NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT
   
   
   To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
   
   From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
   
   Day/Date:   Thursday, January 27, 2000
   
   ALMANAC
   
   On this day in 1896, Thomas A. Edison began the experimental generation of 
   x-rays at his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory in work that would lead 
   to his development of the first practical fluoroscope.  The laboratory and 
   Glenmont, his nearby estate, now compose Edison National Historic Site.
   
   INCIDENTS
   
   00-015 - Eastern Areas - Follow-up: Winter Storm Impacts
   
   Several more reports have been received on the impacts of the ice storm 
   and blizzard that swept through the South and East this week:
   
   o     Chattachoochee River NRA (GA) - The storm struck Georgia on January 
         22nd and left the park and surrounding area covered with ice. Park 
         roads and 60 miles of trails were closed due to thousands of downed 
         trees. The headquarters complex was without power for three days. 
         Park crews started working on Sunday to clear roads and hook up 
         generators. Some areas were still closed as of yesterday afternoon. 
         Additional snow and ice are forecast for tomorrow.
   
   o     Petersburg NB (VA) - The park was closed on January 25th and 26th 
         due to the 18 inches of snow that fell on the area. It will likely 
         reopen today. No damage to facilities has been found. Maintenance 
         workers and rangers worked through the storm to keep roads 
         relatively clear. Work was hampered by the difficulty of getting 
         employees to the park due to snow and ice on roadways. A state of 
         emergency was declared throughout Virginia.
   
   o     Colonial NHP (VA) - The worst winter storm in at least a decade 
         brought normal activity to a standstill in the area around Colonial 
         on Tuesday morning. Various parts of the park received from eight to 
         twelve inches of sleet and snow during the day, with near blizzard 
         conditions on Tuesday afternoon. On several occasions, emergency 
         vehicles in nearby jurisdictions became stranded while responding to 
         calls. A number of local residents with four-wheel-drive vehicles 
         came to the park's Yorktown unit to use the few hills in the area 
         for sledding; active management by protection staff helped avoid any 
         incidents. The park's visitor centers and HQ remained closed 
         yesterday. Maintenance and protection staffs were on duty and trying 
         to restore access for normal operations. Colonial Parkway remained 
         open throughout the storm due to efforts by park maintenance crews. 
         The sleet which fell early in the storm in Yorktown has now frozen 
         solid, and most secondary roads in the area, including county and 
         state roads in the village of Yorktown, are treacherous to 
         impassable except by four-wheel-drive vehicles. Foot travel is also 
         very difficult due to icy conditions. The park hopes to reopen its 
         visitor centers today.
   
   o     Richmond NBP (VA) - The park remained closed yesterday as clean-up 
         operations continued.
   
   o     Assateague Island NS (VA/MD) - High tides on January 25th reached 
         the base of protective dunes in the North District developed zone, 
         but caused no discernable damage. The dune line at adjacent 
         Assateague State Park was breached and there was some flooding 
         around campground buildings. Overwash occurred at several points in 
         the 12-mile-long off-road vehicle zone, leaving standing water and 
         flooding on the back trail.
   
   Short summaries from other parks affected by this storm would be 
   appreciated.  [Mike Hill, Superintendent, PETE, 1/26; Jim Burnett, CR, 
   COLO, 1/26; Scott Pfeninger, CR, CHAT, 1/26; John Burns, CR, ASIS, 1/26; 
   Cynthia MacLeod, Superintendent, RICH, 1/26]
   
   00-016 - Haleakala NP (HI) - Assault on Ranger
   
   On the morning of January 26th, rangers Roger Mayo and Erik Larson 
   arrested S.S. for possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia in the 
   Kipahulu campground. Larson was uncooperative and assaulted Mayo while 
   being handcuffed. Mayo evaded the blows and employed pepper spray to 
   subdue S.S. Felony assault charges are pending. S.S. will appear in 
   court in Honolulu today. [Karen Ardoin, CR, HALE, 1/26]
   
   00-017 - Glacier NP (MT) - Poaching
   
   Rangers, FWS agents and Blackfeet tribal officers are investigating the 
   killing of several bighorn sheep rams in the Two Medicine Valley area of 
   the park. Several leads are being pursued. Anyone with information on the 
   incident should contact the park at 406-888-7800. [Amy Vanderbilt, PIO, 
   GLAC, 1/26]
   
   CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
   
   Submission pending.
   
   OPERATIONAL NOTES
   
   Murder of USFS Employee - Lassen NF employee Jerry Levitoff was found dead 
   from gunshot wounds at a forest campground last weekend. Some time between 
   Friday, January 21st, and Saturday, January 22nd, Levitoff was shot and 
   killed while off-duty at the Alamanor North campground at Lake Alamanor, 
   apparently during a robbery. USFS and Plumas County officers  found his 
   body under several inches of snow near his vehicle on Saturday. His wallet 
   had been stolen. No weapons were found. Levitoff's credit card was used in 
   Wyoming and Utah over the weekend. The suspect, Rain Dickey-O'Brien of New 
   Mexico, was subsequently taken into custody in Utah. A USFS officer and a 
   state fish and game warden had contacted Dickey-O'Brien at Gripping 
   Springs campground for non-payment of fees and fishing without a license 
   and discovered that Dickey-O'Brien had one of Levitoff's credit cards, 
   associated receipts, and the suspected murder weapon in his possession. He 
   is being held in Daggett County jail on homicide charges. The 
   investigation continues. Lassen Volcanic NP will be sending 
   representatives to Levitoff's funeral. [Laura Mark-Bailey, Supervisory SA, 
   USFS, via John Roth, LAVO, 1/26]
   
   MEMORANDA
   
   No submissions.
   
   INTERCHANGE
   
   No submissions.
   
   PARKS AND PEOPLE
   
   Submissions pending.
   
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   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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