RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                       MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date: Friday, December 21, 1990

INCIDENTS

90-446 - Everglades (Florida) - Illegal Fishing

While patrolling the Ten Thousand Islands area of the Gulf Coast District on
the evening of the 17th, rangers Kevin FitzGerald and Tim Phillips heard two
motorboats running in the shallow waters. The rangers surreptitiously
approached the vessels, which were running without lights, and watched them
with night-vision goggles. Both vessels were flat-bottomed commercial
fishing boats designed to spread gill nets in the shallows. Although the
occupants were not caught with their nets in the water, they were in
possession of commercial fishing gear within the park. The two rangers were
able to jump on to one of the boats and identify the occupant, then chase
down the second boat. The operators - L.G.D., 51, and his son,
L.W.D., 32, both of the Everglades City area - were charged with
operating without lights and possession of commercial fishing gear in the
park. The elder L.G.D. has been caught and convicted twice in the past 18
months for commercial fishing violations. His boat, motor and net were
seized and will be held as evidence. (Telefax from Mark Lewis, LES, EVER,
12/19).

90-447 - Amistad (Texas) - Kidnapping Arrest

On December 11th, rangers received reports of suspicious activities in the
park; indications were that a significant drug deal was in progress.
Rangers joined DEA agents in surveillance of a four-person group which had
rented a ski boat for four hours. Surveillance team members were not aware
that one of the four was a 34-year-old Mexican national who had been
kidnapped on December 9th and was being held by the group for a ransom of
$400,000, that the drop-off of the money and return of the kidnapping victim
were scheduled to take place on the lake, and that members of the Del Rio
police department were tracking the group. When the kidnappers and their
victim arrived at Diablo East, they were greeted by approximately 20
officers from a multitude of local, state and federal agencies and were
arrested for kidnapping, (tarry Barrett, AMIS, via telefax from Phil Young,
RAD/SWRO, 12/20).

90-448 - Voyageurs (Minnesota) - Snowmobile Fatality

R.E.G., 34, of Fort Francis, Canada, was snowmobiling on the west
end of Lake Kabetogama around 8:30 p.m. on the 19th when he ran into a rock
crib pier support at about 85 mph and was killed. The accident was
witnessed by other snowmobilers in the area and reported to authorities. An
investigation is being conducted by the St. Louis County sheriff's
department. Alcohol is thought to be a contributing factor. (Bruce
McKeeman, CR, VOYA, via CompuServe message from Tom Thompson, RAD/MWRO,
12/20).

90-449 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Apparent Suicide

A park maintenance worker found the body of R.T., 35, of Gautier,
Mississippi, a short distance from his vehicle at The Sinks in the Little
River Subdistrict on the morning of the 19th. R.T. apparently died from a
single gunshot wound to the head. Suicide is suspected. (Telephone report
from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 12/20).

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No reports today.

STAFF STATUS

- Division Chief: Dabney at faculty meeting for rational parks and
  wilderness fire maragement training course, Marara, AZ (12/17-12/21).

- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Kreis on AL (12/19-12/21);
  Coffey on AL (12/21).

- Branch of Fire: Norum and Erskine at faculty meeting for national parks
  and wilderness fire management training course, Marara, AZ (12/16-12/21);
  Farrel on review of structural fire program at SEKI (12/17-12/21).


Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog:     1/650