RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date: Friday, April 6, 1990

INCIDENTS

90-41 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Follow-up on Drug Arrests

On March 17th, park rangers concluded a two-month long investigation into
drug dealing at the Oconaluftee Job Corps Center with the arrest of two
dealers from Atlanta. One of the dealers, 19-year-old T.A. of
Newnan, Georgia, has been charged under 21 USC with 14 felony counts related
to the distribution of controlled substances, including distribution of a
controlled substance on or near a school (21 USC 845 [a]) and distribution to
a person under 21 years of age (21 USC 845). One of the charges stems from
an offense committed on March 2nd, evidence of which was gained during the
investigation. Arnold remains in jail under a $10,000 secured bond. The
juvenile dealer has been charged with five felony distribution counts. He
had been released to his parents under a $5,000 unsecured bond. The
investigation also resulted in the apprehension of five corpsmen who
purchased marijuana. If they continue to cooperate in the investigation,
charges will probably not be filed against them. (Bob Marriott, Acting CR,
GRSM, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO, 2 p.m. EDT, 4/5/90).

90-52 - Hawaii Volcanoes (Hawaii) - Follow-up on Injury to Ranger

On April 2nd, park ranger Sam Kahookaulana was injured when he fell 15 feet
from a fixed line under a helicopter to some trees below. He suffered a
slight compression fracture of a vertebra, but is now out of the hospital
and doing fine. (Telephone report from Jim Martin, CR, HAVO, 3 p.m. EDT,
4/5/90).

90-58 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Poaching Incident

As a result of an investigation concluded in March, P.D.C. of
Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, will be charged with the illegal killing and
transportation of a large bull elk from Norris Junction on the night of
September 26, 1989. The incident began on September 27th, when Grant
Village rangers contacted P.D.C., who was camped illegally at the Riddle
Lake trailhead. The rangers found elk parts scattered in the parking lot
and woods next to his vehicle, but P.D.C. claimed that the elk had been
killed during archery season in northern Montana. Although P.D.C. had a
valid Montana hunting license, the antlers were not tagged. He was issued
violation notices for improper food storage and transporting the carcass
through the park without a permit. The elk was taken to Mammoth, where a
Montana state game warden interviewed P.D.C. and issued him another
citation for failure to tag the animal. The next day, a visitor reported
finding the carcass of an illegally killed elk in the Norris area. Rangers
examined and photographed the animal and collected the skull and remaining
cape. Further investigation revealed that the elk had been killed by a
high-powered rifle and that an arrow had been forced into the wound. A
special agent for the USFWS was notified and took over the investigation.
Another FWS agent interviewed P.D.C. in Tennessee last month and seized a
large elk rack from him. The skull plate on the rack matched the skull from
the Norris elk. If convicted of the Lacey Act violation, P.D.C. could
forfeit his vehicle and weapons and be fined $10,000 and/or sentenced to ten
years in prison. (Bob Mihan, LES, YELL, via CompuServe message to RAD/WASO,
4/2/90).

OFFICE NOTES

No notes today.

STAFF STATUS

- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Loach at Voyageurs (4/4-6);
  Coffey in Athens, Georgia at SAF wilderness conference (4/5-6); Dabney on
  AL (4/6-4/10).

- Branch of Fire: Gale on travel (4/6); Botti in WASO for budget meeting
  (4/5-6).


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)