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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, December 6, 1999
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Date: Mon, 6 Dec 1999 10:37:59 -0500
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Monday, December 6, 1999
INCIDENTS
99-718 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Rock Slide
A rock slide occurred on the road in Gardner River Canyon about two
miles south of Gardner, Montana, on December 4th. Park staff were in
the area when the slide occurred and immediately closed the road. The
slide covered both traffic lanes; it's about 40 feet long and ranges
in depth from five to seven feet. A large, fractured slab of rock
weighing an estimated 400 tons separated and is leaning away from the
cliff face close to the point where the slide occurred; the slab and
surrounding area appear to be very unstable. The road will remain
closed indefinitely. [Public Affairs, YELL, 12/6]
99-719 - Glen Canyon NRA (AZ/UT) - Suicide
On November 30th, C.C., 40, a former AMFAC and Grand Canyon
Natural History Association employee, was reported missing to
Flagstaff PD and Grand Canyon NP rangers by her sister. C.C. had
recently broken up with her boyfriend, quit her job, and moved to
Flagstaff. She gave away several items of furniture and talked to
friends about "not going on." On December 3rd, a hiker found C.C.'s
daypack, fleece jacket and two water bottles abandoned at the Old Lees
Ferry River Crossing site, a quarter mile upstream from the boat ramp.
The items were placed under a tamarisk tree about 12 feet from the
river. The water temperature was 46 degrees. C.C.'s 1991 Ford
Explorer was then found in the boat ramp parking lot; it contained
several items that led investigators to believe that she had committed
suicide. A Lees Ferry self-service entrance receipt dating from
November 27th was found in her car. On December 4th, search and
rescue efforts were begun with a helicopter, bloodhounds, and park
divers. On December 5th, C.C.'s body was found near her abandoned
belongings in six feet of water, ten feet from shore. Foul play has
so far been ruled out. The search and investigation were conducted
jointly with the Coconino County Sheriff's Department. Lees Ferry
subdistrict ranger Mike McGinnis serving as IC. [CRO, GLCA, 12/5]
99-720 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Suicide
Rangers checking out a report of an abandoned vehicle on November 30th
found a suicide note inside it that had been written on the night of
the 27th. The bear-scattered remains of a woman were found nearby.
She had apparently taken her life by ingesting alcohol and many
sleeping pills. Identification and the exact cause of death are both
pending.
FIRE ACTIVITY
Shenandoah NP - A Bell 212 helicopter owned by Houston Helicopters
crashed in Mississippi on November 27th while returning from the
Bootens Gap Fire at Shenandoah NP to its home base in Pearville,
Texas. The pilot and mechanic were killed. The cause of the crash is
not known; NTSB is investigating. Weather doesn't appear to have been
a factor. The helicopter had been used for bucket work, transporting
passengers, and aerial recon at the fire. [Doug Raeburn, SHEN]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION
No submissions.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No submissions.
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
INTERCHANGE
No submissions.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Submission pending.
TRAINING/MEETING CALENDAR
The NPS training/meeting calendar follows this edition of the Morning
Report as a separate message.
* * * * *
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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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