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Subject: Early Release: NPS Morning Report - Friday, August 11, 2000
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Date: Fri, 11 Aug 2000 15:02:54 -0400
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Friday, August 11, 2000
*** NOTICE ***
This edition of the Morning Report is being sent out a day early.
There will be no weekend editions of the Morning Report, which will
resume regular publication on Monday, August 14th.
ALMANAC
On this date in 1857, Indian raiders shot and killed Colonel Isaac
Neff Ebey, who had led the first permanent white settlers to Whitbey
Island, Washington Territory, in 1850. Ebey's Landing National
Historical Reserve, Washington, contains his homesite and grave.
INCIDENTS
00-410 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Follow-up on Protest
During the month of July, an arson fire, several pipe bombs, threats
to staff and related incidents occurred in the park as part of a
protest against ORV closures and other provisions of the park's new
GMP. Gates have since been installed barring access to Freshwater Spit
and the off-road vehicle closure has been put into effect. Five SET
members have been brought in to augment the park's protection staff
and help provide 24-hour patrol coverage. Numerous attempts at
intimidation of maintenance staff and rangers have been documented.
Many local residents remain very much concerned about the closures and
emotions continue to run high. There have been no serious incidents.
Enhanced patrol coverage continues. [Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 8/8]
00-438 - Vicksburg NMP (MS) - Follow-up on Vandalism to U.S.S. Cairo
On July 25th, a man - later identified as C.M., 26, of Los
Angeles - climbed over a security barrier at the U.S.S. Cairo and
broken off a section of wood from the hull of the gunboat. Morfin
subsequently surrendered the section of the hull to rangers and was
arrested and charged with an ARPA violation. A federal grand jury has
since indicted him on charges of damaging an archeological resource.
The U.S. attorney will contact C.M.'s counsel and arrange a date for
trial in federal court. [Greg Zeman, Chief of Operations, VICK, 8/8]
00-447 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon NP's (CA) - Follow-up on Employee Murder
The Fresno County coroner has determined that building and utilities
supervisor Doug Frizell, 53, died as a result of a homicide. The exact
cause is being kept confidential for investigative reasons. Two
suspects - J.R. and B.K.M. - are being sought for
questioning by the Fresno County Sheriff's Office and the FBI. The
FBI is now investigating this case since the suspects are believed to
be out of the area and probably in another state. J.R. and B.K.M.
are wanted in Oklahoma for robbery and kidnapping (a carjacking) and
by Tulare County and Fresno County for property crimes and the use of
Frizell's credit cards. The FBI is pursuing a federal warrant for
unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Critical incident stress
debriefings were held in the parks for all employees. Mental health
professionals and peer counselors are still available for
consultation. A memorial service for Doug has been scheduled for noon
on Sunday, August 20th, at the Sunset Amphitheater in the Grant Grove
area of Kings Canyon NP. Cards and letters of condolence may be sent
to Dustin Frizell, c/o of Pete Lucero, P.O. Box 923, Kings Canyon
National Park, CA 93633. Donations to the family may be sent to the
Sequoia-Kings Canyon Employee Association (SKEA) c/o Pete Lucero at
the same address. Make checks out to SKEA and on the memo line please
write Doug Frizell. [Bob Wilson, Acting CR, SEKI, 8/9]
00-455 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (Pa/NJ) - Follow-up on Homicide
On the evening of August 8th, the Pennsylvania State Police arrested
D.C. and M.L. for the murder of 19-year-old
B.W. B.W.'s burned body was found off Community
Drive on August 3rd. The arrests capped a multi-agency investigation
involving the Pennsylvania State Police, Monroe County DA's Office,
NPS, FBI and various other metropolitan police departments in
Pennsylvania and New Jersey. During the five-day investigation, there
were as many as 35 investigators, rangers, forensic technicians and
assistant district attorneys involved in interviewing people and
processing the numerous leads developed in a variety of locations in
eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. According to complaints filed in
county court, B.W., M.L. and D.C. were involved in a love
triangle. M.L. coerced D.C. into killing B.W.. D.C.
lured B.W. to the Pocono Region with the story that he was
picking up his suitcases for a trip the two would be taking to
Florida. They reportedly got into an argument while stopped at the
Hialeah Airpark parking lot off River Road. That argument degenerated
into a fight, and D.C. told investigators that it ended with him
shaking her until she quite moving. He put her in the trunk of his
car, drove to Community Drive, placed her body on top of her suitcase
and garment bag, poured gasoline over everything, set the fire, then
fled. The county DA thanked all the involved agencies for working
together in this cooperative investigation. He is considering seeking
the death penalty for D.C. [Ed Whitaker, DR, Pennsylvania
District, DEWA, 8/9]
00-469 - Fort Sumter NM (SC) - Special Event: Raising of the Hunley
The Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley surfaced on August 8th for the
first time in 136 years. The Hunley was the first sub to sink a ship
when she successfully engaged the USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864,
just four miles east of Fort Moultrie. For unknown reasons, the Hunley
herself never made it home, sinking with all nine crewmen aboard. More
than 5,000 people came to Fort Moultrie - a unit of Fort Sumter NM -
to watch the Hunley pass between Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter on its
way to a treatment facility at the old Charleston Navy Base. There the
submarine will undergo interior excavation and conservation. This
process may take up to ten years, after which the Hunley will be
displayed permanently at the Charleston Museum. The project was made
possible by the efforts and contributions of several government
agencies and private organizations, including NPS underwater
archaeologists Dr. David Conlin, Matthew Russell and Claire Peachey,
and NPS underwater photographer Brett Seymour. [Bill Martin, PIO,
FOSU, 8/9]
00-470 - Katmai NP (AK) - Search in Progress; Fatality
Concession employees advised rangers of an overdue party on the
afternoon of August 8th. The couple had departed from Brooks Camp the
previous day on a two-hour canoe trip. An air search was begun
immediately, and a swamped and beached canoe was found within 15
minutes on Naknek Lake across from Brooks Camp. Rangers found the body
of Atsushi Sugiura entangled with the canoe, his life jacket still on.
Efforts are currently focused on the search for his wife, Naomi. A
life jacket and other personal effects were found washed up on a beach
nearby. Twenty NPS personnel are assigned to the incident. Ranger Ed
Dunlavey is IC. [Chris Pergiel, CR, KATM, 8/8]
00-471 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Pursuit
Ranger Helen McNutt was on her way from Cades Cove to Maryville,
Tennessee, on the evening of August 9th when she came upon a three-car
accident about five miles from the park entrance. Since there were no
other emergency vehicles on scene, she stopped to render assistance.
An older model Dodge van pulled away almost immediately. Bystanders
shouted to McNutt that the van driver was the cause of the accident
and that he was drunk. After determining that there were no serous
injuries, McNutt began to follow the van, which was being driven on a
flat tire. An unmarked Blount County Sheriff's Office vehicle took
control of the pursuit through Townsend, but McNutt took over the lead
position when the van entered the park. Top speed during the pursuit
was between 35 and 40 mph. By this time, the flat tire had been
destroyed and the van was riding on the wheel rim. Heavy smoke was
coming from the front end and sparks were evident as the rim gouged
the road surface. The driver was riding the centerline of Laurel Creek
Road. Fearing an accident, McNutt made the decision to ram the van,
which was forced off the road into a pullout. The two occupants were
arrested. The driver will be charged initially by the county; federal
charges will follow. The female passenger will be charged by the
county for public intoxication. [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 8/10]
00-472 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Rescue; Weapons Violation
Rangers heard gunshots and a person yelling for help on the cliff
bands above Yosemite Chapel around 8 p.m. on August 2nd. When they
began shining lights on the cliffs, additional shots were fired. They
took cover and employed a PA system to make contact with a man spotted
on the cliff, subsequently identified as J.H., 22, of Beverly
Hills. J.H. employed the flash on his camera to respond to the
rangers. He indicated that he was injured and that he'd reached his
present location by climbing down the cliff from Four Mile Trail, but
provided conflicting answers to other questions. Further investigation
and rescue efforts were delayed by darkness and resumed in the
morning. A telescope was used to locate J.H., who was wearing
camouflage clothing and carrying a daypack and semi-automatic handgun.
Rangers used the PA to instruct him to disassemble the handgun,
separate the parts, place the daypack out of reach, and place his
hands on his head. J.H. complied with these commands. Rangers Keith
Lober, Steve Yu and Michael Nash then heli-rappelled to the site,
secured J.H.'s weapon, and escorted him on foot to the valley floor.
J.H. told them that he'd gotten stuck while attempting to climb
directly to Glacier Point to get back to his car. He was charged for
weapons violations and for disorderly conduct by creating a hazardous
condition. [Dan Horner, YOSE, 8/8]
00-473 - Wind Cave NP (SD) - MVA with Fatality
E.L. and A.L. visited the park on August 6th while in the Black
Hills for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. E.L. lost control of
his motorcycle at the Highway 385 junction with Highway 87, causing it
to fall on its side. Both fell onto the road. Although they were
wearing helmets, both sustained head injuries and were taken to area
hospitals. A.L. died from her injuries. E.L. was released
after 48 hours of hospitalization. There's no indication that either
alcohol or drugs were a factor. [Denny Ziemann, CR, WICA, 8/9]
00-474 - Assateague Island NS (MD/VA) - Probable Drowning
On the afternoon of August 8th, lifeguards and rangers responded to a
report of a drowning about 400 yards south of the guarded beach in the
park's South District. Guards Kelly Ford and Rachel West reached the
scene promptly and took over CPR from visitors who had pulled the
44-year-old man from the ocean. Paramedics transported him to Island
Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The victim's brother
said that he was a good swimmer and in good health. An autopsy will be
performed. [John Burns, CR, ASIS, 8/8]
[Additional reports pending....]
CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No submissions.
INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES
No submissions.
OPERATIONAL NOTES
No submissions.
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
INTERCHANGE
No submissions.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Jewel Cave NM (SD) - The park has a detail opportunity for a GS-025-13
acting superintendent for up to 120 days and hopes to fill the
position as possible. Travel and per diem will be paid and government
quarters will be available. The incumbent reports to the
superintendent of Wind Cave NP and directly supervises a staff of
three (and indirectly supervises a staff of 36, including 30
seasonals). If you're interested, send a statement of interest,
application or resume and the name and phone number of your supervisor
to Linda Stoll, Wind Cave NP, RR 1, Box 190, Hot Springs, SD 57747.
Documents must be received no later than close of business on August
18th. If you have questions about the position and duties or need
other information, please feel free to call Linda at 605-745-1129.
* * * * *
Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed
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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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