RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date: Tuesday, October 23, 1990

INCIDENTS

90-61 - Joshua Tree (California) - Follow-up on Injury to Grady Arrington

Last week, Grady returned home to Joshua Tree for the first time since his
accident in April. He will continue his therapy as an outpatient at Palm
Springs Desert Hospital. Doctors have said that he will be able to accept a
position which is being held open for him in Southeast Region if his
strength continues to improve. A team of specialists has determined that
Grady sustained an extremely serious fracture of a cervical vertebra and
that he will remain paralyzed from the waist down. (Paul Henry, CR, JOTR,
via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/19).

90-376 - Crater Lake (Oregon) - Recovered Vehicle

On October 5th, rangers were conducting a hunting patrol along the park's
east boundary when they discovered a Ford pickup truck parked in the woods
about an eighth of a mile from the nearest road. It was apparent that the
vehicle had been there for some time, as vegetation had grown up around the
tires, there was a mouse nest on the floorboard and crusty rifle rounds were
found on the seat. When the registered owner of the vehicle, a Mrs. L.,
was contacted, it was learned that her husband, who is 75 years old and
suffers from Alzheimer's disease, had left it there when hunting near the
park on October 3, 1989 and was unable to find it again. Friends and family
searched the area for two weeks and again on several occasions last summer
in unsuccessful attempts to locate the misplaced vehicle. Mrs. L. was
grateful to rangers for their discovery, as this was the second vehicle her
husband had lost within the past two years. They have yet to locate the
first. Mr. L. no longer drives solo. Incidentally, the truck ran like
a charm once the needles, nests and cones were cleared from the engine
compartment and it was jump-started. (Angie Terrell-Wagner, CRLA, via
CompuServe message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 10/22).

90-377 - Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Body Found

A hunter discovered human skeletal remains in the woods off of Old Mine Road
on the morning of October 20th. The remains were taken to the Sussex County
medical examiner's office. Later that day, the examiner reported that
dental records indicated that the remains were those of L.M.M.,
27, of Vernon, New Jersey, who was reported missing on June 23, 1990. A
search of the area on the following day turned up other items of evidence.
The park, New Jersey state police, Vernon police and FBI are cooperating on
the investigation. (Telefaxed report from Hal Grovert, CR, DEWA, 10/22).

90-378 - Harpers Ferry (West Virginia) - Search

On the afternoon of the 20th, Dale Walser, 28, of G.B., Maryland, was
fishing along the Armory Canal when he wandered off toward the nearby CSX
railroad tracks. (Companions became worried when he failed to return after
an extended period of time and notified rangers, who searched the area
without success. Several hours later, Walser was found hitchhiking along
Interstate 70 nearly 20 miles away. He explained that he had impulsively
hopped on a slow-moving freight train, then was afraid to jump off when the
train gathered speed. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident.
(CompuServe message from Harvey Sorenson, CR, HAFE, 10/22).

90-379 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Special Event

On October 20th, rangers maintenance employees assisted at the 11th
annual Bridge Day, an event which is held on the New River Gorge bridge.
The bridge, which is 900 feet above the New River, is a prime location for
BASE jumpers, who come from all over the world to participate in the event.
This year's jump, which was held under a park special use permit, was
complicated by high water, as the New River was 11 feet above normal fall
levels. Due to special safety constraints, only 397 jumps were made.
Rangers were involved in 59 Whitewater SAR's and one "tree" STAR. Five
jumpers received injuries requiring hospitalization. Ranger Scott Kalna
also was injured when he broke his hand while attempting to arrest the fall
of a BASE jumper who fell from a tree top. Kalna's quick actions prevented
the jumper from falling another 45 feet. Seven jumpers were arrested by
rangers for making illegal jumps. A crowd estimated at 200,000 - a record
for the event - attended Bridge Day. (Telefaxed report from Bill Blake, CR,
NERI, 10/21).

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No reports today.

OFFICE NOTES

1) The Employee Development Division will be issuing a new employee
development plan (EDP) catalog for completion of 1991 EDP forms (10-224).
These forms list each employee's training needs and are normally filled out
immediately following completion of annual performance appraisals. Do not
use any EDP catalog which does not state "1991 issuance" on the front cover.
For further information, contact Al Working, SNAP/TRAC system manager, at
FTS 523-5280 or 202-523-5280. [Al Werking, EDD/WASO]

STAFF STATUS

- Division Chief: Dabney on AL (10/23).

- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: No travel scheduled.

- Branch of Fire: Hurd at branch planning meeting in Boise (10/22-10/26).