NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, December 15, 1994

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

94-671 - Natchez (Mississippi) - Burglary

On the evening of December 13th, a contracted security alarm company notified
the superintendent that an alarm signal had been received from the park's
administrative headquarters.  The company had also contacted Natchez police,
who discovered that the building had been burglarized.  After the burglar cut
the building's exterior phone lines, he or she unsuccessfully attempted to
enter the building through a window, then gained entry by kicking in the rear
door.  Although the phone lines had been cut, the alarm rang; the thief
silenced it by removing the alarm key pad from the wall and removing the audio
speaker.  The burglar then unscrewed all the interface cables from a computer
CPU, but was foiled by one cable which required a small screwdriver.  The only
item stolen was a modem.  The investigation continues.  [Bob Dodson,
Superintendent, NATC, 12/14]

94-672 - Mount Rainier (Washington) - Suicide

On the evening of December 11th, the Lewis County sheriff's office asked park
staff to be on the lookout for M.T., 38, of Seattle, who might be
attempting suicide somewhere in the area.  Rangers found his vehicle within the
hour, and discovered his body across from the National Park Inn shortly
thereafter.  M.T. had shot himself.  [Bill Larson, MORA, 12/12]

94-673 - Padre Island (Texas) - Resource Protection Arrests

Over the past two weeks, seven Mexican nationals were arrested by Texas Parks
and Wildlife officers for illegal netting within the park.  Seven sea turtle
fatalities - including two Kemp's Ridley turtles - have occurred recently as a
result of such fishing operations.  Three 20-foot "shark" fishing boats and
about three miles of gill nets were also seized.  The arrests stemmed from
long-term night surveillance operations by the park in conjunction with Texas
Parks and Wildlife and the United States Coast Guard.  [Dan Wirth, CI, PAIS,
12/13]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Great Lakes Parks - Ecosystem Management

The Great Lakes Commission released an ecosystem charter for the Great Lakes-St
Lawrence Basin on October 25th.  This non-binding charter offers a vision
statement and a series of 17 guiding principles for the management of the
ecological integrity, diversity, and sustainability of the Great Lakes
ecosystem and the communities and economies it supports.  As stated by the
Commission: "This charter will provide a tool for advocating the interests of
the Basin Ecosystem and its inhabitants; a statement of unity acknowledging
that all partners in the collective management effort - despite their
differences - subscribe to a single set of fundamental principles."  The
National Park Service, represented by the Midwest Region, and 78 governmental
and non-governmental organizations signed the initial charter.  The charter
signatories believe that through  ecosystem management, all partners will
understand the implications of their actions and strive to avoid adverse
consequences.  [Wildlife and Vegetation Division, WASO]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

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:

12/8-1/1* -- Pageant of Peace, The Ellipse, President's Park, Washington, D.C. 
Open to the public daily from 9:00 a.m. through 11:00 p.m. to visit
the decorated National Christmas Tree and trees representing all
U.S. states and territories.  Evening entertainment runs from
Thursday, December 8th, through Friday, December 30th, from 6:00
p.m. until 8:00 p.m.  There is no live entertainment on 12/24 and
12/25.  Contact: President's Park, 202-755-7798.  [Maura Vaughn,
NCRO]

12/27-29* -- Annual Christmas candlelight tours of the White House, President's
Park, Washington, D.C.   These evening tours, which run from 5:00
p.m. until 7:00 p.m., show the White House decorated for the
holiday season.  Contact: President's Park, 202-755-7798.  [Maura
Vaughn, NCRO]

1/7-8* -- 180th Anniversary of Battle of New Orleans Celebration, Chalmette
Unit, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve,
Chalmette, LA.  Approximately 175 living history volunteers from
the United States and Canada will present programs dealing with
weapons and lifestyles during the War of 1812 period.  Contact:
Chalmette National Battlefield,, 504-589-4428. [Gary Hume, JELA]

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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