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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, April 18, 2000
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Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 04:46:06 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Tuesday, April 18, 2000
ALMANAC
On this date in 1775, Robert Newman, sexton of Boston's Old North
Church, hung two lanterns in its steeple to signal that British troops
were crossing the harbor to Charlestown en route to Concord, enabling
Paul Revere and William Dawes to alert patriot resistance. The church
and Revere's house nearby are parts of Boston National Historical
Park.
INCIDENTS
00-122 - Big Bend NP (TX) - Follow-up: Body Recovery; Homicide
The body discovered in the park on March 31st has been positively
identified as that of S.R., 43, of San Antonio, Texas.
Identification was made through dental records. Investigators were
able to narrow down their search when they matched up the remains with
the description in a missing persons report filed with San Antonio
police earlier this year. Rangers, FBI agents, and Texas DPS
investigators are continuing the investigation into the death, which
was officially listed as a homicide by the medical examiner's office.
A forensic anthropologist was brought in to assist with the autopsy.
The exact cause of death has not been determined. Rangers from Lake
Roosevelt NRA assisted with notifications to the victim's family in
Idaho. [CRO, BIBE, 4/14]
00-150 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure, Arrests
On Saturday, April 15th, rangers came across an active marijuana
smuggling operation while conducting an orientation tour of the park
for members of the International Association of Chiefs of Police
(IACP) team studying the Service's law enforcement program. Two men
were with a pickup truck that was broken down and on the side of the
road about a quarter mile east of the park's visitor center. Both were
very nervous and acted in a suspicious manner. A powerful smell of
marijuana emanated from the truck's bed, so the two men were
immediately removed from the truck and handcuffed. One was carrying a
loaded and concealed .380 semi-automatic pistol in his waistband. Just
under 390 pounds of packaged marijuana was found under a plywood panel
covering the pickup truck's bed. The panel had been painted to match
the vehicle's exterior. The truck's license plates were found to have
been stolen from another vehicle. The two men were arrested and are
facing prosecution. Members of the IACP review team ably assisted
rangers throughout the incident; they included Dr. Mike Breen, IACP
representative, Dwayne Collier, general superintendent of the Southern
Arizona Group, and Aniceto Olais, chief ranger at Zion NP. [Fred
Moosman, CR, CORO, 4/17]
00-151 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (PA/NJ) - Train-Truck MVA
Park dispatch received a report of a vehicle stuck near the Norfolk
Southern railroad tracks at Point of Gap within the park on the
afternoon of Saturday, April 15th. Dispatch then received a report
that the vehicle had been hit by a train. Rangers Mike Williams, Mike
Zirwas, Mark Hnat and Mike Croll responded. They found that the
alleged operator, W.E., and passenger, T.G., were under
the obvious influence of alcohol. Although several stories were given,
it appears that the pair had been drinking at a friend's house and
that they'd then decided to go four-wheeling, even though neither
possessed a valid driver's license. W.E. almost immediately got the
Nissan pickup struck on the tracks. As they were attempting to free
the truck, a passing motorist advised them that a train was heading
toward them. The Nissan was on a blind curve, so the engineer wasn't
able to see it until it was too late to stop. The two men got out of
the way just before it hit. There were no injuries, but the truck did
not survive. An investigation is underway in conjunction with Norfolk
Southern railroad police. [Mike Williams, PR, DEWA, 4/16]
00-152 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - MVA with Fatality
M.G., 48, of Iuka, Mississippi, was killed in an accident on
the parkway on April 17th. M.G. was heading north when he collided
head on with a southbound vehicle. The driver of the latter was flown
to a local medical facility. M.G.'s family said that he was working
nights and was on his way home from work when the accident occurred.
Fatigue may have been a contributing factor. The investigation
continues. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 4/17]
CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No submissions.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No submissions.
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Guadalupe Mountains NP (TX) - The park is seeking a GS-5/9 protection
ranger. The position is listed on USA Jobs and has a closing date of
May 9th. Duties include law enforcement, EMS, SAR, resource management
(air and water quality monitoring, protected species monitoring and
species reintroduction), wildland and structural fire, fee collection,
and some backcountry patrols. Required occupancy (two or three bedroom
homes). Guadalupe Mountains is primarily a backcountry park, with over
85 miles of trails and 10 backcountry campgrounds. The park's
elevation rangers from 3,600 feet on the west side to 8,749 feet on
Guadalupe Peak, which is the highest point in Texas. The housing area
at Pine Springs is at about 5,600 feet, which makes for pleasant
summers and mild winters. For more information on the park, see the
park's website at http://www.nps.gov/gumo. Interested applicants
should contact district ranger Bruce Malloy at 915-828-3251 x 230 for
more information on the position.
Devils Tower NM (WY) - The park is now advertising for a GS-11 chief
ranger. The chief ranger supervises visitor protection, fee collection
and special park uses. Devils Tower has technical rock climbing, a
campground and entrance fee operations, American Indian traditional
cultural activities, and nearly a half million visitors per year.
Contact acting superintendent Todd Suess at 307-467-5283 x 12 for more
information.
Cape Hatteras NS (NC) - The park is seeking three GS-7 or GS-9
commissioned law enforcement rangers for details beginning between May
8th and 22nd and running as long as through mid-August. The park is
offering transportation, government housing with cooking facilities,
reduced per diem, and overtime backfill. The length of the detail is
dependent on total costs of the detailee and the dates on which the
three vacancies are filled. For further information, call Anita Race
at 252-473-2111 x 118.
* * * * *
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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