NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, June 16, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1888, Thomas A. Edison and his staff finished the 
prototype of his commercial phonograph after several days of 
experimental work at his West Orange, New Jersey, laboratory.  The 
laboratory and Glenmont, his nearby estate, now compose Edison 
National Historic Site.

INCIDENTS

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

The search continues for fugitives R.H. and J.W. (who 
murdered Gulf Islands NS ranger Bob McGhee in 1990). It is now 
focusing on the area around Crown Point, Indiana, where the pair stole 
yet another vehicle last night. William Barclay was visiting friend 
Mike DeMik at his rural home four miles south of that town. They went 
out to a former horse barn that had been converted to a storage 
building to get some items and ran into R.H. and J.W., who'd 
evidently been hiding there for some time. R.H. had a gun in his 
hand. Barclay and DeMik fled; J.W. and R.H. jumped into Barclay's 
van and drove off. The 1989 Chevy van is blue with a silver stripe and 
has an extended roof known as a turtle top; the Indian registration is 
37V945. The van had only a quarter tank of gas. FBI, state and county 
officers staked out major intersections and scoured the area through 
the night and into this morning, but J.W. and R.H. remain at 
large. Evidence found in the stolen van they abandoned on Wednesday 
included two letters to their families, which they apparently meant to 
be found after they were dead. In them, they said that they would not 
go back to prison. [Valparaiso Times, 6/16, courtesy of Al Nash, INDU, 
6/16]

94-42 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Follow-up on ARPA Violation

In January, 1994, rangers discovered that the historic grave of 
pioneer Johnny Lang had been illegally excavated. The ensuing 
investigation revealed that Lang's skull and femurs had been taken 
from the grave. No suspects were identified and Lang's remains were 
not recovered. On February 4, 1999, the park received a tip from an 
informant that a local resident currently had  Lang's skull in his 
possession. A search warrant was served at the home of D.S., 
49, in 29 Palms, California. D.S. eventually admitted that the 
informant had contacted him about the likelihood of a search that he'd 
therefore moved the skull to another location. D.S. also said that 
the skull was Native American and that he had bought it at a local 
swap meet in the mid-1980s. Numerous items were seized during the 
investigation, including the skull, Native American projectile points 
and government signs. The skull was examined by two forensic 
anthropologists, who determined that it was that of a Native American 
female, not Lang. The case was submitted to the local district 
attorney, who filed a total of four misdemeanor charges against 
D.S. and the informant. D.S. subsequently pled guilty to all 
three charges and was sentenced to 60 days in jail, fined $1,259, and 
placed on probation for three years. The informant, R.S., 46, 
pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of obstruction and was sentenced 
to 20 days in jail, fined $1,259 and placed on three years probation. 
The skull was transferred to the California Native American Heritage 
Commission and was reburied by the 29 Palms Band of Mission Indians on 
June 3rd. [Todd Swain, JOTR, 6/13]

99-733 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Follow-up on Arson

On December 10, 1999, rangers Pete Roehrs and John Evans discovered 
that four fires had been set at the Cottonwood Visitor Center complex. 
The fires were set in three separate buildings and caused over $7,000 
in damage. O.L.A., 30, of San Francisco, was interviewed 
and later arrested for setting the fires. O.L.A. was indicted by a 
grand jury on two felony counts, arson and injuring property of the 
United States. On April 3rd, O.L.A. pled guilty to the latter, 
which was the lesser of the two felonies. This plea came as the result 
of analysis performed by the California Department of Justice Crime 
Lab and telephone recordings made by the Bureau of Prisons. The crime 
lab compared wooden matches and cigarette butts found at the scene 
with those found in O.L.A.'s possession at the time of his arrest. 
The Bureau of Prisons records all outgoing telephone calls and a 
review of O.L.A.'s calls revealed numerous incriminating 
statements. On June 12th, O.L.A. was sentenced to 18 months in 
prison, placed on three years supervised probation, and ordered to pay 
$7,730 in restitution to the park. [Todd Swain, JOTR, 6/13]

00-279 - Denali NP&P (AK) - Rescue

E.P., 59, an Italian national, was evacuated by helicopter 
from the ranger camp at 14,200 feet on Mt. McKinley on June 9th. NPS 
volunteers Kevin Smith and Lance Taysom came across E.P. at Denali 
Pass (18,200 feet), where he'd fallen from a higher elevation during 
his descent from the summit. E.P.'s face was bleeding; he was 
disoriented, carrying his mittens and was not wearing a hat. Smith and 
Taysom assisted E.P. and another member of his expedition with 
putting on extra clothes and getting roped up for the descent to the 
camp at 17,200 feet. E.P.'s expedition brought him down to the ranger 
camp and asked for further assistance because E.P. had sustained an 
ankle injury and could not walk. He was flown to Talkeetna, examined 
by a doctor, and found to have a hairline fracture in his right ankle. 
[J.D. Swed, Acting CR, DENA, 6/12]

00-280 - Denali NP&P (AK) - Rescue

The pilot of a private plane reported an overturned plane on the shore 
of the Yentna River on June 9th. Rangers Cale Shaffer and Kevin Moore 
flew to the location in the park's Lama helicopter. The stranded 
pilot, M.G., 59, of Chugiak, had been flying his Piper 
Super Cub when he ran out of fuel in one of his wing tanks. Efforts to 
switch over to the other wing tank were unsuccessful. M.G. made an 
emergency landing on a gravel bar, but his plane tipped over during 
the landing. He was uninjured, but was fortunate to have been sighted 
because he hadn't filed a flight plan. The FAA is investigating. [J.D. 
Swed, Acting CR, DENA, 6/12]

00-281 - Denali NP&P (AK) - Rescue

On June 9th, a member of the Hong Kong Mountaineering Association told 
rangers that a member of his team, L.Y.M., 38, was suffering from 
severe abdominal pain and was unable to move from a point below 
Washburn's Thumb at the 16,700-foot level of Mt. McKinley. A rescue 
team found L.Y.M. clipped into a fixed line, covered with down clothing 
and lying on his pack. L.Y.M. was placed in a litter and lowered to the 
camp at 14,200 feet. A doctor checked him and found that L.Y.M. had a 
history of incapacitating abdominal pain. He was treated and was able 
to descend with his expedition. [J.D. Swed, Acting CR, DENA, 6/12]

00-282 - Denali NP&P (AK) - Rescue

On June 9th, NPS volunteers Jay Mathers and Denny Gignoux escorted 
climber C.G. down to 11,000 feet from the ranger camp at 
14,200 feet. C.G. had been diagnosed with high altitude pulmonary 
edema when he arrived at the camp during his ascent of the West 
Buttress route. Mathers and Gignoux kept C.G. on oxygen and monitored 
him for several hours. His condition improved at the lower elevation 
and he required no further assistance. [J.D. Swed, Acting CR, DENA, 
6/12]

00-283 - National Capital Parks East (DC) - Environmental              
         Investigation

On June 7th, a 40-member interagency team led by the FBI executed a 
search warrant at Anacostia Marina, a park concessionaire which 
conducts boat repairs and provide slips for boat owners. The search is 
part of an environmental crimes investigation being conducted at the 
marina. The facility was closed to the public for the day while the 
search was conducted.  The marina has a six year history of 
environmental non-compliance and has been the subject of numerous 
inspections by various agencies, including the NPS. Those 
participating in the search were the FBI, EPA, Coast Guard, District 
of Columbia Police Department, Park Police, and a USPP resource 
investigator assigned to NCR Ranger Services. The investigation 
continues. (Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO)

00-284 - Canyonlands NP (UT) - Assist; Airplane Accident

An aircraft accident occurred at the unimproved Mineral Bottom 
airstrip on BLM land adjacent to the Island in the Sky District on 
June 6th. The county sheriff's office coordinated an interagency 
response under ICS. Rangers George Paiva and Traci Kolc responded in 
one of the park's wildland fire engines. A fire caused by the crash 
burned the plane and about an acre of land before being suppressed. 
All occupants escaped uninjured. The Cessna 185 lost power on takeoff 
and smoke was seen coming from the engine compartment. The pilot 
landed the plane back on the runway, but ran off the end. Several 
boxes of firearms ammunition in the plane exploded during the early 
stages of the fire. [Steve Swanke, CANY, 6/7]

00-285 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - Drug Arrest

Ranger Chris Kross was on foot patrol in the visitor center parking 
lot off Interstate 80 on the afternoon of May 25th when he saw a naked 
man sitting in the back seat of a parked van. When he approached the 
van, he saw a naked woman lying on the back seat. Kross contacted the 
pair; when the door opened, he was immediately overwhelmed by the 
strong odor of marijuana. The 41-year-old man agreed to a consent 
search of the van, which led to the discovery of a one pound bag of 
marijuana, numerous rolled marijuana cigarettes, several spent 
marijuana cigarettes, and drug paraphernalia. He said that he had just 
returned from a day trip to New York City, where he claimed to have 
purchased the bag of marijuana for $2,000. Investigation revealed that 
he routinely runs wholesale shipments of frozen pierogies - and 
marijuana - from the city to locations in eastern Pennsylvania, and 
that he also managed to rendezvous frequently with his companion in 
the park during these trips, an arrangement that has apparently been 
on-going for several years. It's not yet been determined how long he's 
been running pierogies and marijuana to the tri-state area. Felony 
charges were filed against him for possession of controlled 
substances, disorderly conduct, and illegal weapons. [Wayne Valentine, 
DR, DEWA, 5/30]

00-286 - Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - Assist; Two Drownings

On the evening of June 4th, ranges and lifeguards responded to a call 
for assistance from the Escambia County Sheriff's office. Three 
swimmers were reported to be in distress just outside the park's 
boundary near the Fort Pickens entrance station. Upon arrival, they 
found that one of the three, a 19-year-old woman, had been rescued by 
onlookers, but that her two male companions, ages 20 and 29, were 
still missing. They were spotted 20 minutes later under 10 to 15 feet 
of water. A park lifeguard retrieved both of them and brought them to 
shore. Efforts to revive them were unsuccessful. The county beach is 
normally manned by lifeguards, but they'd gone off duty for the day 
about an hour prior to the drownings. [CRO, GUIS, 6/8]

00-287 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (TN/NC) - MVA with Fatality

On June 3rd, C.M., 10, of Knoxville, was killed in an 
accident on the Newfound Gap Road near the Collins Creek picnic area. 
C.M. was a passenger in the rear seat of her family vehicle, which 
was headed south when struck head-on by a car that had swerved into 
the on-coming lane while attempting to avoid a rear-end collision with 
stopped traffic. C.M.'s father, mother and sister were also injured 
in the accident, but none of the injuries were life-threatening. The 
three passengers in the other vehicle were uninjured. Ranger Derrick 
Maxey is the lead investigator. [John Mattox, CI, GRSM, 6/7]

                [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

New large fires have been reported in the South and the eastern Great 
Basin. Initial attack activity was light nationwide. Improving weather 
conditions today will help suppression efforts on large fires in 
Colorado and New Mexico.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 128 crews (- 36), 
587overhead (- 617), 277engines (- 48), 41 helicopters (- 5), and 14 
air tankers (+ 1).

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

NPS FIRES

Bandelier NM (NM) - An area command team and two Type II incident 
management teams remain committed to the Cerro Grande fire, which is 
now 100% contained. Progress continues on rehabilitation projects. 
Some crews are being demobilized or reassigned.

Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Fire activity remains low.

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Colorado State - The High Meadow fire (35 miles southwest of Denver) 
has now burned 9,100 acres, up from 6,700 acres yesterday. Torching, 
crowning, and spotting up to a half mile from the perimeter have been 
reported. Crews have been unable to gain access to many areas of the 
fire to determine if there's been further loss of structures due to 
heavy smoke.

Arapaho-Roosevelt NF (CO) - The Bobcat fire (12 miles west of 
Loveland) has burned 8,100 acres, up from 6,700 acres yesterday. High 
winds pushed the fire across lines on the north side yesterday. 
Torching and crowning were observed. Lines on the south side of the 
fire are holding.

CDF Lake-Napa Unit (CA) - The Berryessa fire (36 miles west of 
Sacramento) has burned 5,700 acres and is 35% contained. The fire is 
burning in steep, rugged terrain; gusty winds of up to 30 mph and low 
relative humidity have impeded containment efforts. Eight buildings 
have been burned.

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds, near record high 
temperatures and low humidity for California's Sacramento Valley and 
for areas of surrounding foothills below 2,000 feet elevation.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/16]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

Gateway NRA (NJ/NY) - The Coast Guard's decommissioning fleet manager 
has surplus boats available for transfer. They range in size from 17 
to 82 feet. Following this summer's OpSail event, he expects to 
release over 30 boats, including a number of 41-foot utility boats. 
Interested parks should contact Jeff Beach at 202-267-2642 or at 
jbeach@comdt.uscg.mil. [Russ Wilson, Sandy Hook Unit, GATE]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Entries pending.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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