NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, January 25, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

91-xx - Great Smokies (Tennessee/N. Carolina) - Follow-up on Poaching Case

On December 20, 1994, C. "B." N. and T.W. were found
guilty in jury trail for possessing a silenced weapon which had been used while
killing a deer in the Cades Cove historic district in 1991.  The charges had
been filed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.  They are to be
sentenced later this month.  The two men, both firefighters from St. Lucie,
Florida, had driven to the area and taken a room in a local motel.  Each night,
one of them would drop the other off at the Cades Cove loop road before it
closed, survey the area, then kill a trophy buck with a silenced weapon.  When
summoned by CB radio, the partner would then return for the pickup.  Before
heading off on their trip, however, C.N. and T.W. made the mistake of
telling their co-workers about their plan to come to the park to shoot trophy
bucks.  One of them called the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's toll-free
number for reporting poachers, and TWRA in turn notified the park.  Rangers
confirmed their registration at the motel, staked out the area, and caught them
on their way out of the park with a deer - the second they'd taken.  They were
convicted on the poaching charges on an earlier date.  They subsequently lost
their weapon, vehicle, jobs and wives, and are now looking at between 18 and 24
months in prison.  District ranger Jack Piepenbring led the investigation. 
[Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 1/10]

95-06 - Lava Beds (California) - Follow-up on Winter Storm Impacts

The park has begun assessment and repair of the damage caused by the rain, snow
and high winds that struck the area between January 8th and the 22nd.  Roofs on
six park buildings were damaged, and many doors, windows and antennae were
destroyed.  Seventy trees are down or seriously damaged in developed areas. 
Removal of several which were threatening structures has been completed, but
clean-up or removal of others will not be possible until spring.  Temporary
repairs have been completed on two wash-outs on secondary roads.  Repairs to
traffic and information signs and replacement of bulletin boards will take
place over the next few months.  Damage assessments are continuing, but are
being hampered by snow.  Estimates of losses are still being compiled.  All
park roads, facilities, and a portion of the campground have been reopened. 
[LABE, 1/24]

95-25 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Homicide

On January 21st, a visitor in the Nelson's Landing area of the park found a
skull which appeared to have a bullet in it.  A joint search by rangers and
Metro PD officers led to the discovery of additional remains; they apparently
were originally placed in a cargo trunk, which was then burned and thrown down
a wash.  The victim was subsequently identified as 64-year-old R.R. of
Las Vegas.  A joint investigation into the murder is underway.  [Grace Gerken,
LAME, 1/24]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

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
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843