RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Tuesday, April 21, 1992

INCIDENTS

92-128 - Blue Ridge and Shenandoah (Virginia) - Assist on Serious Accident

On the morning of April 20th, more than 50 vehicles were involved in two
chain-reaction collisions in heavy fog on Interstate 64 on Afton Mountain
near the parkway.  Two people were killed and about 40 people were taken to
at least four area hospitals with a variety of injuries.  Rangers and park
maintenance personnel from both Shenandoah and Blue Ridge responded and
provided assistance with traffic control.  Responding from Blue Ridge were
rangers Bruce Bytnar, Allan Morris and Paula Rakes and maintenance workers
David Clark, Roger Jenkins and Patrick Morrison.  [CompuServe message from
Larry Freeman, BLRI, 4/20]

92-129 - Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota) - Burglary

The park's seasonally-operated visitor center at a rest area on Interstate
94 was burglarized during the night of April 18th.  A person or persons
employed a chisel-like tool to force access through both an exterior door
and the closet to the natural history association's storage closet within
the building.  Although the visitor center contained a donation box with
visible bills and valuable natural history association sales items,
calculators, binoculars, slide projectors, tools and a microwave oven, only
a few rolls of film and the keys to a display case were determined to be
missing.  Rangers and Billings County sheriff's department officers are
investigating.  [Telefax from Bob Powell, CR, THRO, 4/20]

92-130 - National Capital Parks (District of Columbia) - Assault on Officer

Park Police officers James Austin and Larry McNally were working a
plainclothes narcotics detail on the afternoon of April 18th when they came
upon J.A.P., who was in a parked car preparing to inject
himself with heroin.  When the officers identified themselves and displayed
their badges, J.A.P. fled the area and attempted to run Sgt. McNally over
with his car.  McNally drew his weapon and fired at the vehicle.  The
officers pursued, but J.A.P. was able to escape.  About an hour later,
McNally and Austin spotted J.A.P. walking toward a bus stop.  They asked
for assistance, and were backed up by Lt. John Mugavin, detective David
Rayfield and officer Christine Lopez.  As they arrived at the location,
J.A.P. was boarding a bus.  Mugavin got on the bus, removed J.A.P. and
arrested him for assault on a police officer.  A subsequent search of the
area led to the discovery of J.A.P.'s car, which he abandoned due to two
flat tires which were caused by shots from McNally's weapon.  [Telefax from
Capt. Marvin Ellison, RLES, RAD/NCRO, 4/20]

92-131 - Independence (Philadelphia) - Special Event

Pat Buchanan, the Republican candidate for president, visited the park on
April 20th to give a campaign speech to invited guests at the First Bank of
the United States.  A permit for the event had been previously issued to
Buchanan's staff.  Approximately 100 ticketed guests attended the half-hour
speech, which was followed by a press conference.  Interest in the event was
high, and the media turnout was substantial.  Rangers coordinated security
coverage with the Secret Service and Philadelphia police.  [Telefax from
Robert Byrne, CR, INDE, 4/20]

92-132 - Ozark (Missouri) - Flooding

Heavy rains have caused flooding on the Current and Jack's Fork Rivers. 
Flood crests have reached from 12 to 16 feet above normal in some areas, and
additional rises are expected due to continuing thunderstorms.  Campground
buildings, utilities and roadways have been damaged.  Rangers have been out
both night and day warning backcountry campers and hunters of conditions. 
Many of the latter are in the park due to opening days of turkey season. 
The rangers have also been assisting in evacuations and property recovery. 
[Tim Blank, CR, OZAR, via telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 4/20]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Fort Larned (Kansas) - Prairie Dog Management

The park has been experimenting with "vacuuming" prairie dogs as part of its
attempt to control the number of prairie dogs in an area that contains
original Santa Fe Trail wagon ruts.  A contract was issued to Dog-Gone of
Cortez, Colorado, which employed a converted street-cleaning vacuum to
remove prairie dogs from their holes.  One half day was spent filling in
holes, then two days vacuuming holes that had been reopened.  The results
were somewhat disappointing.  Ten dogs were picked up; all were alive and in
good condition, but a bit disoriented.  The weather, which was cold and very
windy, is thought to be one reason for the lower than anticipated numbers,
which probably caused the dogs to be deeper in their holes than on a warm,
sunny day.  The recovered prairie dogs were turned over to the state of
Kansas for placement in their Prairie Dog State Park.  [Jim David, CR, FOLA]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin at all-risk management
review, San Francisco, CA (4/20-4/24); Kreis at NCR/NAR/MAR recreation fee
workshop, Atlantic City, NJ (4/21-4/22); Schamp on annual leave (4/20-4/24);
Marriott on travel (4/20-4/24).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Mattingly instructing S-230, Rapid City, SC
(4/20-4/25); Gale at all-risk management review, San Francisco, CA (4/20-4/23);
Botti on site visit and audit, Big Cypress, Everglades and SERO,
Atlanta, GA (4/20-5/1); Norum on site visit to Everglades and Great Smokies
(4/20-4/27); Broyles and Farrel at NFPA meeting and fire symposium,
Missoula, MT (4/20-4/25).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
            Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573

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