NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, February 18, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-49 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Theft; Potential NAGPRA Violation

The historic grave of prominent pioneer Johnny Lang was looted in the park in
January of 1994.  Two mines, a canyon and a valley within the park are named
for Lang, who died in 1926.  Lang's skull and femurs were taken from the
grave in the 1994 theft, but no leads were developed at that time.  On
February 4th, ranger Kevin Tillman received a tip about the current location
of Lang's skull.  Two days later, a search warrant was executed by rangers
and the park's special agent at a residence in the nearby community of
Twenty-Nine Palms.  During an interview of the resident, they learned that
the skull had been moved to a residence in Yucca Valley, California.  A
consent search of that residence led to the recovery of the skull.  The
suspect claims that he bought the skull at a local swap meet, and that it's
the skull of a Native American, not Lang.  The skull will be examined by
forensic anthropologists.  Several stone points and government signs were
also recovered during the search.  [Todd Swain, SA, Pat Suddath, DR, JOTR,
2/12 and 2/17]

99-50 - Lake Mead NRA (AZ/NV) - Assault

Katherine Landing rangers were summoned to a cabin area to investigate a
motor vehicle accident with property damage at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday,
February 6th.  While en route, they learned that the driver of the vehicle,
later identified as one G.S., had assaulted two good Samaritans
who had come to his aid.  The victims, aged 59 and 72, said that G.S. had
been calm until they mentioned that they'd summoned rangers.  G.S. kicked
them and beat them with their own flashlights, then fled from the area in
another vehicle, leaving his 1985 Camaro behind.  Rangers found G.S.'s
wallet in the Camaro.  The wallet contained his parole officer's business
card, probation paperwork, and payment receipts that G.S. had written to
himself for anger-related events.  The two victims positively identified
G.S. as their assailant, and a warrant was issued for aggravated assault. 
The state also voided his parole.  G.S. was subsequently picked up on
unrelated charges in Riverside, California, and is awaiting extradition to
Arizona.  [Bud Inman, LAME, 2/17]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

White Sands NM (NM) - African Oryx Census and Removal

The first phase of a three-year project to count and herd African oryx out of
the park began in January.  In the 1960's, the New Mexico Department of Game
and Fish released the elk-sized ungulates as game animals on military lands
adjacent to the park.  The oryx thrived in the environment; despite a hunting
take of 450 animals per year outside the park, the total estimated population
has increased to 3,000.  A six-foot-high boundary fence was completed in 1996
by the NPS and the state.  A two-day helicopter census over the 144,000-acre
park was conducted this January by WASO wildlife program manager Mike Coffey
and park resource management specialist Bill Conrod.  Animals were marked
with paint balls to prevent double counting.  A total of 93 oryx were counted
out of an estimated park population of about 145 animals.  Following the
census, two helicopters were used to drive oryx through fence openings. 
Forty-six animals were removed from the park over a three day period.  The
park was assisted by staff from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
and the Army's White Sands Missile Range.  [Bill Conrod, RMS, WHSA, 2/9]

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

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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