RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION MORNING REPORT Attention: Directorate Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC Ranger Activities Division Information Network Day/Date: Friday, October 11, 1991 INCIDENTS 91-474 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Virginia) - Follow-up on Poaching Arrests On the morning of August 25th, rangers arrested E.P., W.A., Jr., and D.D., all from local towns, for spotlighting and for killing a doe and fawn near Peaks of Otter campground, which was crowded with campers. Peters was subsequently found guilty of both charges as well as a third charge of recklessly handling a firearm. W.A. and D.D. were convicted of spotlighting. On October 7th, a Bedford County judge sentenced E.P. to eight months in jail and suspended his hunting privileges for 13 years. W.A. and D.D. received three month jail terms and had their hunting privileges suspended for three years. The three men were also told to pay a total of $1,000 to replace the animals. The judge ordered authorities to destroy a lantern, knives and the gun the trio was using. The three men face related charges in Federal district court in Roanoke later this month. [CompuServe message from Howard Parr, CR, BLRI, 10/10] 91-547 - Delaware Water Gap (New Jersey/Pennsylvania) - Marijuana Cultivation On October 2nd, rangers received information from a citizen that marijuana was being cultivated in an area north of Zion Church Road. Investigation confirmed that there was a marijuana plot at that location, and that some of the plants had already been removed. Electronic surveillance equipment was set up at the location the following day, and an around-the-clock watch was begun. Due to problems encountered with the equipment and difficult weather conditions, the operation was suspended on the morning of the 8th. A total of 35 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $34,000 were subsequently seized. There are no suspects in the case at this time. [CompuServe message from Chris Ward, DEWA, 10/10] 91-548 - Yosemite (California) - Search G.S., one of 90 cross-country runners taking part in a non-permitted marathon from Tuolumne Meadows to Yosemite Valley via Tenaya Canyon on October 5th, failed to show up at the end of the race. Rangers were notified and a search was begun the following day. G.S. was found within an hour by searchers in a helicopter. Race organizer D.H. of Enviro Sports had charged runners $70 each to participate in the race and had failed to obtain a permit for the run. It was later learned that several participants had become lost during the event and spent additional hours finding the race route. Total government search costs will exceed $4,000. Charges are pending against the race organizers. [Mike Mayer, YOSE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/10] 91-549 - Yosemite (California) - Search A.S., a British citizen, went out for a run in Wawona on the evening of October 8th, but failed to return. A search was begun employing ground, air and dog teams. A.S. was found on the morning of the 10th. He'd apparently become lost and spent two nights in the woods. A.S. incurred some minor injuries, but it otherwise in good condition. [Scott Hinson, YOSE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/10] OPERATIONAL NOTES 1) This is the first morning report to go out in WP 5.1 format. Although it has been saved as a DOS text file before uploading on CompuServe and other efforts have been made to assure that it is as compatible as possible with all receiving units, the report may yet come through scrambled - particularly in terms of excessive line scrolling. Please let us know via a CompuServe message if you've had any problem with the report this morning. THIS DAY (ALMOST) IN NPS HISTORY... October 12, 1969 - Rangers Homer Leach, Dick Powell, Al Schneider and Earl Curran, along with CHP officer Jim Pursell and Inyo County deputy Don Ward, arrested Charles manson and five members of his "family" in the Death Valley area for arson of a government vehicle and theft of federal property. The arrests led to the solving of the Tate-LaBianca murders and the convictions of seven members of the Manson family. STAFF STATUS Division Chief: Brady at Branch of Fire Management planning meeting, Boise, ID (10/7-10/8) and 75th anniversary symposium, Vail, CO (10/8-10/11). Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Schamp managing security at 75th anniversary symposium, Vail, CO (10/5-10/11); Sisto on annual leave (10/9- 10/15); Lee on annual leave (10/7-10/15). Branch of Fire and Aviation: Hurd and Spruill at branch planning meeting, Boise, ID (10/7-10/11); Farrel conducting structural fire review, Cumberland Island, GA (10/10-10/12). Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities Telephone: All Offices - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039 Telefax: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756 Branch of Fire - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977 CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER Branch of Fire - WASO-FIRE-WO SEAdog: All Offices - 1/650