NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Monday, March 20, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

94-614 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Follow-up on Marijuana Conviction

D.R.A., 40, of Layland, West Virginia, who was arrested on a warrant
last September after being indicted by a federal grand jury on three counts of
sale and distribution of marijuana and one count of cultivation of marijuana in
the park, pled guilty in district court on March 1st and was sentenced to five
years in prison without parole and four years of supervised probation upon
release.  The investigation began last May with information provided by a
confidential informant.  During the subsequent undercover operation, six drug
buys were made in which over 250 grams of marijuana were purchased.  A
marijuana plantation which D.R.A. had in the park was also found and over 120
plants were confiscated.  [Chris Schrader, CI, NERI, 3/9]

95-105 - Grand Teton (Wyoming) - Pursuit; MVA with Injuries; Felony Arrest

A high-speed vehicle pursuit which was begun by Wyoming Highway Patrol officers
in Dubois, Wyoming, terminated in the park early on the afternoon of March
16th.  The pursuit covered over 100 miles, with speeds up to 110 mph.  Rangers,
local deputies and police, and state fish and game wardens were also involved
in the chase.  The pursued vehicle drove around barriers on Highway 89 at
Antelope Flats Junction and subsequently rear-ended a park visitor's vehicle
that was traveling in the same direction.  Two visitors were injured in the
incident, one critically and the other seriously.  The driver of the pursued
vehicle was not injured and was arrested at the scene.  He was wanted in
California and Idaho on weapons and drug charges, and had warrants against him
in excess of $110,000.  The state is leading in the interagency investigation. 
[Colin Campbell, CR, GRTE, 3/17]

95-106 - Big Bend (Texas) - Drug Seizure

On the evening of March 1st, rangers assisted Border Patrol agents in a
surveillance operation near Terlingua that resulted in the seizure of almost
250 pounds of marijuana.  The agents had requested assistance from rangers when
they received information that a load of drugs would be smuggled through the
park's West District.  The delivery was made by horseback, and was intercepted
at a drop-off point just outside the park's west boundary.  One arrest was made
at the scene.  Investigation revealed that the load of marijuana had originated
in Mexico and crossed into the park near the Castolon area.  [Bill Wright, DR,
BIBE, 3/13]

95-107 - Obed (Tennessee) - Two Searches

Rangers and local rescue squad members were involved in two searches last week,
both for overdue boaters.  In the first, several boaters tried to paddle Clear
Creek during flood conditions (the water flow was about 30,000 cubic feet per
second).  One kayaker was sucked into a large hole which ripped his spray skirt
off, sent his boat downstream, and recirculated him numerous times through the
associated hydraulic.  He was later found walking out of the gorge.  The other
search began when a tandem canoe paid did not report for work and the park was
notified.  The couple was found that afternoon, ten miles upstream from their
intended take-out.  [Rob Turan, OBRI, 3/16]

95-108 - Blue Ridge (North Carolina/Virginia) - Armed Robbery Conviction

Early on the morning of July 9, 1994, ranger Helen Phillips received a report
of an armed robbery that had occurred at the Thunder Hill overlook and had been
reported to police in Blowing Rock.  The two victims reported that two men had
approached them, one holding a knife and the other a club, and had demanded and
taken money from them.  They were able to provide accurate descriptions of
their assailants.  Shortly thereafter, town police received a report of four
men knocking on motel doors, requesting the use of a jack to change a tire. 
Phillips, and ranger Gene Redmon responded with local officers and the robbery
victims; the latter were able to identify their assailants - J.H. and
B.P. - and B.P. later confessed to participating in the robbery. 
J.H. and B.P. were both found guilty of robbery and assault with a deadly
weapon.  J.H. was recently sentenced to five years in federal prison and
three years of supervised probation, and ordered to pay restitution to the
victims and their court-appointed lawyer's fees.  B.P.'s sentence is set for a
later date.  [CRO, BLRI, 3/4]

95-109 - Obed (Tennessee) - Car Clout Arrests

Following a lengthy surveillance operation which was initiated following a
dozen car clouts, rangers spotted some gear stolen from a clout a month earlier
in the rear of a car parked at a river access.  Four individuals associated
with the car were later arrested and charged, among other things, with
possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and
underage alcohol consumption.  [Rob Turan, OBRI, 3/16]

95-110 - Statue of Liberty (New York) - Oil Spill

An oil sheen was spotted issuing from under a seawall in the dock area on the
south side of the island on March 14th.  The quantity discharged is not known. 
Due to the location of the discharge, a containment boom can not be utilized. 
No impacts on resources have been reported.  The Coast Guard and National
Response Center were notified.  [Suzanne Smith, NARO, 3/17]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Devils Tower (Wyoming) - Climbing and Cultural Resource Management

On March 8th, the park released it's final climbing management plan and FONSI. 
The plan, two years in the making, is scheduled for immediate implementation. 
Devils Tower is one of over 30 NPS units that were directed to formulate site-
specific climbing management plans.  Unlike other NPS units, however, Devils
Tower plan had to resolve the conflict between recreational use and American
Indian traditional cultural use - on the one hand, the tower is regarded as one
of the premier crack climbing areas in North America; on the other, it is also
sacred to northern plains Indians and has been determined eligible for listing
in the National Register of Historic Places as a traditional cultural property. 
Both climbing and traditional cultural uses increased dramatically over the
last decade.  The plan stipulates a voluntary closure to climbing in June out
of respect for American Indian cultural values.  If not successful, the
voluntary closure will become mandatory.  A key element of the plan is a new
cross-cultural education program.  No new bolts or fixed pitons will be
allowed, but the replacement of existing bolts will be permitted.  Raptor
protection and monitoring will increase, as will other resource monitoring
efforts.  Clean climbing guidelines will be developed cooperatively with local
climbing groups.  Copies of the plan may be obtained by calling 307-467-5283 or
sending a cc:Mail message to Melodie San Miguel.  [Debbie Liggett,
Superintendent, DETO]

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
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