NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Friday, October 6, 2000

ALMANAC

On this date in 1972, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, the first 
national lakeshore, was established in ceremonies in Munising, 
Michigan.

INCIDENTS

00-581 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Follow-up: Kidnapping      
         Investigation

On Monday, September 4th, visitors heard a man pounding inside a car 
trunk and calling for help at the Deep Creek overlook on the Newfound 
Gap Road and freed him from his confinement. Ronald Howard told 
rangers that he had been assaulted, robbed and kidnapped while 
returning home from work the previous Friday and that he'd been locked 
in the trunk since then. Howard's account of the incident and a 
medical exam led investigators to seriously question the validity of 
his story. On October 3rd, Howard declined to cooperate further in the 
investigation. Unless new information is obtained, the case will be 
closed. The FBI assisted in the case, but did not open an 
investigation. Lisa Jenewein and Derick Maxey were the investigating 
rangers. [John Mattox, SA, GRSM, 10/5]

00-632 - North Cascades NP (WA) - Drug Smuggling Arrests

On September 30th, Customs agents arrested Canadian citizen M.B. 
on a warrant for the 1997 theft of a rental boat from Ross 
Lake.  M.B. and two accomplices were found to be in possession of 
58 pounds of "BC Bud" marijuana with a wholesale value $200,000.  The 
arrests occurred on a rented boat in Puget Sound. [Hugh Dougher, NOCA, 
10/5)

00-632 - North Cascades NP (WA) - Drug Smuggling Arrests

On October 5th, rangers arrested Canadian citizen Roger Prior for 
attempting to smuggle 50 pounds of "BC Bud" marijuana with a wholesale 
value of $175,000 through the park.  Early the next morning, rangers, 
Customs agents, and local police arrested his accomplice, Canadian 
citizen M.S., in a motel room 60 miles distant.  Prior and 
M.S. were working for a crime organization.  This was the third 
time in 30 days that the two men had smuggled drugs through the park.  
Since early July of this year, North Cascades rangers have been 
averaging more than one felony smuggling case weekly, with associated 
arrests.  This success is the result of an on-going three year 
investigation, strong regional and WASO support, and close 
relationships with other agencies. [Hugh Dougher, NOCA, 10/5]

FIRE SITUATION

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

CURRENT SITUATION

Six new large fires were reported in the South on Thursday.  
Containment was reached on six large fires in Mississippi, Oklahoma, 
Texas and Alabama.  Initial attack was moderate in the South and light 
elsewhere.  

Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in Oregon, California, 
Idaho, Utah, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

The following resources were committed nationwide as of yesterday 
(changes from Wednesday's numbers in parentheses): nine crews (- 54), 
170 overhead (- 176), 75 engines (- 56), and nine helicopters (- 6).

NPS AND NPS-RELATED FIRES

No reports.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 10/5]

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

No submissions.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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