NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT
  
  
  To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
  
  From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
  
  Day/Date:   Thursday, February 17, 2000
  
  ALMANAC
  
  On this day in 1906, Alice Roosevelt, President Theodore Roosevelt's 
  eldest daughter, married Rep. Nicholas Longworth of Ohio in a highly 
  publicized wedding at the White House, now administered by the 
  National Park Service.
  
  INCIDENTS
  
  00-049 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/TN) - Assault on Ranger
  
  Around 2:30 on the afternoon of February 16th, ranger Barry Lewis 
  contacted two men - B.H. and B.G. - who were 
  walking along the parkway with four dogs that were off-leash. Both men 
  were evasive and argumentative. When they failed to provide answers to 
  questions about their identification and possible weapons in their 
  possession, Lewis attempted to frisk them for weapons. B.G. ran 
  off; B.H. began struggling with the ranger. Lewis eventually got him 
  into a control position, but disengaged when he couldn't determine 
  B.G.'s whereabouts. B.H. fled into the woods. The incident occurred 
  at a point where the parkway is flanked by the Pisgah National Forest. 
  USFS, state and county officers responded and a manhunt was begun. 
  Investigation revealed that both men had outstanding out-of-state 
  warrants against them and that they both had criminal histories for 
  possession of controlled substances and assault. B.G. was captured 
  at 4 p.m. in a rural section of Buncombe County after traveling about 
  four miles cross-county through difficult terrain. B.H. was taken into 
  custody near Asheville just after 9 p.m. Lewis was not seriously 
  injured and continues as the case ranger. [John Garrison, Protection 
  Specialist, BLRI, 2/16]
  
  00-050 - Cumberland Gap NHP (KY/NC/TN) - Airplane Crash,Two Fatalities
  
  Rangers Charlie Chadwell and Dirk Wiley received a report that a light 
  plane had crashed near Pinnacle overlook above Cumberland Gap on the 
  afternoon of February 11th. They followed a debris trail from the 
  summit to the wreckage of a single-engine aircraft and found the 
  bodies of the plane's pilot and passenger. Flight records indicate 
  that D.W. and J.S. were flying from Florida to Michigan 
  in an experimental float plane when they struck the fog-covered 
  mountaintop. The bodies were removed the next day with assistance from 
  volunteer rescue crews. Cleanup of the wreckage is being arranged. 
  [Dirk Wiley, PR, CUGA, 2/14]
  
  00-051 - Hawaii Volcanoes NP (HI) - Marijuana Eradication
  
  During the week of January 31st, rangers participated in the first of 
  several multi-agency marijuana eradication missions, finding and 
  destroying 47,994 plants valued at almost $50 million. The plants 
  ranged in size from seedlings to six feet high. The operation took 
  place in the park's Puna and Kau districts, which border the east and 
  west boundaries. Several sites were within 200 yards of the east 
  boundary, fairly close to the popular Thurston lava tube. No arrests 
  or seizures were made; no indoor growing sites or booby traps were 
  found. This is early in the year for such a large number of plants, 
  indicating that this will be a busy season for both growers and 
  eradication teams. [Jeff Judd, CI, HAVO, 2/14]
  
  00-052 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - Body Recovery
  
  An unoccupied van was found along the parkway near Ridgeland, 
  Mississippi last July 2nd. The owner, R.D., 47, of 
  Jackson, Mississippi, had been reported missing by his wife. An 
  extensive search of the area for R.D. was conducted, but no sign 
  of him was found. On February 15th, an FBI violent crime task force 
  unit found his remains in an area that had previously been searched. 
  An autopsy is being conducted to determine the cause of death. The 
  investigation continues. [Tim Francis, Deputy CR, NATR, 2/16]
  
  00-053 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - Assist; Shooting Victim
  
  On February 13th, rangers provided initial basic life support to a 
  woman from Phoenix who had been shot twice in the chest while in 
  Mexico and managed to drive the 29 miles back to the port of entry 
  into the U.S. at Lukeville. She was with two others who had been shot 
  and killed in the incident, which occurred on the road to Puerto 
  Panasco. She remains hospitalized. The American consulate in Nogales 
  is working with Mexican officials on the investigation. No arrests had 
  been made as of February 15th. [Karl Pearson, Acting CR, ORPI, 2/15]
  
  CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
  
  No submissions.
  
  OPERATIONAL NOTES
  
  Lots Notes Update - Information on the implementation of Lotus Notes 
  software can be found at http://amoeba.nps.gov.  Click on "Lotus Notes 
  Project News" once you get to the site. The web page contains 
  information about past, present, and future actions and a tips and 
  tricks link designed to help users that's entitled "Take Note!" 
  Schedules, plans and information will be posted at the site and 
  updated regularly. [Patti Simmons, Lotus Notes Implementation Team]
  
  MEMORANDA
  
  No submissions.
  
  PARKS AND PEOPLE
  
  Guadalupe Mountains NP (TX) - The park is seeking a protection ranger 
  with a Level I or II commission for a 30- to 45-day detail to fill a 
  vacant backcountry ranger position.  The detail  will start around 
  March 1st, the beginning of the spring break season.  The park is 
  looking for a person who wants to spend most of her/his time in the 
  park's backcountry, which includes staying in a patrol cabin or at one 
  of ten backcountry campgrounds.  A furnished apartment will also be 
  provided; the per diem will be reduced accordingly.  All travel 
  expenses will be paid, but base salary must be covered by the home 
  park.  If interested, please submit a very brief statement containing 
  reasons for your interest in helping out and your supervisor's 
  approval. Please also include your supervisor's name and telephone 
  number.  The statement should be sent by cc:Mail to district ranger 
  Bruce Malloy. For further information, call him at 915-828-3251 x 230.
  
                               *  *  *  *  *
  
  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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