NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Monday, February 12, 2001

INCIDENTS

01-046 - Big Thicket NP (TX) - Drug Seizure; Arrests

Ranger Johnny Stafford was on patrol in the park's Menard Creek Unit 
on January 30th when he spotted smoke and came upon a Chevy pickup at 
the end of a dead-end, single-lane road. There were two men near the 
truck, one of whom was kicking out a ground fire. Stafford asked the 
men - identified as S.D. and H.G. - if they had any 
weapons with them. H.G. said that there was a loaded rifle in the 
pickup and consented to a search of the vehicle. Stafford found a 
loaded Winchester lever-action rifle and a substance that appeared to 
be methamphetamine. H.G. said that the substance was "crank" and that 
it was his. The two men were placed under arrest. Stafford had reason 
to believe that there was a third man in the area, so he called for 
assistance. Rangers Jeff Hancock and Luke Johnson, local deputies and 
a state DPS narcotics officer joined him at the scene. An extensive 
search of the truck led to the discovery of numerous items utilized in 
the process of manufacturing methamphetamine, including a five-gallon 
metal butane tank containing anhydrous ammonia, foil wrapping from 
lithium batteries, and a two-quart container of ephedrine residue. 
Seized were two pounds of unprocessed chemicals and about four grams 
of "crank" with an estimated street value of about $6,000. S.D. and 
H.G. have been charged with conspiracy to manufacture a controlled 
substance (21 USC 846). Additional charges are pending. [Chuck 
Boettcher, Acting CR, BITH, 2/1]

01-047 - Pictured Rocks NL (MI) - Special Event

On February 3rd and 4th, the park hosted the eleventh annual Michigan 
Ice Festival. Participants in the ice climbing festival, run under the 
terms of a special use permit, climbed ice formations along the 
escarpment in the Sand Point area of the park. The park's ice 
formations are rated as some of the best in the Midwest. Over 370 ice 
climbers from ten states attended the two-day event. Several 
well-known ice climbers - both nationally and internationally - were 
on hand, giving lessons and demonstrations during the day and slide 
presentations in the evenings. Two minor first aid incidents occurred 
during the event. There were no law enforcement incidents. [Larry 
Hach, CR, PIRO, 2/7]

                  [Additional reports pending...]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

On January 31st, the House passed H.R. 93, the Federal Firefighters 
Retirement Age Fairness Act by a 401 to 0 vote. It now goes to the 
Senate. The bill, introduced by Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-CA), 
would raise the retirement age for federal firefighters from 55 to 57, 
bringing it in line with the retirement regulations for federal law 
enforcement officers.  It was the first bill passed by the House in 
the 107th Congress.

[Debee Schwarz, NPS Fire Information, WASO]

Park Fires

No fires reported.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Elk Restoration

On February 2nd, park wildlife biologists brought 25 elk to the park 
as the first step in a five-year experiment to determine the 
feasibility of a later permanent release. Elk were reportedly common 
in the Smokies when the first settlers arrived, but were extirpated 
between 1830 and 1850 through over-harvesting, logging and other 
development. The elk, which were transferred to the park from a Forest 
Service area in Kentucky, were released into a three-acre acclimation 
pen in Cataloochee Valley prior to a "soft release" in mid-April. Over 
the next two years, about 25 more elk will be released annually. All 
animals will be radio-collared and tracked by University of Tennessee 
graduate students under the direction of USGS Biological Resource 
Division staff. The project is expected to cost $1.1 million over five 
years, none of which will come from the federal government. The park 
is working with three partners - the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, 
the Friends of the Smokies, and the Great Smoky Mountains Natural 
History Association - to raise the needed funding. The foundation 
already has about $500,000 in hand. [Bob Miller, PAO, GRSM]

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Submissions pending.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Submissions pending.

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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