NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT
  
  
  To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
  
  From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
  
  Day/Date:   Friday, February 18, 2000
  
  ALMANAC
  
  On this date in 1778, Pierre L'Enfant, newly arrived from France, was 
  made a captain of engineers in the Continental Army at Valley Forge.  
  His acquaintance there with George Washington led to his later 
  commission for the design of Washington, DC, of which the National 
  Mall was a central element.
  
  INCIDENTS
  
  00-054 - Western Archeological and Conservation Center (AZ) - Death of 
  Employee
  
  JoAnne Higdon, 51, died on February 15th of complications resulting 
  from a stroke. She'd just completed 30 years with the National Park 
  Service. Her career began in 1970 at Acadia NP, where she worked as a 
  park aid, maintenance management technician, and budget analyst. In 
  1996, she transferred to the Western Archeological and Conservation 
  Center in Tucson and assumed new duties as administrative officer. 
  Cards may be sent to her husband, Ken, and their family. JoAnne will be 
  interred with her late husband, D.H., in Bar Harbor, Maine. 
  [George Teague, WACC, 2/17]
  
  00-055 - National Capital Parks (DC) - Death of Employee
  
  Park Police officer Thomas Franke passed away on February 17th 
  following a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife, M., 
  and two daughters, K. and M. Tom joined the Park Police in 
  1978 and was first assigned to the visitor center in Washington. He 
  was later assigned to Rock Creek Station, then to community relations 
  in the Special Forces Branch. Among other accomplishments, Tom 
  established the USPP Explorers Post and founded the Law Enforcement 
  Olympics, which later evolved into the Law Enforcement and Firefighter 
  Games. He was recently recognized as man of the year for 1999 by the 
  Police Emerald Society. He will be fondly remembered and sorely missed 
  by his family, friends and coworkers. The viewing will be from 7 p.m. 
  to 9 p.m. on Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. 
  on Sunday at the Mullin and Thompson Funeral Home, 1621 Jefferson 
  Davis Highway (Route 1), Fredericksburg, Virginia. A Catholic mass 
  will be held at Saint Mary's Church in Fredericksburg on Monday at 10 
  a.m. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 2/17]
  
  00-056 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/TN) - MVA with Fatality
  
  North Carolina state park maintenance supervisor Dave Horton died on 
  February 16th of injuries sustained in an accident on the parkway the 
  previous day. Horton and state ranger K.L. were traveling on 
  a closed section of the parkway which provides primary access to the 
  state park when a large tree limb fell on their truck, crushing the 
  cab. K.L. was not seriously injured. Dave was a good friend to 
  many employees at the park and will be greatly missed. [John Garrison, 
  Protection Specialist, BLRI, 2/17]
  
  00-057 - Colonial NHP (VA) - Conviction, Embezzlement of NPS Funds
  
  Supervisory park ranger Curt Gaul discovered irregularities while 
  conducting entrance station audits at Jamestown last September. 
  Following a preliminary investigation, assistant chief ranger Hiram 
  Barber and ranger Robert Whiteman conducted video surveillance of the 
  fee operation for ten days. A review of the video tapes and cash 
  register receipts led to an interview with fee collector P.C. 
  and to a subsequent written confession from P.C., who was released 
  from duty and charged with embezzlement under 18 USC 641. On February 
  8th, P.C. appeared in magistrate's court and pled guilty to the 
  charge. He was fined $250, ordered to make restitution, and placed on 
  three years' probation. [Hiram Barber, ACR, COLO, 2/17]
  
  CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
  
  No submissions.
  
  OPERATIONAL NOTES
  
  Submissions pending.
  
  MEMORANDA
  
  No submissions.
  
  PARKS AND PEOPLE
  
  No submissions.
  
                               *  *  *  *  *
  
  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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