NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, February 17, 1994

Broadcast: By 0900 ET

INCIDENTS

94-71 - Grand Canyon (Arizona) - Exposure Fatality

On the evening of February 14th, a park maintenance crew returning from
Jacob's Lake discovered the frozen body of J.C., 37, of Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania, next to the North Rim entrance station.  They summoned North
Rim paramedics, who determined that J.C. had frozen to death. 
Investigation revealed that J.C., who was wearing a light jacket and
street shoes, had been backpacking that day and that he was not prepared for
either hiking in the backcountry or for winter weather.  In addition, his
backcountry permit did not authorize travel to the North Rim.  It was
determined that J.C. had hiked out of the canyon from the South Rim in up
to three feet of snow.  He had started towards the developed area of the
North Rim, but for some reason turned away, made his way past the entrance
station, then set up a small camp.  J.C. later left that camp and
returned to the entrance station, where his body was found.  His remains
have been taken to Flagstaff.  [Barbara Brutvan, GRCA, 2/16]

94-72 - Shiloh (Tennessee) - Winter Storm Impacts

The park reopened yesterday morning after the area's worst ice storm in 50
years forced its closure for six days.  Although most of the tour route
through the 4,000-acre park remains closed to visitation pending debris
removal, maintenance crews succeeded in restoring power and clearing
hazardous trees from the entrance road and the visitor center parking areas
on Tuesday.  Over 8,100 trees at Shiloh suffered major damage, and 73 large
trees initially blocked every named road on the battlefield.  Cleanup in the
national cemetery alone will likely take three weeks' work by the entire
maintenance staff.  Cultural resources fared much better; falling trees
damaged one cannon and fewer than a dozen historic cast iron plaques. 
[SHIL, 2/16]

94-73 - Craters of the Moon (Idaho) - Trespass Conviction

Early last November, over 100 sheep entered the park around the end of an
existing fence, the latest episode in a continuing problem that the park has
had with livestock trespass from neighboring BLM grazing allotments.  The
sheep were already trespassing on the BLM land.  A local rancher was
subsequently cited for trespass, pled guilty, and was ordered to pay $150 in
fines.  Resource management staff at the park assessed the damages to soil
and vegetation on both BLM and park lands, plus administrative costs, and
came up with a total of $1,500 for the park and $1,300 for BLM.  Such an
award was considered unlikely, however, because of the venue, so the two
agencies decided to pursue a negotiated settlement.  On February 2nd, the
violator agreed to a $500 settlement, which is to be split between the
agencies.  The trespass notice and authorization to impound remain in effect
for one year and will be used if the sheep trespass during that period. 
[Jon Jarvis, Superintendent, CRMO, 2/15]

94-74 - Death Valley (California) - MVA with Concession Employee Fatality

J.M., 53, an employee of Fred Harvey concessions at Death Valley,
was killed in a single-car accident on Route 6 some time between 3:00 and
7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 16th.  An investigation into the accident
is underway; no further details are available.  [David Sandbakken, DEVA,
2/16]

94-75 - Glacier Bay (Alaska) - Ship Sinking

The "Westerly", a 72-foot fishing vessel out of Petersburg, Alaska, sank in
the park on February 15th.  The vessel, which was laden with Tanner crab
pots, ran into 50-knot winds and seas of six to ten feet while passing
northeast of Strawberry Island and began to experience severe stability
problems, possibly caused by the failure of a bulkhead.  High seas quickly
caused the boat to founder, and the crew had to abandon ship within minutes. 
The "Arete", the park's 26-foot patrol boat, responded from Bartlett Cove,
but had to turn back because of extreme weather and sea conditions.  A
nearby fishing vessel, the "Northwyn", was able to rescue all crew members
within minutes, however, and no injuries were reported.  All crew members
had donned immersion suits before entering the ocean, where water
temperatures were in the low 40s.  The "Westerly', which carried an
estimated 1,500 to 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel in its tanks, sank in about
40 fathoms of water east of Strawberry Island without a trace.  Although no
evidence of fuel leakage has yet been spotted, park and Coast Guard
officials will continue to monitor the scene closely and will be working
with the owner to attempt to locate and salvage the vessel.  [Chuck Young,
DR, Bay District, GLBA, 2/16]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

"Telecommunications Infrastructure Improvement Project (ParkNet II)", signed
by Deputy Director Reynolds and sent to Field Directorate.  Requests
nomination of park superintendents to serve on a task force to plan for
upgrading NPS telecommunications infrastructure at the park level, partly to
"(minimize) the operational impact of a reduced workforce in middle
management and administrative support."

COMING EVENTS CALENDAR

The Coming Events calendar appears in the morning report every other
Thursday.  If you know of a significant event of Servicewide interest,
please forward the listing to WASO Ranger Activities.  Entries are listed no
earlier than FOUR months before the event.  Asterisks indicate new entries;
brackets at end of entry indicate source of information:

2/22 -- George Washington Birthday, Washington Monument, Washington, DC. 
11:30 a.m.  Wreath-laying ceremony.  Contact: NCR PAO, 202-619-
7226.

2/25* -- Fort Sackville Anniversary Memorial, George Rogers Clark,
Vincennes, IN.  10 a.m.  Commemorates Clark's victory over
British at Vincennes in 1779.  Contact: MWR PAO.

2/26-27 -- 218th Anniversary of Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, Moores
Creek, Currie, NC.  10 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Speaking on the 27th will
be historian Dr. Bobby G. Moss.  Contact: MOCR, 910-283-5591.

3/28-4/10 -- National Cherry Blossom Festival, Washington, DC.  Week-long
festival includes Japanese lantern lighting ceremony, art shows,
boat cruises, concerts, ball, fashion show, and parade. 
Contact: NCR PAO, 202-619-7226. 

4/13 -- Thomas Jefferson Birthday, Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC. 
Noon.  Ceremony features military color guard and band,
speakers, laying of wreaths.  Contact: NCR PAO, 202-619-7226.

4/30 -- Old Guard Annual Meeting, Fort Larned, Larned, KS.  Features
special commemoration of Buffalo Soldiers and dinner.  Contact:
FOLA.

5/10 -- 125th Anniversary, completion of transcontinental railroad,
Golden Spike, UT.  Contact: Bill Herr, 801-471-2209.

5/28* -- Santa Fe Trail Days, Fort Larned, Larned, KS.  Contact: FOLA.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: 202-208-4874
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