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Subject: NPS Morning Report - Monday, October 30, 2000
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Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 07:11:45 -0500
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
Day/Date: Monday, October 30, 2000
ALMANAC
On this date in 1735, John Adams, who would become the second
president of the United States, was born in Braintree (later Quincy),
Massachusetts. The house in which he was born is part of Adams
National Historic Site.
INCIDENTS
00-674 - National Capital Parks East (DC) - Theft of Government
Property
On October 26th, D.F/, 58, pled guilty in federal district
court to conspiracy to steal federal government property. As a senior
employee with the D.C. Department of Public Works, D.F. had access
to surplus military equipment which he obtained for the district
government. D.F. stole a large amount of equipment for personal
use, including marine engines, generators and electronic equipment.
D.F. gave various types of equipment, including satellite dishes,
a pickup truck and a front-end loader, to the Washington Yacht Club,
where he is a member. The club is located on NPS land under the
authority of a special use permit. D.F. stored much of the
equipment at Anacostia Marina, a park concession located near the
yacht club. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and DC police
and assisted by NCR Ranger Services and Park Police. Environmental
compliance officer Julia Hewitt provided detailed environmental
inspection records which documented the existence of military
equipment at Anacostia Marina for years. The Park Police assisted
with the search warrant at the marina, where the Department of Defense
recovered equipment filling several flatbed trailers. During a
property inventory of the marina following its closure on September
30th, rangers and USPP officers found additional stolen DOD marine
engines and other high value equipment. The marina company and its
owner were convicted on multiple environmental crimes charges last
week. D.F. pled guilty to the conspiracy charge while his trial
was in progress and will be sentenced on January 5th. He faces up to
five years in prison. [Einar Olsen, RCR, NCRO; Washington Post, 10/27]
00-675 - Big Bend NP (TX) - Drug Arrests; Indictment
On October 17th, a federal grand jury indicted a man who had been
arrested on September 24th by ranger Jason Smith on a charge of felony
importation of controlled substances. He was caught with a quantity of
marijuana and five peyote cacti after entering the park from Mexico at
the Santa Elena crossing. Four days later, ranger Matt Stoffolano made
an undercover purchase of 682 grams of peyote cactus from two Mexican
nationals at the Boquillas crossing on the Rio Grande. On October
24th, a joint NPS/DEA task force returned to the crossing and
attempted to contact the original drug sellers. Stoffolano and a DEA
special agent were approached by two other Mexican nationals and
negotiated a deal for peyote and cocaine. The drugs were brought
across the river from Mexico. After an undercover arrest team was
maneuvered into position, the drug sellers were arrested and 965 grams
of peyote were seized. [Mark Spier, LES, BIBE, 10/26]
CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
No submissions.
INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES
Valley Forge NHP (PA) - Computerized Muster Roll
The NPS and Lockheed Martin Management and Data Systems unveiled the
new "Valley Forge Muster Roll" at a ceremony at the park's visitor
center on October 27th. The muster roll is a computerized listing of
the soldiers who served at Valley Forge during the winter of
1777-1778. People throughout the world will now be able to search an
interactive database to find out about the individual soldiers who
encamped at Valley Forge. Over the past 50 years, park staff and
volunteers reviewed microfilm records and poured over 18th century
military documents in an effort to tract approximately 30,000
soldiers. With paper records in hand, the park turned to a neighbor,
Lockheed Martin, for assistance. Although better known for its work
with the military branch of our government, the company was
enthusiastic about helping to honor the soldiers who won our country's
independence. Beginning in 1999, Lockheed Martin's NOVA (Network of
Volunteer Associates) volunteers began building a database to
categorize and store these records. They also acquired the volunteer
services of midi Interactive Multimedia, which created the website
that interfaces with the database. Visitors to the park are now able
to look up the names of these soldiers using two computer kiosks
donated by Lockheed Martin. The kiosks were unveiled at the ceremony
at the park visitor center. Others may access these records through
the park website, www.nps.gov/vafo. Select "In-depth," then "Muster
Roll" to find the name. [Dona McDermott, CI&CRM, VAFO]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
NPS Employee Phone Book - The Service is compiling a directory of all
NPS employees. A template has been put on the NPS web site that
contains all employees' names, duty stations, titles, and many - but
not all - phone numbers. You can go in and add or edit these numbers
at any time - for yourself, your work group, or your park or office.
The employee phone book is easy to find. From the main ParkNet entry
page (www.nps.gov), go to Infozone, then "Reference Desk," then
"People and Places Directory." The screen has park directory entries
on the left side (also editable) and people on the right side. Choose
"Employee Maintenance" at the bottom of the "People Search" section to
add, edit, or delete an employee. You can enter any phone number that
you like to use as your business number and there is room for adding
an extension. The more phone numbers the directory holds, the more
useful it will be for all of us. [Betsy Chittenden, WASO]
MEMORANDA
No submissions.
INTERCHANGE
No submissions.
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Apostle Islands NL (WI) - Transportation and boat safety officer Dick
Carrier is retiring on November 1st with nearly 24 years of NPS
service. After more than 20 years with the Coast Guard, Dick worked
for a year with the Madeline Island Ferry Line, then two years as an
excursion boat operator for Apostle Islands Cruise Service. He
started working as a boat operator with the NPS in 1977. During his
years with the Service, he received the regional safety award (1992)
and was also presented with a certificate of merit from the Coast
Guard for assisting with 45 of their 174 search and rescue cases
during the 1993/94 season. Dick served as the park's boat operator
instructor and was often recognized for his safe boat operation.
Apostle Islands will be losing a tremendous resource. There will be a
retirement party in Bayfield on November 9th. If you have any photos,
notes or letters you'd like to contribute to Dick's scrapbook, please
send them to Nancy Pearson at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore,
Route 1, Box 4, Bayfield, WI 54814. For more information about the
retirement party, call Nancy at 715-779-3398 ext 402.
* * * * *
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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