NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, November 22, 1995

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

95-745 - Joshua Tree (California) - Rescue

A park maintenance worker came upon D.G., 31, near Fried Liver Wash on
the morning of November 9th.  D.G. was incoherent, mostly naked, covered
with cactus spines, and suffering from severe dehydration.  Although he didn't
know what day or month it was, D.G. was adamant in his conviction that he
was being pursued by various law enforcement agencies who were trying to kill
him at his wife's request.  He was taken to a local hospital, where he spent
three days being treated for dehydration and exposure.  Rangers determined that
D.G. had left his home in Twenty-Nine Palms four days before he was found,
and that his wife had reported him missing and suicidal on the 8th.  His
vehicle was found later on the 9th about 15 air miles away in another portion
of the park.  Cooler fall temperatures contributed to D.G.'s survival. 
[Judy Bartzatt, CR, JOTR]

95-746 - Lake Mead (Nevada) - Homicide

On the afternoon of November 20th, hikers in the area of Lake Shore Road came
upon the body of a young man who had been shot in the back and beaten about the
head.  The hikers reported their find to Henderson police, who notified the
park.  Investigation revealed that the victim died at the scene.  [Grace
Gerken, LAME]

95-747 - Washington Monument (D.C.) - Rescue

The elevator in the monument malfunctioned just after noon on November 20th,
trapping 28 people in the shaft for nearly 30 minutes.  Repair crews maneuvered
the disabled car to the 280-foot level, where all passengers disembarked and
walked down the steps to the base of the monument.  No injuries were reported. 
The monument was closed.  [Bill Lynch, LES, NCAO]

95-748 - Mojave (California) - Drug Lab

Rangers received a call from a park resident on November 18th advising that a
methamphetamine lab was in operation at Death Valley Mine.  The reporting party
said that the four people at the site were all armed.  It was subsequently
determined that two of the four were wanted by the San Bernadino sheriff's
office for questioning in several area thefts.  Two rangers and a deputy
investigated.  As they approached the area, one of the two people at the site
fled.  Although several structures at the mine had been forcibly entered and
had apparently been lived in, no signs of drug activity were found that
evening.  The reporting party called the next day to say that he'd gone back to
the mine and found many items missed by the rangers the previous evening.  He
provided rangers with collected several types of chemicals that are commonly
used in production of methamphetamine, and showed them where he'd found the
items.  It became apparent that he had a very good knowledge of hiding places
at the site and of the types of items that the rangers were seeking.  The
county sheriff was notified, and a drug team was called in.  Lab test results
are pending.  The investigation continues.  [DR, Kelso District, MOJA]

95-749 - Chiricahua/Fort Bowie (Arizona) - Resource Violations

Rangers from the two parks were patrolling the Fort Bowie boundary on November
18th when they saw three men entering a closed area.  The men were seen
collecting historic artifacts from the ground.  Ranger Larry Ludwig stopped the
three men, cited them for entering a closed area and removing historic objects,
and seized 29 artifacts.  The men were fined a total of $1,600.  [Rob Danno,
CR, CHIR/FOBO]

95-750 - New River Gorge (West Virginia) - Assist to Agency; Burglary

During the night of October 18th, criminal investigator Tony Liquori responded
to two separate alarm activations at park headquarters.  On the second
response, Liquori and a Fayette County deputy found evidence of tampering on
one of the building's windows and decided to stake out the area.  At 3:25 a.m.,
county dispatch advised that an alarm had been activated at the convenience
store located across the street from park headquarters.  They responded and
apprehended two men exiting the store with merchandise.  A third man ran back
into the store and climbed into the attic.  While attempting to hide there, he
fell through the suspended ceiling, landed on floor, jumped up, and ran out of
the building.  He was quickly caught in the woods in the park near
headquarters.  All three have been charged in state court with burglary;
additional charges are expected.  [Rick Brown, CR, NERI]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

OBSERVATIONS

"As one reflects on the dimensions of the park system today, it is useful to
remember that the concept of a system of places and structures to embrace the
national patrimony is a relatively new idea.  In the beginning the primary
object was to set aside the greatest of the majestic 'wonders' of the nation. 
Today that concept embraces a wide spectrum of resources - natural, historical,
and recreational - that taken together share a remarkable similarity to the
geographic and ethnic pluralism of our culture.  It is hard to imagine how even
a conscious plan could have achieved so much so well." 

                                          Director Russell Dickenson, from the
                                          forward to "The National Park
                                          Service," 1983

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

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