NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT
   
   
   To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
   
   From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
   
   Day/Date:   Wednesday, January 5, 2000
   
   ALMANAC
   
   On this day in 1943, George Washington Carver died at Tuskegee Institute, 
   Alabama, after spending 47 years there as a scientist and teacher.  
   Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site includes a museum focusing on 
   his life and work. 
   
   VISITOR PROTECTION/PARK MANAGEMENT INCIDENTS
   
   99-657 - Systemwide - Follow-up: Special Event - Millennium 2000
   
   Three reports have been received on events associated with last weeks 
   celebration of the millennium:
   
   o     National Mall (DC) - The Park Police canceled all leave and days off 
         and had the entire Washington area force on duty for the event; they 
         were supported by a contingent of officers and supervisors from the 
         New York field office. There was a much larger crowd than 
         anticipated, but the atmosphere throughout the day was festive and 
         peaceful. There were no major incidents. Only two arrests were made 
         for public drunkenness, and a small number of visitors were treated 
         for injuries. Planning and preparation for the event required 
         numerous hours spent in meetings and coordination among principals 
         in the NPS, the White House, the event organization, other law 
         enforcement agencies, and the media.
   
   o     Capulin Volcano NM (NM) - The road to the volcano was opened at 5:30 
         a.m. on January 1st for a special millennium sunrise observation. 
         About 30 visitors took advantage of the opportunity to see the first 
         sunrise of the millennium from the volcano's 8,000-foot summit. 
         Although no formal programs were offered, visitors were treated to 
         hot cocoa and coffee to warm up and visited with park staff after 
         the event. 
   
   o     Martin Luther King, Jr. NHS (GA) - Six members of the Southeast 
         Region special events team were in the park from December 29th to 
         January 2nd to provide round-the-clock law enforcement coverage for 
         the park. Rangers arrested several individuals for car clouting, 
         criminal trespass, and domestic violence. Several bomb threats were 
         telephoned in to the Atlanta branch of the NAACP. Their main event 
         was hosted at Ebenezer Baptist Church, which is within park 
         jurisdiction. Rangers provided lead security for this event and were 
         assisted by the county sheriff's bomb dog unit. There were no other 
         incidents.
   
   Parks with similar millennial events should send along short summaries for 
   inclusion in future editions of the Morning Report.  [Sgt. R. MacLean, 
   USPP, NCR, 1/4; Dennis Carruth, CAVO, 1/3; Clark Moore, CR, MALU, 1/3]
   
   99-763 - Everglades NP (FL) - Death of Employee Spouse
   
   Lt. Col. G.H., husband of park management assistant E.D.H.,
   died suddenly of a heart attack in Key Largo on December 29th.  G.H. 
   was retired from the Air Force and was a Vietnam veteran. Funeral services 
   were held on January 4th. He is to be buried with full military honors at 
   Barrancas National Cemetery in Barrancas Naval Air Station in Pensacola. 
   He is survived by E., a son and daughter, and six grandchildren. 
   Condolences may be sent to the family. Donations in G.H.'s name may be
   made to the American Heart Association in lieu of flowers. [Deb Nordeen, EVER, 1/3]
   
   99-764 - Canyonlands NP (UT) - BASE Accident; Rescue
   
   M.S., a 24-year-old base jumper from Corpus Christi, Texas, 
   was involved in a mishap while base jumping from Mineral Point, directly 
   adjacent to the Island in the Sky District, late on the afternoon of 
   December 30th.  M.S. was attempting her fourth jump of the day and 
   tenth of her career off 500-foot Wingate Cliff, which features a 
   significant overhang.  After takeoff, M.S. turned into the wall and 
   hung the chute on a protruding rock approximately 270 feet from the top of 
   the cliff.  She was tangled in cordage from the chute; her breathing was 
   restricted, and one leg was elevated to shoulder height.  Grand County 
   Search and Rescue asked the park for assistance in the technical rescue. 
   The operation was run under a joint ICS arrangement (Colin Smith was NPS 
   IC).  Ranger George Paiva was lowered to M.S.'s location, where he 
   cut her out of the chute and cords. They were then raised to the cliff 
   top. M.S. refused medical treatment and left the area.  The incident 
   has generated discussion at: www.baselogic.com/forum/board/469.shtml.
   [Steve Swanke, CANY, 1/3]
   
   99-765 - Canyonlands NP (UT) - Assist; Two Fatal MVA's
   
   There were two fatal accidents near the park's Island in the Sky District 
   in October. Ranger Colin Smith was first on the scene of a jeep accident 
   on October 9th. The jeep and driver had fallen 160 feet off Gemini Bridge. 
   Rangers assisted Grand County SAR with the technical recovery of the 
   driver's body. On October 18th, ranger George Paiva was first on scene at 
   an accident in which a motorcyclist had missed a hairpin turn on Mineral 
   Switchbacks and fallen 80 vertical feet. Paiva assisted Grand County SAR 
   with the recovery of the driver's body. The park and Grand County SAR 
   maintain a strong working relationship. The county sheriff presented the 
   NPS with an award in appreciation for services rendered at his annual 
   Christmas dinner. [Steve Swanke, CANY, 1/3]
   
   99-766 - Big Cypress NP (FL) - Special Event
   
   The band Phish held a New Years Eve 2000 concert at the Big Cypress 
   Seminole reservation from Wednesday, December 29th, through Sunday, 
   January 2nd. Approximately 75,000 fans attended the four-day event. The 
   reservation borders the park along about six miles of boundary. I-75 
   through the park was backed up over 20 miles for about 12 hours on opening 
   day. The traffic backup created commuter problems for those bound for 
   either Miami or Naples. The park's rest areas turned into overnight 
   campsites while ticket holders awaited opening of the gates. Rangers and 
   Collier County deputies monitored the activities. There were no major 
   incidents on park property associated with the concert. [CRO, BICY, 1/3]
   
   RESOURCE PROTECTION INCIDENTS
   
   99-767 - Chattachoochee River NRA (GA) - HazMat Spill
   
   On the night of December 27th, a tanker truck carrying 5,000 gallons of 
   hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and phosphate overturned on the I-285/75 
   entrance ramp, causing some chemicals to leak from the tanker into 
   Rottonwood Creek, a tributary of the Chattahoochee. About 150 fish were 
   killed, and the Paces Mill unit was closed for the day. State DNR 
   biologists declared the river safe on the evening of the 28th, but Paces 
   Mill remained closed for another day as a precaution. [Kevin Tillman, 
   CHAT, 1/3]
   
   CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
   
   No submissions.
   
   OPERATIONAL NOTES
   
   No submissions.
   
   MEMORANDA
   
   No submissions.
   
   INTERCHANGE
   
   No submissions.
   
   PARKS AND PEOPLE
   
   Lake Roosevelt NRA - The park is recruiting for two positions - a GS-11/12 
   team leader for interpretation and visitor services (CCSO-2000-02, a merit 
   promotion announcement) and a GS-11/12 team leader for planning and 
   resources management (CCSO-2000-01, an interdisciplinary position open to 
   merit promotion candidates and to all sources). Both close on January 
   28th. If you have any questions, please contact superintendent Vaughn 
   Baker at 509-633-9441 ext. 110.
   
                                *  *  *  *  *
   
   Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by 
   park, office and/or regional cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please address 
   requests pertaining to receipt of the Morning Report to your servicing hub 
   coordinator.  The Morning Report is also available on the web at 
   http://www.nps.gov/morningreport
   
   Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation 
   and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
   
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