NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, November 25, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-725 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Storm Impacts

Sustained heavy rains (over 13 inches in places) and high winds (over 50 mph)
pelted the north coast of California between November 20th and the 22nd,
causing considerable damage to and closures of park facilities.  Fallen
trees, standing water, earth slides, undermined roadways and significant road
failures were reported on the Coastal Drive, Newton B. Drury Parkway, Howland
Hill Road, Endert's Beach Road and the Tall Trees Grove access road.  All but
Howland Hill and Endert's Beach Roads remain closed.  Numerous roadside
drainage structures have been damaged and makeshift repairs are being made. 
Assessments still need to be conducted along the nearly 250 miles of park
trails, but workers are being kept from entering the forests by continued
high winds.  Prairie Creek and Mill Creek campgrounds were flooded and about
10 campsites were washed away.   A kiosk was destroyed at Freshwater Spit
campground.  Significant erosion problems are anticipated along some park
streams and more than 150 miles of yet to be rehabilitated logging roads. 
Rain and high winds are forecast for the region through the coming weekend. 
These storms follow on the heels of two years of significant winter
storm-caused hydrological events in the park.  [Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 11/24]

98-726 - Jefferson National Expansion NEM (MO) - Armed Robbery

R.J., 22, a local resident, was robbed near the north leg of the
Arch on the evening of November 17th.  R.J. had been gambling at a local
casino and had won $600.  As she walked by the Arch, she was approached from
behind by a man who pressed what she believed to be a gun into her back.  He
told her that he knew how much she'd won and that he wanted all of the money. 
He took it, then fled north toward the Arch parking garage.  A joint
investigation by the park and city is underway.  [JL Weddle, CI, JEFF, 11/23]

98-727 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Accidental Fatal Shooting

On November 22nd, M.B., 23, camped with a friend near Lake Mohave. 
During the night, M.B. rolled over onto a loaded .40 caliber handgun,
which accidentally discharged and struck him near his left groin and femur. 
He was flown out to a trauma center in Las Vegas, where he was pronounced
dead just after 3 a.m.  This was the park's 37th fatality this year. 
[Dispatch, LAME, 11/23]

98-728 - Blue Ridge Parkway (VA/NC) - Fatality; Cause Under Investigation
     
On November 19th, the park received a call from the Bedford County (Virginia)
medical examiner reporting a fatality that apparently occurred in the park. 
J.S., 27, had been traveling on the parkway with R.F. and
her six-year-old son on the night of November 18th.  They stopped so that
J.S. and R.F.'s son could relieve themselves; when they returned to
the vehicle, J.S. said he felt faint and lost consciousness.  R.F.
left the parkway, arriving at Lynchburg General Hospital around 3:30 a.m. 
Hospital orderlies found J.S., then deceased, wedged between the two front
seats, wearing only a shirt.  The rest of his clothing was found on the front
driver's side floorboard.  The body was stiffening, indicating passage of
time since his death.  On questioning, R.F. denied any drug use; when
J.S.'s family was contacted, however, they reported that he had a serious
crack cocaine habit and an extensive violent criminal history, later
confirmed through a computer check.  The cause of death is undetermined at
this time, pending completion of an autopsy.  R.F. left the hospital
and subsequent attempts to reach her have been unsuccessful.  Except for
calling the park, the hospital did not notify local law enforcement and did
not obtain an address or vehicle identification from R.F.  Ranger
Bruce Bytnar is investigating.  [CRO, BLRI, 11/24]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Badlands NP (SD) - Paleontological Resource Conference Proceedings

The fifth Conference on Fossil Resources was held in Rapid City in mid-
October.  The primary purpose of this annual conference is to provide a forum
to discuss specific paleontological resource and research issues applying to
public and tribal lands.  About 200 people attended the session.  The first
three of these conferences were smaller and focused primarily on NPS issues;
the last two have taken a more national scope and have included
representatives from numerous government agencies.  They have also been
attended by people from outside the federal government.  A copy of the
conference proceedings can be obtained by sending a check for $12 to the
Badlands Natural History Association to the attention of Midge Johnston,
Badlands Natural History Association, P.O. Box 47, Interior, SD 57750. 
[Rachel Benton, BADL]

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Ranger Careers - A meeting on ranger career issues focusing on seasonal
positions was held in WASO on November 11th.  Participants agreed on the
following actions: 

o     Personnel will send out a memo to the field this month stating that the
      seasonal benchmark interpretive and law enforcement position     
      descriptions will be used for another year (1999).
o     A memo will be sent to the field which will incorporate the information
      that was sent out last year in various (and numerous) memos to the
      field about seasonal positions and ranger careers.  This joint memo
      from Personnel and Operations will include information on operational,
      budget and personnel matters.  The memo will be out by January 15th.
o     A point of contact will be established for provision of answers to
      questions on seasonal hiring under ranger career benchmark position
      descriptions.  
o     Personnel will be drafting a response to OPM on "suggestions" OPM made
      concerning the seasonal benchmark position descriptions.  The response
      will incorporate comments from the ranger advisory council (RAC).
o     A joint work group will be established to review the status of ranger
      careers.  It will include representatives from the field, RAC, regions,
      training, interpretation and administration.  The first meeting will be
      in January.

Additional information will be provided on ranger careers in future Morning
Reports.  [Linda Canzanelli, Park Operations and Education, WASO]

Thanks Again - On this Thanksgiving eve, I'd like to again thank all of you
for the many, many cards and messages you've sent along since my heart bypass
surgery earlier this month.  Your prayers, expressions of support,
admonitions to take care, and personal notes have all been deeply appreciated
and taken to heart (so to speak).  But I'm not the only one to have received
the benefits of your kindness.  John Frye of George Washington Birthplace
sent along a note saying that he also received tremendous support from around
the Service as he went through a series of four difficult operations to his
spine this past year: "I, too, have been awed by the compassion of the men
and women in the Service...The many cards, letters, e-mail messages and
telephone calls were always a delightful lift.  The wonderful kindness of the
many leave share donations has been overwhelming.  The Service has some truly
special people.  I am humbled by your generosity.  God bless you all."  Over
the years, other park employees in difficult straits have reported similar
responses and have been very much moved by the support you have provided. 
This agency has gone through some hard times of late, particularly over the
past five years, but one thing hasn't changed - the long tradition of the NPS
family is still very much alive.  You've given Thanksgiving an added
dimension this year.  Thank you.  [Bill Halainen, Editor]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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

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