RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION MORNING REPORT Attention: Directorate Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC CC: RAD Information Net Day/date: Friday, October 4, 1991 INCIDENTS 91-538 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Drug Arrest On October 3rd, ranger Chris Cessna observed a half-smoked marijuana joint in plain view inside a parked car in the public parking lot. Cessna and ranger Todd Roeder waited for the owner to return, then stopped him when he entered the vehicle and started to leave. A search of the vehicle incident to the driver's arrest led to the discovery of a fully loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun within reach of the driver and substantial amounts of cash and cocaine. Rangers subsequently met with representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office and members of the multi-agency drug task force in the subject's home town and agreed not to press charges in return for the subject's full cooperation with the task force, including provision of in-depth information on drug activities for the next six months. The weapon was seized and will become the property of the government. The drugs will be destroyed. [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF, via CompuServe message from Rich Murphy, LES, RAD/MWRO, 10/3] RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota) - Wild Horse Reduction On October 1st and 2nd, a wild horse roundup was conducted in the park's South Unit. Two helicopters and twelve riders rounded up 93 of the park's 114 wild horses. Of these, 53 will be sold at auction; the remainder were released back into the park. This reduction, the first since 1986, has received widespread publicity due to claims that the park horses are a separate breed that descended from Sitting Bull's ponies, a premise disputed by area ranchers. A bill to make the so called "Mokota horse" found in the park the state horse failed in the North Dakota legislature last year. Attempts to halt the roundup through the state's Congressional delegation and the governor's office were not successful. Due to the controversy, representatives from both the Humane Societies of North Dakota and the U.S. were present for the entire roundup. Two horses were lost due to injury. The park took blood from 77 animals for genetic typing at the University of Kentucky. The culling process eliminated animals introduced in recent years with the goal of preserving traditional bloodlines. [Telefax from Sara Koenig, RMS, THRO, 10/3] Alaska Regional Office (Anchorage) - Urban Grizzly Although this incident did not occur within the jurisdiction of the NPS, ARO sent it along as an item of interest. On October 1st, morning traffic reports on the radio began with warnings of a freeroaming, thousandpound grizzly in midtown Anchorage. Despite hours of intensive pursuit by city police past school yards, through residential streets and down bike paths, the bear was able to elude his wouldbe capturers and at last report was only blocks from the regional office building. The bear was reportedly heading north at the time, and sirens could be heard as the pursuit continued. Only in Alaska.... STAFF STATUS Division Chief: Brady at California state ranger conference, Sacramento, CA (10/2-10/4). Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Kreis at reservation system postaward conference, Reston, VA (10/2-10/3). Branch of Fire & Aviation: Broyles at NPS regional safety officer meeting, Omaha, NE (9/29-10/3); Norum chairing interagency task group on prescribed fire complexity, Denver, CO (10/1-10/5). Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities Telephone: All Offices FTS 2684874/6039 or 2022084874/6039 Telefax: Branch of R&VP FTS 2686756 or 2022086756 Branch of Fire FTS 2685977 or 2022085977 CompuServe: Branch of R&VP WASORANGER Branch of Fire WASOFIREWO SEAdog: All Offices 1/650