NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, September 20, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1565, Spanish troops from St. Augustine under Admiral 
Pedro Menéndez massacred most inhabitants of La Caroline, a French 
settlement established the year before on the St. Johns River to the 
north.  The short-lived French attempt to contest Spain's claim to 
Florida is commemorated by Fort Caroline National Memorial, near the 
site of the colony.

INCIDENTS

00-528 - Death Valley NP (CA) - Follow-up on Search 

Ranger Bill Fitzpatrick checked a vehicle that appeared to have been 
abandoned near Mahogany Flat campground on Friday, August 18th, and 
found that it was an overdue rental car. Rangers and Inyo County 
deputies investigated and a search was begun for Georgia resident 
C.M., 26, in the canyons leading off 11,000-foot 
Telescope Mountain and 10,000-foot Rogers Peak. The search was scaled 
back on the 21st due to a lack of clues. On August 31st, rangers Bill 
Archard and Aaron Shandor discovered what appeared to be a campsite in 
Jail Canyon, a very remote section of the park. A search of the area 
with a helicopter, hasty teams and a cadaver search dog team was 
arranged by IC Dan Dellinges. Although the dog picked up the scent of 
a body in the canyon, searchers were not able to find it due to very 
rough terrain, swirling winds and thick vegetation. Additional clues - 
a sleeping bag and hiking gear - were found in the area. Weather 
complicated search efforts. Some search team members near the 
10,600-foot level of the mountain were snowed in, while the 
temperature at the incident command post reached 110 degrees. On 
September 16th, rangers and a volunteer SAR dog team found C.M.'s 
body at the 7,500-foot level of Jail Canyon. Evidence at the scene 
indicated that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. [CRO, 
DEVA, 9/17]

00-590 - Cape Hatteras NS (NC) - Aircraft Emergency Landing

A single-engine plane made an emergency landing on the beach north of 
Ramp 30 between the villages of Salvo and Avon on the morning of 
September 16th. Pilot S.S. said he heard the engine making 
noise, then the cockpit filled with smoke and the engine stopped. 
S.S. pulled the flaps and landed with gear up at about 100 miles 
per hour. The plane slid about 300 yards along the beach before 
spinning 180 degrees and coming to rest at the surf's edge. S.S. 
and his passenger were unhurt and were able to get out of the plane 
without assistance. Beaches at the time were relatively uncrowded. 
Ranger Michelle Uhr responded and investigated. The FAA gave 
permission to move the plane to get it out of the rising tide. Kitty 
Hawk Aero Tours removed the plane from the beach and took it to a 
hangar at Dare County Airport. S.S. was en route from Culpepper, 
Virginia, to Billy Mitchell Airstrip in the park when the accident 
occurred. [Jeff Cob, CR, CAHA, 9/19]

00-591 - North Cascades NP (WA) - Climbing Fatality

On Saturday, September 16th, J.N., 50, of Surrey, British 
Columbia, slipped on a 50% snow slope while hiking with crampons on 
the Fisher Chimneys route of Mount Shuksan and slid about 125 feet 
onto rocks below, suffering injuries to his face, torso and 
extremities. Two other hikers happened by and rendered aid. J.N. was 
semi-conscious at first and complained of an ache in his side, but he 
lost both consciousness and pulse within 15 minutes. The hikers 
performed CPR for 20 minutes without effect. Rangers on board a 
contract helicopter were unable to land due to fog and darkness, so 
his body was recovered the following day. [Pete Cowan, CR, NOCA, 9/18]

00-592 - Independence NHP (PA) - Special Event

President Bill Clinton joined other elected officials, VIP's and 1,500 
invited guests for the groundbreaking ceremony for the park's National 
Constitution Center on Constitution Day, September 17th. The $105 
million center will be built on Independence Mall, along with the new 
Liberty Bell Complex, Gateway Visitor Center, and Independence Park 
Institute. Park law enforcement rangers cooperated with the Secret 
Service and other law enforcement agencies. There were no reported 
incidents. [Phil Sheridan, INDE, 9/18]

00-593 - Baltimore Washington Parkway (MD) - Pedestrian Fatality

A man who was fleeing on foot from Park Police officers around 
midnight on September 17th was struck and killed by a vehicle on the 
parkway. The man, who had been a passenger in a vehicle stopped by a 
USPP officer, fled after the officer asked him to get out of the car 
in order to investigate furtive movements that he'd made. The man 
crossed the northbound lanes of the parkway, jumped over the center 
median barrier, and was crossing the southbound lanes when he was hit. 
The driver of the stopped vehicle, who was the man's fiancé, left the 
scene in her car but was apprehended a short time later. Drug 
paraphernalia were found in the vehicle. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 
9/19]

00-594 - Bent's Old Fort NHS (CO) - Burglary

The park experience the first burglary in its 40-year history around 3 
a.m. on Saturday, September 16th. Superintendent Don Hill and an Otero 
County deputy responded to an alarm and discovered the forced entry 
into one of the rooms in the reconstructed fort. Curator Nancy Russell 
is assisting in the on-going investigation. The fact that no museum 
objects were stolen and that damage was limited to less than $250 stem 
directly from recent improvements made to park security through FY99 
MCPP and FY00 ONPS funding. [Nancy Russell, BEOL, 9/18]

                   [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level III

CURRENT SITUATION

Eleven new large fires were reported - one in the Rockies, one in 
northern California, and nine in the South. Crews reached containment 
goals on seven large fires. Initial attack was moderate in the South 
and light elsewhere. 

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, California, 
Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Arkansas, 
Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from Tuesday's numbers in parentheses): 179 crews (+ 49), 
1,112 overhead (+ 114), 531 engines (+ 65), and 75 helicopters (+ 1).

NPS AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

No reports.

OUTLOOK

RED FLAG WARNINGS have been posted for:

o       strong winds and low humidity in Arkansas;
o       low humidity, high temperatures and gusty northeast to east 
        winds in northern and central California; and 
o       strong northeast winds and low humidity in southwestern 
        Oregon.

FIRE WEATHER WATCHES have been posted for:

o       gusty south to northeast winds, possible lightning, and low 
        relative humidity in southeastern Oklahoma and portions of 
        northeastern Texas; and
o       a wind shift in northern Texas.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 9/20]

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Padre Island NS (TX) - Sea Turtle Nesting and Hatchling Release

Eighteen sea turtle nests were found on the Texas coast this year - 
twelve Kemp's Ridley, one green and five loggerhead. The Kemp's Ridley 
nests were the only confirmed nests of that species found in the 
United States this year. Eggs from 17 of the 18 Texas nests were 
brought to the incubation facility in the park for care. Hatchlings 
released in the park this year included 842 Kemp's Ridley, 169 green 
and 348 loggerhead turtles. Another 58 Kemp's Ridley hatchlings were 
released on Boca Chica Beach on South Padre Island near Brownsville. 
Over a thousand people attended 13 of the hatchling releases in the 
park this year. This critical sea turtle research and monitoring 
program is being conducted in partnership with the U.S. Geological 
Survey and numerous organizations that provided funding, including 
DOI's U.S.-Mexico Border Program, Forever Resorts, HEART (Help 
Endangered Animals, Ridley Turtles), HEB (a local supermarket chain), 
the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Marine 
Fisheries Service, the National Park Foundation, the Seashore Learning 
Center, Seaspace, the Shell Oil Company Foundation, and Unilever 
HPC-USA. Other agencies, groups, and numerous volunteers and personnel 
also assisted with the efforts in south Texas. For more information on 
the Kemp's Ridley nesting program, contact program manager Dr. Donna 
Shaver (USGS) or Ken McMullen, chief of science and resource 
management for the park. [Gus Martinez, PAIS]

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

Submissions pending.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Bandelier Quilt Project - One of the tragic results of the Cerro 
Grande Fire in Los Alamos was that almost 400 families lost their 
homes. Many NPS employees have asked whey they can do to help the 
healing process. With the approval of the NPS, employees who are 
quilters have banded together and formed the "From Our Family to 
Yours" quilt project. If you'd like to participate or if you know 
anyone else who might like to help, contact Jeri Mihalic via cc:Mail 
or at mihalic@inreach.com. [Jeri Mihalic]

MEMORANDA

"Wildland Fire Policy Review," sent on September 15th to all land 
management agency employees by the co-chair of the fire policy review 
group. The full text follows:

"On December 18, 1995, the 'Federal Wildland Fire Management Policy 
and Program Review' was published for agencies in the Department of 
the Interior and the Department of Agriculture.  The report made 
history within federal wildland firefighting community.  With its 
publication, agencies in the two departments had clear, coordinated 
and compatible fire policies for the first time.  The review provided 
a common starting point and helped point the agencies toward the same 
common goal.

"Much of the credit for the policy and program review's success came 
from the 300 employees and members of the public who shared their 
thoughts with the team charged with formulating the policy. 

"Five years have passed since the 'Federal Wildland Fire Management 
Policy and Program Review' was published.  Much has changed in the 
firefighting community.  Public interest in fire management has never 
been higher than now.  For these and other reasons, the Secretaries of 
the Departments of Interior and Agriculture feel that it is 
appropriate to review the fire policy and see what, if any, changes 
should be considered in light of our experiences since 1995.

"We again offer you the opportunity to tell us what you think.  We are 
asking that interested employees take a few minutes to go through a 
questionnaire that will help provide much-needed information and 
observations as a team review the policy and determines if it should 
be changed.  

"Any employee may participate.  Responses will be confidential.  We 
ask for your thoughts because you are the experts - many of you are 
the people who have worked on the lines and know the fire program the 
best.  Your input is very important-if changes need to be made, we 
will make them.  This is your chance to help shape fire policy and 
management within all federal agencies.

"The questionnaire can be found on the internet at 
www.nifc.gov/policy_survey  It should take you only about ten minutes 
to fill out.  The changes you help make, though, may last years or 
decades.  We ask that you complete the questionnaire by October 15, 
2000.

"If you know of a way to make our fire management more effective, more 
efficient, or more responsive to public safety, this is your 
opportunity to share it with us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on 
this important issue."

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Organ Pipe Cactus NM (AZ) - The park is recruiting volunteers for the 
coming winter season and is in particular need of folks for the 
maintenance division, including sanitation, janitorial, and roads and 
grounds positions. The tour of duty is from mid-November to mid-April 
(flexible) and runs from 24 to 32 hours per week. In exchange, 
volunteers receive free hook-ups in a great VIP campground. There's a 
community building for social events and free use of clothes washers. 
Contact facility manager Bill Mikus at 520-387-7661 x 7401 or the 
park's VIP coordinator at x 7303.

Denver Service Center (CO) - Former DSC project supervisor Fred Topel 
passed away on September 9th in Missoula, Montana. A memorial service 
was held on September 12th. Memorials in his name may be sent to the 
American Diabetes Association. Messages of condolence should be sent 
to his spouse, Joyce Topel, at their home at 608 Highview Way, 
Missoula, MT 59803. She would also welcome calls from Fred's NPS 
friends and can be reached at 406-721-3975. 

FILM AT 11...

Today's edition of USA Today has a front page story entitled "A 
Scarcity of Silence: It's Becoming Harder To Find Tranquility At 
Nation's Parks." Reporter Traci Watson writes: "Americans visit the 
national parks expecting tranquility, a little respite from the 
hurly-burly of everyday suburban life. But unless they're among the 
few who venture into the backcountry, they don't always find the peace 
and quiet they seek. Even at isolated parks, the sounds of
civilization - the internal-combustion engine, the car alarm, the 
jackhammer - intrude on the visitor's ear. Too often lost in the 
hubbub are the wind in the trees and the singing birds." See the paper 
for the full text.

FOOTNOTE

A number of readers who are or have been affiliated with Boston NHP 
have sent along corrections to the September 12th "Almanac" listing, 
which reported that the destroyer U.S.S. Cassin Young was launched at 
the Boston Navy Yard on September 12, 1943. The ship was actually 
launched in San Pedro, California, on December 31, 1943. The ship was 
modernized at the Charlestown Navy Yard in the 1950's and is currently 
exhibited there. Thanks to Steve Carlson, Glenn Van Neil, Phil Walsh, 
Marty Blatt, Celeste Bernardo and David Malone for catching the error 
and sending along notes...

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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