found one of the vehicles
had had an accident and overturned; all four passengers had been ejected.
The second vehicle fled the area. Subsequent investigation disclosed that
both vehicles had been involved in the accident. The licensed driver, a
22-year-old female, was evacuated with head injuries, and died later that
night. The investigation into the incident is continuing. (Bob Marriott,
GRSM, via CompuServe message to RAD/SERO and RAD/WASO, 8:30 a.m. EST,
2/21/90).

90-37 - B-W Parkway (Maryland) - Motor Vehicle Fatality

Early on the morning of the 17th, Park Police officers were notified of a
two-vehicle accident with serious injuries on the parkway near the Little
Patuxant Bridge. A grey Ford with Texas plates carrying three people was
headed northbound when the driver apparently lost control and struck the
rear of a blue Honda with Pennsylvania tags. Both vehicles went off the
parkway and down an embankment. The person believed to have been the
operator of the Ford was pronounced dead at the scene; the two passengers
were transported by ambulance and Eagle One to the Baltimore Shock Trauma
Unit and remain in critical condition. The operator of the Honda was
treated for minor injuries and released. (CompuServe message from Capt.
Dave Blackburn, RAD/NCRO, 9 a.m. EST, 2/21/90).

90-38 - Padre Island (Texas) - Felony Arrest

On the evening February 16th, rangers received a complaint of a vehicle
speeding in the park. An NCTC check of the registration indicated that the
vehicle had been stolen in Houston, Texas. Rangers were unable to find the
vehicle within the park and called the Corpus Christi Police Department for
assistance. They located and stopped the car and arrested the driver, a
Marine deserter, as he was returning to his campsite. Rangers subsequently
found and seized a loaded .38 revolver from the Marine's campsite.
(CompuServe message from John Miller, Acting CR, PAIS, 10:30 EST, 2/21/90).

90-39 - Meridian Hill Park (District of Columbia) - Armed Robbery

Park Police officers were notified of an armed robbery in the park on the
afternoon of February 20th. A man with a two-inch revolver approached
Constantine Dyce and said "Give me what you got." Dyce grabbed the gun;
during the ensuing struggle, four shots were fired without effect. The
assailant, then pulled a knife and stabbed Dyce in the head, neck and hands
before fleeing the area. Dyce vas treated at Howard University Hospital and
released. Six "dime" bags of marijuana were found at the crime scene
indicating that the robbery may have been drug related. (CompuServe message
from Capt. Dave Blackburn, RAD/NCRO, 3:30 p.m. EST, 2/21/90).

OTHER NEWS...

U.S. Forest Service ranger Clay Cutter died on February 19th in an attempt
to save several teenagers who'd fallen through the ice on Convict Lake in
Inyo National Forest. Four teenagers from a camp for troubled youths were
out on the lake's ice when it collapsed; one was able to crawl out to
safety, but the other three went under. Two counselors and a volunteer
fireman also crashed through the ice and drowned while attempting to rescue
the boys. Cutter crawled out on the ice with a rope, but he too fell
through. Divers recovered his body on Tuesday. (UPI, 2/21/90).

OFFICE NOTES

1) The Director has asked Jack Morehead, Associate Director for Operations,
to give him the names of any reports required by the Service, Department or
any other office which are of dubious usefulness. If you have one or two in
mind, please provide us with the name of your park, the reports and the
reasons why you perceive them to be less than worthwhile. NO CALLS, please;
just send us a CompuServe message or drop us a note. [Walt Dabney]

2) Title 16 (Conservation) of the United States Code has been revised to
include all laws in effect as of January 1st, including all revisions to the
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, as amended. You may order a
copy from GPO for $53. Ask for Title 16 (conservation), Volume 6, 1988
edition, GPO stock number 052-001-00315-2. The last previous printing was
in 1982 and is now obsolete. [Wes Kreis]

3) It has come to our attention that there are parks still using the lay,
1987 (Release Two) version of NPS-22. This version is obsolete and was
replaced by Release Three in July, 1989. Copies of Release Three can be
obtained from your regional fee coordinator. Copies should be obtained for
the park's administrative staff and fee collection personnel. [Wes Kreis]

STAFF STATUS

Coffey on S/L.


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
SEAdog:     1/650 (Phone:343-6014; BAUD:2400)