NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, March 31, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt approved the 
Federal Unemployment Relief Act, which authorized the Civilian 
Conservation Corps.  In its nine-year existence, the CCC provided 
employment for 2.5 million young men and accomplished thousands of 
construction and maintenance projects in the national parks, beginning 
with Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

INCIDENTS

00-116 - Curecanti NRA/Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP (CO) - Death of 
         Member of Employee Family

The daughter of Kerry King, a maintenance employee at the park, was 
killed in a traffic accident on March 20th. Melissa King, 18, died at 
the scene of a single-vehicle rollover accident while returning home 
from work at 10:45 p.m. Funeral services were held on March 24th and 
were followed by burial services in Gunnison. Memorial contributions 
in her name may be made to "Shade for Blades," a non-profit 
organization to improve outdoor recreational facilities in Gunnison. 
The address for that organization is Box 7040, Gunnison, CO 81230. 
[CRO, BLCA/CURE, 3/30]

00-117 - Organ Pipe Cactus NM (CA) - Armed Robbery

A ranger on patrol on South Puerto Blanco Road on March 29th was 
contacted by a German couple who reported that they'd been robbed at 
gunpoint at the Quitoboquito Springs parking lot. The two young male 
assailants took the couple's video and 35 mm cameras, then fled over 
the international border into Mexico and drove off in a VW Rabbit. 
Rangers found the abandoned Rabbit on South Puerto Blanco Road on the 
U.S. side of the border about an hour later and eleven miles east of 
the spot where the robbery occurred. They were joined by Border Patrol 
agents in tracking the pair, following their footprints east for two 
miles before they were lost among other tracks on a trail frequented 
by illegal immigrants. It's believed that the two men returned to 
Mexico. The county sheriff's office is investigating. [Dale Thompson, 
CR, ORPI, 3/30]

00-118 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Pursuit; Felony Arrest

Ranger Gene Parker made a car stop near milepost 111 on March 28th. 
Efforts to identify the operator proved unavailing. As Parker returned 
to the stopped vehicle, the driver took off and sped away. A 
45-mile-long pursuit followed down the parkway and involving rangers, 
Floyd County deputies, and Virginia state troopers. The vehicle was 
eventually stopped and the operator identified as A.S.-F.,
who had active warrants against him in Utah for 
felony larceny. A.S.-F. is being held on false information 
and a variety of traffic safety charges. The follow-up investigation 
continues. [John Garrison, Protection Specialist, BLRI, 3/30]

FIRE UPDATE

A number of reports regarding fires or high fire danger have been 
posted over the past few days:

Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - The Mountain Road Fire burned 150 to 
180 acres on March 27th and was declared contained that evening. About 
60 park and New Jersey state firefighters were committed to the fire, 
which was human-caused.

Carlsbad Caverns NP (NM) - The Voltage Fire started next to the 
superintendent's office when wiring fell into vegetation. It briefly 
threatened the historic building, despite prompt response by park fire 
techs.

Guadalupe Mountains NP (TX) - Conditions are as dry as they get in the 
mountains. Warm, breezy and continued dry conditions are forecast for 
the next few days.

Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - The Palmer Drought Index indicates severe 
conditions, which are likely to continue. Average precipitation is 
down nine inches over the past nine months. 

Wind Cave NP (SD) - Parks in the northern Great Plains have been 
experiencing high to extreme fire dangers over the past few days.

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Two human-caused fires occurred early this 
week, but have been controlled. The forecast calls for a continued 
chance of rain through the remainder of the week.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

DO-9/RM-9 Update - The Ranger Activities Division and NPS/FLETC are 
putting together a small group of rangers to develop the 
implementation plan for DO-9 and RM-9. This group will look at the 
existing NPS-9 and compare it with the new document, noting the 
changes between the two documents and, where necessary, developing 
lesson plans for field use.  Assisting in this endeavor will be the 
Northern Arizona University School of Forestry, which is currently 
under contract with FLETC. The implementation plan and any lesson 
plans will be included in the mailing of DO-9/RM-9 to each park and 
regional office. The two documents, which are currently at the 
printer, will also be posted on the NPS web page at the same time as 
they are mailed. (Dennis Burnett, RAD/WASO]
 
MEMORANDA

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

El Malpais NM (NM) - The park has an announcement on USA Jobs for a 
GS-462-07 permanent, subject-to-furlough supervisory forest 
technician. The announcement number is ELMA-00-03 and it closes on 
April 21st. This is a primary firefighter position covered under 6c. 
Occupancy of park housing is required. The duty station and housing 
are at the park's fire cache complex, 23 miles from Grants. For more 
information, contact resource management specialist Herschel Schulz at 
505-285-4641 x 25 or the personnel office at 505-285-4641 x 16.

Golden Gate NRA (CA) - A reception and dinner will be held on April 
14th for B.J. Griffin, who is retiring from the NPS after 38 years of 
service. The event will take place at the Corinthian Yacht Club in 
Tiburon, California. Please RSVP by April 5th. The number to call is 
415-561-4720. If you'd like to contribute to the book of letters, 
photos and other memorabilia being prepared for B.J., please contact 
Susan Hurst, Golden Gate NRA, Bldg. 201, San Francisco, CA 94123. 
She's also on cc:Mail by name.

                             *  *  *  *  *

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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