NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Saturday, June 17, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1877, Nez Perce Indians routed two companies of U.S. 
Army cavalry near White Bird, Idaho Territory, in the first battle of 
the Nez Perce War.  White Bird Battlefield is part of Nez Perce 
National Historical Park.

INCIDENTS

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

J.W. and R.H. were captured separately yesterday morning 
after nearly three weeks on the lam. R.H. was captured about 6:45 
a.m. in St. John, a small bedroom community about 30 miles southeast 
of Chicago. A St. John policeman spotted R.H. and J.W. walking 
along railroad tracks and ordered them to the ground. According to 
captain Bernie Johnson of the St. John Police Department, R.H. 
complied with the order, but J.W. ran. "Once you pointed a gun at 
him, he was cooperative," Johnson said of R.H., who was taken to the 
St. John Police Department. J.W. fled to a car wash, where he 
hijacked a van from a retired Lake County sheriff's deputy at 
gunpoint. J.W. drove south on U.S. 41 and abandoned the van west of 
Lowell. Scores of officers, some in helicopters and others on the 
ground with dogs, searched for J.W. around a pocket of homes in 
this rural area, which is located along the Indiana-Illinois border 
about 40 miles south of Chicago. J.W., armed with a loaded handgun 
tucked into the waistband of his pants, surrendered as officers closed 
in on him in a field about 9:45 a.m. The two face local charges of 
attempted murder, attempted battery and resisting law enforcement. 
[Tom Coyne, Associated Press, 6/16, courtesy of Al Nash, INDU, 6/16]

00-288 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue

On June 1st, S.N. of Mammoth Lakes fell about 30 feet while 
ascending Mt. Dana, fracturing her tibia and fibula and sustaining 
multiple lacerations. S.N. and two companions were ascending Mt. 
Dana with the intention of skiing down(Mt. Dana is a popular spring 
ski descent on the crest of the eastern Sierra). Park medic/ranger 
Rich Baerwald provided advanced life support care at the scene of the 
accident, which was at 11,200 feet. Tuolumne rangers and Yosemite SAR 
team members then lowered S.N. 2,400 feet down steep, snow-covered 
slopes. Once the team reached Dana Meadows, a snowmobile was used to 
tow the litter to the Tioga Road, where S.N. was transferred to an 
ambulance. [Maura Longden, IC, YOSE, 6/8]

00-289 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Search and Rescue

J.T., 60, became separated from her male companion on May 22nd, 
the second day of a three-day backcountry trip in the Hetch Hetchy 
area. The man spent the afternoon searching for her, then spent the 
night in Tiltill Valley. He hiked out the next day and reported her 
missing to rangers at 1 p.m. He told them that J.T. was an 
inexperienced hiker, that she was unfamiliar with the area, and that 
she was poorly equipped because he was carrying all of the overnight 
gear for both of them. He also said she took medication for panic 
disorder. A hasty search was begun that afternoon utilizing ground 
searchers and the park helicopter. The search was expanded the 
following day with an additional helicopter, three dog teams, and 
search teams from four counties. Just before noon, J.T. was spotted 
from a helicopter in very rugged terrain in Tiltill Creek canyon. She 
had fallen and could not walk, but was responsive and in good spirits. 
Park medic/ranger David Horne provided advanced life support at the 
scene and during litter evacuation to Tiltill Valley. The park 
helicopter then transported her to the Yosemite Medical Clinic, where 
she was diagnosed with severe contusions, broken ribs, and a double 
pneumothorax. J.T. was flown by helicopter ambulance to a Modesto 
hospital, where her condition worsened. She is currently (June 16th) 
listed in critical condition and is on a ventilator. [Greg Lawler, 
Plans Chief, YOSE, 6/16]

                [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

One new large fire was reported yesterday in the eastern Great Basin. 
Initial attack activity was moderate in the South and light elsewhere. 

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from yesterday's numbers in parentheses): 193 (+ 65), 1,043 
overhead (+ 456), 345 engines (+ 68), 59 helicopters (+ 18), and eight 
air tankers (- 6).

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

NPS FIRES

Bandelier NM (NM) - No change from yesterday's report.

SIGNIFICANT NON-NPS FIRES 

Colorado State - The High Meadow fire (35 miles southwest of Denver) 
has now burned 10,500 acres, up from 9,100 acres yesterday. Fire 
activity decreased yesterday, permitting significant progress on hand 
line construction around critical parts of the fire's perimeter.

Arapaho-Roosevelt NF (CO) - There was only minimal activity on the 
Bobcat fire (12 miles west of Loveland) yesterday, due in part to 
light snow and rain. Some residents were allowed back into nearby 
subdivisions.

OUTLOOK

NICC has issued a RED FLAG WARNING for strong winds and low-humidities 
until mid-day for California's Sacramento Valley and surrounding 
foothills below 2,000 feet and the Mendocino Valley below 4,000 feet.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 6/17]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No submissions.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Cape Lookout NS (NC) The park is in "desperate need" of at least one 
or possibly two GS-5, 7 or 9 commissioned rangers for summer details 
of six weeks minimum. Round trip travel paid, in-park per diem and 
shared housing furnished, salary negotiable!  Any "winter" parks who 
can spare commissioned staff, please contact superintendent Karren 
Brown (x3014), administrative officer Donna Tipton (x3019), or 
supervisory park ranger Jim Zahradka (x3007) at 252-728-2250.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the 
cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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