RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION MORNING REPORT Attention: Directorate Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC Ranger Activities Division Information Network Day/Date: Wednesday, November 20, 1991 INCIDENTS 91-625 - Buffalo (Arkansas) - Poaching On the afternoon of November 17th, rangers received a report of a dead elk in the Erbie area and investigated along with an officer from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The carcass of a bull elk was found and a bullet was retrieved from the remains. Following an investigation by the two agencies, a 21-year-old resident of Harrison, Arkansas, was arrested at his work place and charged with illegally taking the elk. He is currently being held in a county jail on a $5,000 bond. The elk was part of a herd of Rocky Mountain elk introduced into the area outside the park between 1981 and 1985. Arkansas' native species, the Eastern elk, was extirpated from the state by the 1840's and is now considered extinct. The current Rocky Mountain elk population in Arkansas is estimated at between 150 and 200 animals, almost all of them ranging within the upper and middle portions of the park. [John Apel, Acting CR, BUFF, via CompuServe message from Lori Serrano, RAD/SWRO, 11/19] 91-626 - Great Smokies (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Employee Suicide G.W., 48, the secretary for the assistant chief ranger in Tennessee, committed suicide at her home on the afternoon of November 18th. Williamson was separated from her husband, had attempted suicide on three prior occasions, and was under psychiatric care at the time of her death. She leaves three children and a grandchild. G.W. had worked for the park for about four years. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning in Newport, Tennessee. [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, via telefax from Steve Alscher, LES, RAD/SERO, 11/19] 91-627 - San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Assault on Visitor J.D.-H. was assaulted by an unidentified 18 to 20-year-old male as he was driving out of the El Morro parking lot exit near Santa Elena Road on the morning of November 16th. The assailant tried to open the vehicle's door, but was initially unable to do so because of J.D.-H.' resistance. The assailant then struck him in the face through the car's open window, opened the door, and attempted to drag him from the vehicle while pulling what appeared to be a pipe from his pocket. J.D.-H. accelerated and pulled away from his assailant, who ran down Santa Elena Road and disappeared. Rangers Culkin, Matos and Weltzin provided first aid until an ambulance arrived at the scene. J.D.-H. was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for hematomas and bruises to his face and stomach, then released. An investigation is underway. [Telefax from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 11/19] STAFF STATUS Division Chief: Brady on annual leave (11/18-11/22). Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin instructing at safety for line managers course, Beckley, WV (11/18-11/20); Kreis at regional fee coordinator meeting, WASO (11/19-11/22). Branch of Fire and Aviation: Norum at meeting of prescribed fire and fire effects working team, Charleston, WV (11/17-11/22); Gale serving as incident commander for 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, HI (11/25-12/9); Botti at Western Region FMO meeting, Yosemite, CA (11/18-11/22); Broyles at training working team meeting, White River, AZ (11/7-11/22). 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 F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977 CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO SEAdog: Branch of R&VP - 1/650 Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655