NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, June 13, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1859, Frederick Law Olmsted married Mary Cleveland 
Perkins Olmsted, his brother John's widow.  The son of John and Mary, 
John Charles Olmsted, and the son of Frederick and Mary, Frederick Law 
Olmsted, Jr., would themselves become noted landscape architects.  
Frederick Law Olmsted National Historic Site in Brookline, 
Massachusetts, contains the Olmsted firm's studio.

INCIDENTS

90-109 - Gulf Islands (MS/FL) - Follow-up on Murder of Ranger

As noted yesterday, escapees J.W. and R.H. were last 
seen in West Virginia. There is a possibility that they are heading to 
Maryland, as R.H. has contacts in the Silver Spring area. The 
vehicle they stole and may still be driving is a brown 1989 Ford 
Econoline van with Indiana registration number 6C-8540. Woolard, 37 
years old, is 5'6", weighs 135 pounds, has blue eyes and blond hair, a 
scar on his right elbow, and a tattoo on his right leg; R.H., also 
37, is 5'11", weighs 165 pounds, has blue eyes and brown hair, a scar 
on his right forearm, and tattoos on his left arm, left hand, right 
arm, right shoulder, and right forearm. He may have shaved his head. 
When seen in West Virginia, they were wearing camouflage hunting 
clothes. Both are armed and should be considered extremely dangerous. 
[Rick Brown, NERI, 6/10]

99-350 - Gulf Islands NS (FL/MS) - Follow-up on Shooting Incident

On the evening of June 30, 1999, ranger John Hughes received a report 
from a couple that someone had fired a gun into their tent at campsite 
B-9 in the Fort Pickens campground.  Hughes found that the bullet had 
traveled through the mesh tent door, penetrated a medicine chest 
inside the tent, then went through the tent floor and lodged in the 
soil.  The couple did not discover the bullet hole until the morning 
of the 30th.  Hughes was able to determine that the shooting had taken 
place between 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. on June 29th while they were 
walking on the beach.  A possible suspect was also identified.  He'd 
been camping on site B-10 and left the area on the morning of the 
30th.  A description was broadcast to local agencies, and a visitor 
use assistant at the Fort Pickens entrance station spotted the man 
entering the park at 7 p.m. on July 1st and notified the park's 
dispatch center.  Hughes and ranger Jared Klein stopped the driver, 
S.S., a Laotian refugee with an extensive criminal 
record.  S.S. confessed to the shooting and consented to a search 
of the vehicle's trunk, where additional evidence was found and 
seized.  The rangers found a .22 pistol under the driver's side seat 
after S.S. got out of the vehicle; he also had 221 rounds of 
ammunition and numerous false identifications in his possession. 
S.S. told the rangers that he'd heard voices telling him to shoot 
the occupants of the tent because they'd been having sexual 
intercourse. A court-ordered mental evaluation showed that S.S. 
was competent to stand trial. Prior to his scheduled court date this 
part Marsh, he pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a 
firearm, interstate transportation of a firearm by a convicted felon, 
shooting into a dwelling, and discharging a firearm on federal 
property. He was sentenced in federal district court in May to 51 
months in federal prison. [CRO, GUIS, 6/9]

99-593 - Zion NP (UT) - Follow-up on Poaching Incidents

Over a period of from two to three weeks last September, four local 
men made numerous trips up the Kolob Terrace Road, which passes 
through the park and private inholdings, and shot and killed at least 
18 deer and one adult bull elk.  The head and antlers were removed 
from the elk, but all the deer and elk were left to rot.  A joint 
investigation conducted by rangers John Bueg and Pat Zurcher and 
officers from the Utah Department of Wildlife Resources led to their 
identification and arrest. In May, K.S. pled guilty to four 
counts of wanton destruction of protected wildlife and was sentenced 
to a year in prison and 36 months probation, ordered to pay a $6,400 
fine to an anti-poaching fund, barred from possession of any firearms, 
and prohibited from hunting or fishing for the next 15 years.. The 
judge also ordered him to complete 200 hours of community service, 
write a letter of apology to the people of Utah for publication in a 
local newspaper, and forfeit his 1980 truck and three rifles. 
Co-defendants R.J. and J.M. were previously found 
guilty. R.J. was sentenced to 30 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, and 18 
months of probation; J.M. got 90 days in jail and 36 months of 
probation, forfeited his 1988 truck and three rifles, and must pay 
$5,600 to a wildlife restitution fund. The fourth member of the group, 
J.L., goes on trial next week. [Scott Cooper, Dispatch, 
ZION, 5/23]

00-268 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Rescue

On May 25th, rangers received a report that 61-year-old J.O.
had failed to return from a day hike in the canyon. His cousin advised 
that he planned on hiking down the South Kaibab trail, across the 
Tonto trail , and back up the Bright Angel trail. J.O. had only 
two small water bottles, no food, no flashlight, no map and no extra 
clothing. Temperatures in the canyon that day ranged from 111 degrees 
during the day to 102 degrees at night. Rangers established 
containment points at the South Kaibab and Bright Angel trailheads and 
swept the three trails. No sign of J.O. was found. An aerial 
search ensued on the following morning, but initial efforts were 
fruitless. Rangers familiar with the history of lost people in this 
area made a second flight of the area and this time spotted J.O.. 
He was found to be suffering from severe dehydration and was 
hallucinating. He had also been hiding from searchers, who he thought 
were "bad guys." J.O. had water in one of his bottles, but told 
rangers he hadn't drunk it because a man sitting next to him said it 
was bad water (J.O. was found alone). He was flown out and 
treated at a local medical facility. Doctors said that he would not 
have survived another day if he hadn't been found. [Patrick 
Brasington, IC, GRCA, 6/12]

00-269 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Heat Stroke Fatality

On June 2nd, an air search began for an overdue hiker in Golden Canyon 
who'd been missing for four hours. Ranger/pilot Ed Forner sighted the 
victim in an adjacent canyon; rangers Kyle Nelson and John Anderson 
soon reached the scene and found the body of the 61-year-old German 
visitor. The coroner has determined that he died of congestive heart 
failure caused by heat stroke. He had carried only 24 ounces of water 
with him. The high temperature for the day was 112 degrees, but the 
thermometer on the victim's back pack read 122 degrees in the canyon 
where he was found. [Nancy Wizner, ACR, DEVA, 6/3] 

00-270 - Canaveral NS (FL) - Rescue

Three young swimmers, ages three, four and nine, were caught in a 
runout and swept into the ocean on the afternoon of June 8th. 
Lifeguard Eric Smith responded immediately from his lifeguard tower 
about 50 yards away. He swam to the first child, who was struggling 
and swimming against the current, and gave him a rescue buoy, then 
continued out and rescued the other two children. Smith then grabbed 
the buoy with the third child and brought them all back to shore, 
reuniting them with their mother. Smith also provided them with 
information on safe swimming, supervision, and dangerous surf 
conditions. An off-shore storm caused hazardous beach conditions 
throughout the week. Information on the surf condition was posted at 
the entrance station. [John Diefenbach, DR, Apollo District, CANA, 
6/11]

00-271 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Rescue

Just before dawn on May 28th, visitor M.A. fell 40 feet while 
trying to retrieve his camera, which had fallen over the edge near the 
Cape Royal scenic overlook on the North Rim. Rangers rappelled to 
M.A., secured him so he wouldn't fall any further, and provided 
advanced life support. M.A. was evacuated by helicopter short-haul, 
lowered to the Cape Royal parking lot, then taken by private air 
ambulance to Flagstaff Medical Center, where he was admitted with 
internal injuries and rib fractures. Lindy Allee was incident 
commander. [GRCA, 6/3]

00-272 - Baltimore-Washington Parkway (MD) - Homicide

A citizen reported a serious motor vehicle accident on the parkway at 
2:15 a.m. on June 1st. The Park Police officer who responded found an 
unconscious woman - later identified as L.H., 22, of Laurel, 
Maryland - in the driver's seat of a Plymouth Neon. Friends of 
L.H., who were following in a second vehicle, were also at the 
scene. The officer began CPR on L.H., who was found to have a 
gunshot wound in her head. She was taken to Prince Georges County 
Hospital Center, where she was pronounced dead. An investigation is 
underway. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 6/5]

00-273 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - Possible Homicide

On May 27th, rangers in the Ridgeland District responded to several 
reports of a wildfire near milepost 121. Upon arrival, they found an 
automobile fully engulfed in flame with a body inside. Dental records 
were employed to identify the victim, D.K., 32, of 
Ridgeland, Mississippi. Foul play is suspected. Rangers and an FBI 
crime response team are investigating. [Tim Francis, DCR, NATR, 6/3]

00-274 - Gateway NRA (NY/NJ) - EMS Rescue

J.B., 38, of Howard Beach, fell from the top of Battery 
Harris on the afternoon of June 3rd, landing on the ground 50 feet 
below. Park Police officers and park EMT's responded and provided care 
until city EMS personnel arrived and took him to Brookdale Hospital. 
J.B. was admitted with head injuries, an avulsion to his right 
upper arm, and possible internal bleeding. It appears that Bernadino 
lost his footing on a path at the viewing platform near the battery. 
Witnesses reported that he had been drinking beer right before the 
fall. [John Lauro, USPP, GATE, 6/5]

00-275 - Buffalo NR (AR) - Drowning

A group of about 30 people went boating on the river on the morning of 
June 1st. Several members of the group stopped for lunch at Arnold 
Bend hole just after noon. One of them, R.M., went swimming 
without a life preserver. His wife and several others saw him go under 
and fail to resurface around 1 p.m. Rangers were notified two hours 
later. Park staff in three boats swept the river and searched the area 
with probing poles until 11 p.m., when the search was suspended for 
the night. Divers were to begin looking for his body the following 
morning. [Carl Hinrichs, BUFF, 6/2]

00-276 - Cuyahoga Valley NRA (OH) - Disorderly Conduct

The Hash House Harriers, a national association and self-described 
"drinking club with a running problem," spent a recent weekend in the 
park and caused several problems. They lodged at Camp Mueller, a 
privately-owned facility located a half mile from the South District 
ranger station, and disturbed area residents by partying through the 
night. They leased a fully-stocked beer truck for their stay. On one 
afternoon, group members, many in various stages of intoxication, 
walked a mile to the Indigo Lake boarding site for the park's scenic 
railroad. They verbally harassed visitors on the park's towpath trail 
while on the way; at least one member mooned passing vehicles and 
people from the train on its trip north. Rangers intercepted the 
train. While they investigated the incident, a member of the group 
urinated on a park patrol car. He was arrested and fined $200 by the 
federal magistrate. The entire group was warned for disorderly 
conduct. It's not known how often or where the group meets, but they 
are known to have met in at least two other states and possibly 
elsewhere and may appear in NPS areas in the future. [Dale Silvis, DR, 
South District/Maureen Welch, DR, North District, CUVA, 6/6]

                 [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE SITUATION

Reports will resume tomorrow.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Glacier NP (MT) - Grizzly Bear Study

In a ground-breaking study that used DNA from bear hair to count bears 
without having to see them or to capture them, U.S. Geological Survey 
researchers have made a preliminary determination that there are an 
estimated 437 grizzly bears in the northern third portion of the 
northern Continental Divide ecosystem and an estimated 332 grizzly 
bears in Glacier National Park itself.  Because of statistical 
variation, the actual numbers of bears in the park may vary from 241 
to 549 animals. In the 1970's, it was estimated that there were about 
200 grizzlies in the park, but that number was based solely on bear 
sightings and would not stand up under today's scientific standards 
for reliability. Because of this, the new, more reliable numbers can't 
be employed to say anything about trends, except that this population 
appears fairly healthy and that the density is high in comparison with 
other grizzly populations in the United States. Researchers reached 
these new numbers by identifying species, sex and individuals from DNA 
extracted from bear hair and scats (bear feces) without handling 
bears, an innovative process friendlier to bears and to the scientists 
studying the large grizzlies. Previous grizzly bear population studies 
in forested habitats typically were accomplished with live capture, 
radio collars and aerial tracking of bears, which is expensive and 
disruptive to both bears and park visitors.  In 1998, bears were lured 
to 620 systematically positioned "hair traps" by well-tested lures 
brewed from aged fish, cattle blood, and other goodies. When the bears 
investigate the sweet-smelling brew, they have to cross a strand of 
barbed wire that snags fur. The animal's specific identity is 
determined by genotyping the DNA in the fur. Grizzly bears once roamed 
most of the North American continent, but habitat destruction and 
direct conflicts with humans have reduced their range by 99 percent in 
the lower 48 states (see historical and current range maps at 
http://www.mesc.usgs.gov/glacier/dna_detail.htm #Background).  Today, 
researchers estimate that fewer than 1,000 grizzly bears remain south 
of the Canadian border. [USGS, 5/23]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Law Enforcement Staffing Level Study - Mike Finley, chair of the IACP 
study team, has sent along a reminder that comments are still being 
solicited on how your park's law enforcement program has been affected 
by changes in staffing levels and workloads over the past ten years, 
particularly in the following areas: detection, apprehension, 
education, prevention, investigation, and/or prosecution. Please limit 
your comments to one page and send them via cc:Mail to Martie 
Leicester at NP-WRO by close of business on Friday, June 16th. Include 
the size (in acres) of your park, visitation, and staffing figures for 
the period you refer to in the text. See the May 24th Morning Report 
for additional information. 

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Biscayne NP (FL) - The park is seeking a commissioned Level I 
protection ranger to serve on a temporary detail for up to four pay 
periods, beginning as soon as possible.  Travel and per diem 
(reduced/in park) will be covered, government quarters will be 
provided, and the park will cover the employee's base salary and 
premium pay.  During the detail, the incumbent will receive DOI motor 
boat operators (MOCC) training and certification and will be exposed 
to intensive protection efforts of both terrestrial and submerged 
cultural and natural resources.  Questions regarding the detail should 
be directed to chief ranger Wayne Elliott at 305-230-1144 x 3071.

Sitka NHP (AK) - The park is actively recruiting for a permanent 
GS-11/12 chief of interpretation.  They are seeking a person capable 
of managing complex interpretive and educational programs through a 
talented, motivated staff.  Park themes include Tlingit Indian culture 
and history and the Russian America period of U.S. history, up to and 
including the 1867 sale of Alaska to the United States, which occurred 
in Sitka. People skills are essential. If you would like more 
information about this position, you can view or download the 
announcements on USAJobs at www.usajobs.opm.gov. The closing date is 
June 23rd and the announcement number is SITK 00-15.

TRAINING/MEETING CALENDAR

The NPS training/meeting calendar follows this edition of the Morning 
Report as a separate message.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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