NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, March 6, 2001

INCIDENTS

00-711 - Point Reyes NS (CA) - Follow-up: Serious Employee Injury

On the afternoon of November 3, 2000, park trail crew employee S.M. 
was off-duty and on his way home from the post office on his 
motorcycle when he was struck by a drunk driver who crossed the center 
line of a park road. S.M. sustained serious foot and leg injuries 
and was evacuated by helicopter. He has since undergone several 
operations and is on his way to recovery. He has also returned to work 
on light-duty status. The driver of the vehicle, a woman from the 
local community who failed to stop at the scene, was apprehended 
several miles away by California Highway Patrol officers, county 
deputies and rangers. She was charged in state court with felony DUI, 
vehicular assault and hit and run, and pled guilty to charges of DUI 
causing bodily injury. Other charges were dismissed. She received a 
90-day suspended sentence and a fine, was placed on probation for five 
years, and was ordered to pay restitution. [Karyl Yeston, DR, PORE, 
2/25]

01-001 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Follow-up: Assault on Ranger

On February 1st, K.W., 25, was captured by Tucson PD officers 
after 30 days on the run, eluding Fugitive Investigative Strike Team 
(FIST) officers led by federal marshals. A federal arrest warrant was 
issued on K.W. after a January 1st incident in which ranger Bo 
Stone attempted to arrest him for being in possession of a stolen 
vehicle. Although Stone tackled him and took him to the ground three 
times, K.W. resisted and was able to flee. A major air and ground 
search followed, but without results. K.W. is being held in county 
jail on multiple state felony counts, including possession of a stolen 
vehicle, possession of drugs, aggravated assault, and failure to 
appear on charges on other active cases. On February 14th, a federal 
grand jury indicted K.W. for assault on a federal officer. A 
detainer has been placed on K.W. for this charge. [Robert Stinson, 
DR, SAGU, 2/26]

01-076 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Concession Fatality

On the morning of March 5th, park dispatch received a call reporting a 
possible fatality in Coconino Apartments, an AMFAC housing unit. 
Responding rangers found the body of B.S., 62, in her 
apartment. She had evidently been dead for more than a day. Her body 
was found by friends who became concerned after not seeing or talking 
with her for several days. B.S. was a secretary for the Fred Harvey 
Company's transportation department. The investigation into the cause 
of death is continuing. [Patrick Hattaway, DR, South Rim District, 
GRCA, 3/6]

01-077 - Arches NP (UT) - Suicide

A ranger checking backcountry road conditions on February 21st came 
upon a vehicle parked 30 feet off Salt Valley Road. He saw that the 
engine was running and that dryer vent tubing ran from the exhaust 
pipe to a partially-closed window. The remaining windows were closed. 
The driver - a 40-year-old Denver man - was dead. The death has been 
ruled a suicide. Rangers and county authorities investigated. [Jim 
Webster, CR, ARCH, 2/26]

                  [Additional reports pending....]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Plan

No new information. Please check the NPS Fire Management Program 
Center web page (www.fire.nps.gov) for further information on fire 
plan projects.

Park Fires

No fires reported.

CULTURAL/NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Farewell from Departing Chief Ranger Chris Andress - Chris Andress, 
chief ranger for the National Park Service, departed WASO on February 
26th to assume the superintendency of Ozark NSR in Missouri. He asked 
that the following be shared with Morning Report readers:

"As I near the end of packing and cleaning at home and here at the 
office, I thought I had better drop you all a note of 'so long.' 
Leaving Ranger Activities is a difficult process, both emotionally and 
physically.  Believe it or not, especially those of you who 
occasionally called to comfort me and ask how I stood it back here, I 
think being chief of Ranger Activities is one of the best jobs in the 
National Park Service.  It is rewarding, educational, and fulfilling, 
while at the same time exasperating and mind-boggling.  That being 
said, Paula and I thoroughly enjoyed living and working in the this 
beautiful and lively city.

"Where else does a ranger get to work with the NPS, other bureaus, 
DOI, and other cabinet agencies, the congress, congressional staffers, 
outside interest groups, all levels of state and local government and 
a RAD staff that is dedicated, talented, extremely hard-working and 
extraordinarily competent?  

"These past six years have been challenging and fast paced. We have 
made progress in some notable areas, and not much headway in others. I 
sincerely thank those of you in the field that have worked long and 
hard to support RAD and level with us when you disagreed with our 
direction.  You have been invaluable and are a part of any 
accomplishments we have made.

"Working in the Washington office is like getting an advanced degree 
in 'Park Service and Government.'  The education cannot be had 
elsewhere, and I encourage you to strongly consider serving in central 
offices.

"Associate director Dick Ring has named Dennis Burnett as acting chief 
of Ranger Activities.  Please afford Dennis the support you have given 
me.

"It has been a pleasure and an honor working with and for you."

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

INTERCHANGE

No submissions.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Fort McHenry NM&HS (MD) - The park is recruiting for a permanent 
GS-11/12 chief ranger. The vacancy announcement is GETT-01-03 and it's 
open until March 19th. The position is covered by 6c. The chief ranger 
oversees visitor protection, visitor services/interpretation, 
volunteers (including the park's living history unit), and safety. 
There are numerous special events during the year. Fort McHenry is 
also the designated landing site for presidential and 
vice-presidential visits to the Baltimore area, so the chief ranger is 
regularly involved in high-level coordination with the Secret Service 
and local elected representatives. On-site housing is available; 
occupancy is required. Questions may be directed to superintendent 
Laura Joss at 410-962-4290 ext 223. [Laura Joss, FOMC]

                            *  *  *  *  *

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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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