NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, June 7, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1880, Congress provided for erection of the Yorktown 
Column in Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia. The column 
commemorates the final victory of American forces in the Revolutionary 
War in 1781 and the French alliance that enabled it.  

INCIDENTS

00-253 - South Florida Parks (FL) - NAGPRA Arrest, Indictment

NPS investigators pursuing a lead that Native American remains had 
been looted from the Everglades area earlier this year arrested a 
Virginia man for selling the remains. C.S. was indicted for 
allegedly violating provisions of the Native American Graves 
Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). C.S., who operated a shop 
in Great South Arsenal, sold federal agents two human skulls, a pair 
of human feet, and trade bead necklaces. Following the purchases, NPS, 
FWS, ATF, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and 
Henrico PD agents and detectives executed a search warrant at C.S.'s 
shop. Several other items were seized, including additional human 
remains and items crafted from endangered species. C.S. has also been 
indicted on several counts of violating federal wildlife laws. Further 
investigation revealed that the stolen human remains were not taken 
from the Everglades. Experts at the Smithsonian have identified the 
remains as being Hopi and Navajo in origin. [Clark Guy, SA, NERO, 
5/26]

00-254 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Assaults

An altercation broke out in the Peaks of Otter campground on Saturday, 
May 27th. A husband and wife assaulted four members of another family 
with tent poles and fists. All four, including two juvenile females, 
were injured. The assailants left the campground with other members of 
their group. Warrants have been issued and the investigation 
continues. The case ranger is Zeph Cunningham. [John Garrison, 
Protection Specialist, BLRI, 5/30]

00-255 - Yellowstone NP (WY) - Sewage Spill

A sewage blockage occurred in the lines outside the Albright Visitor 
Center at Mammoth Springs on Tuesday, May 23rd, closing restroom 
facilities for a short time and partially flooding the basement where 
the park archives are located. Raw sewage entered through a basement 
drain located in the archive storage area. The sewage was discovered 
by an employee almost immediately and quick action by park staff 
assured that none of the documents in the archives was damaged. 
Investigation revealed that the sewage line leading from the building 
had been blocked by a pair of men's shorts and a diaper, causing the 
backup. The line was cleared and returned to normal operations by 
Thursday afternoon. [Public Affairs, YELL, 5/26]

00-256 - Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P (AK) - Climbing Fatality

On June 2nd, the park received a report of a climbing fatality that 
had occurred two days previously on Mt. Bona. Guide D.P. and 
two clients reached the summit of the 16,410-foot mountain on May 
30th. They were descending on snowshoes on the 31st and were about 20 
minutes from base camp when the accident occurred. D.P. had just 
called for slack while probing a crevasse they had marked and crossed 
on the ascent when it broke open under him. He fell about 75 feet and 
was covered with snow and ice that collapsed in on top of him. 
D.P.'s clients were unable to extricate him, so they anchored the 
rope, left a note for the climbing party that was behind them, and 
returned to camp. Guide B.L. found the note and anchors. He 
crossed the crevasse safely at a point about 15 yards from where 
D.P. went in. As he was belaying the next climber (a client) 
across, the climber broke through and fell in but was extricated 
uninjured. This climber said that he could see D.P.'s rope for 
about 30 feet before it entered snow and ice but was unable to see 
D.P.. B.L. contacted a pilot from another outfitter and advised 
him that D.P.'s body was unrecoverable. On June 3rd, rangers Tom 
Betts and Hunter Sharp, state troopers and members of Alaska Mountain 
Rescue flew to the site. They determined that no efforts would be made 
to extricate D.P.'s body due to the hazards to rescuers and the 
large amount of ice and snow that would have to be removed. D.P.'s 
wife, also a mountaineer, supported the decision. [Tom Betts, WRST, 
6/6]

00-257 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/VA) - Arrest of Escaped Prisoner

On May 28th, the Haywood County Sheriff's Office contacted park 
dispatch and reported that an escaped prisoner named M.P. was 
somewhere in the area near Pisgah Inn. Ranger Barry Lewis was nearby 
and quickly located the vehicle that M.P. was driving. He was 
found and detained until he could be released to county deputies. 
[John Garrison, Protection Specialist, BLRI, 5/30]

00-258 - Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Special Event

Over 4,000 students, teachers and chaperones attended the park's 
second annual water safety expo on Friday, May 26th. Numerous agencies 
and organizations from Chicago, northwest Indiana and Michigan took 
part in the event, which was held at West Beach on Lake Michigan. 
Demonstrations and exhibits stressed a variety of water safety and 
water quality issues. The highlight was a simulated water rescue 
performed by a Coast Guard helicopter team. The expo was preceded by a 
Thursday night beach party that featured live music and recognition of 
the winners of a water safety essay contest. The award-winning expo is 
a partnership among the park, the Gary Post-Tribune, McDonald's 
franchisee Restaurant Management Corporation, and the local outlet of 
the Chicago-based retailer Carson Pirie Scott. [Al Nash, INDU, 5/31]

00-259 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - MVA with Fatality

A.H., 24, of Houston, Mississippi, was killed in an accident 
on the parkway on May 31st. A.H. was a passenger in a vehicle 
heading southbound that left the road for unknown reasons and struck a 
tree. The driver was flown to a local medical facility and is in 
critical condition. Fatigue may have been a contributing factor. The 
investigation continues. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 6/1]

                    [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

New large fires were reported in the East, South and Southwest 
yesterday. Initial attack was light to moderate.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 177 crews (+ 22), 
908 overhead (+ 57), 231 engines (+ 12), 67 helicopters (+ 12), and 
two air tankers (+ 2).

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Arizona, New 
Mexico, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Kansas and 
Mississippi.

NPS FIRES

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - The park moved into Preparedness Level V 
(extreme conditions), effective yesterday. All planned fire 
restrictions and area closures are in effect. Relative humidity has 
been in the single digits, with near record heat and breezy 
afternoons. No rain is expected over the next six to ten days. No new 
information was reported on the Outlet fire.

Bandelier NM (NM) - An area command team and two Type II incident 
management teams remain committed to the Cerro Grande fire, which 
remains 98% contained (no change from yesterday). There's no new 
information on the fire.

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Humboldt-Toiyabe NF (NV) - Significant progress was made yesterday 
toward containment of the 2,000-acre (the acreage was revised downward 
by a third) Buck Springs fire, burning in the Mt. Charleston 
wilderness ten miles east of Pahrump. 

Florida State (FL) - The state is dealing with a host of fires, the 
larger ones ranging in size from 125 to 5,000 acres.

Michigan State (MI) - The 400-acre Rice Lake fire is burning in pine 
fuels 15 miles northeast of Houghton. The fire is threatening about 20 
lakeside homes near Lake Superior. 

OUTLOOK

NICC has posted two RED FLAG WARNINGS - one for strong winds and low 
relative humidity in southern Nevada, the other for low afternoon 
relative humidity in the inland panhandle area of Florida - and two 
FIRE WEATHER WATCHES - one for strong southwest winds and low relative 
humidity in northwest Arizona and all of Utah today and tomorrow, the 
other for low afternoon relative humidity in northeast and west 
central Florida and portions of the panhandle.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/7; Mike Warren, NPS Fire 
Management Program Center, 6/6]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

No submissions.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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