NPS Morning Report - Thursday, November 8, 2001



                        NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, November 8, 2001

INCIDENTS

00-737 - Cuyahoga Valley NP (OH) - Follow-up: Rape Arrest

On November 6th, C.J.S. was sentenced to 13 months in jail in 
federal court. The sentencing stems from his guilty plea in August to 
a felony charge of abusive sexual contact (18 USC 2441(a)(1)) for the 
September 16, 2000 rape of an 18-year-old female at the Pine Lane 
trailhead in Cuyahoga Valley NP. Ranger Matt Bland was the lead 
investigator in a joint investigation with the FBI. [Mosie Welch, DR, 
North District, CUVA, 11/6]

01-593 - MWRO Field Office (MI) - Attempted Fire Bombing

The USFS Forest Engineering Laboratory and the School of Forestry and 
Wood Products buildings, both on the campus of Michigan Technological 
University in Houghton, Michigan, were the targets of an attempted 
fire bombing during the early morning hours of Monday, November 5th. 
The Forest Service building houses the offices of Midwest Region ARD 
Bill Fink and four Isle Royale NP visitor protection and natural 
resources management employees. The devices were found by Michigan 
Tech public safety officers during a regular security check. No 
employees were in the building at the time. A 2,000-foot safety zone 
was established and several nearby residences were evacuated. The 
devices were disarmed by a remote-controlled robot operated by the 
Michigan State Police bomb squad. The device at the USFS building was 
immediately adjacent to the window of Fink's office and within about 
six feet of his computer station. The attempted bombing is thought to 
be related to domestic terrorists who target the kind of forest 
genetic research being undertaken by the USFS and Michigan Tech. CISD 
debriefings are being offered to NPS staff. The FBI and ATF are 
working with local authorities in the investigation. [Bruce 
Cunningham, MWRO, 11/7]

01-594 - Roosevelt/Vanderbilt NHS (NY) - Larceny

An 18th century flintlock pistol was discovered missing from the wall 
of a room in the Vanderbilt Mansion on October 26th. Someone 
apparently levered the butt of the pistol against the wall and snapped 
the three retaining wires at some point during a tour. The park is 
investigating with assistance from local police and the FBI. Museum 
records contain very little information about the pistol; any 
assistance in identifying the time period it was made or the maker 
would be appreciated. The pistol is approximately 15 inches long and 
has an intricate filigree, including a lion's head on the butt, a 
standing man on top of the barrel, and the letters "CMOIMC" on the 
base of the trigger guard. Pictures of an identical matching pistol 
that the park still has are available from the chief ranger. If you 
can help, email a response or call the ranger station at 845-229-6214. 
[Bruce Edmonston, CR, ROVA, 11/7]

01-595 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Rescue

On October 19th, park staff were notified of a serious fall that had 
occurred in the inner canyon. A 50-year-old man, the leader of a 
private kayak trip on the river, had fallen 60 feet while hiking solo 
in a small, unnamed side canyon off the Colorado River near Last 
Chance Camp, about two miles upstream from Havasu Creek. Another 
kayaker searched for him when he failed to return to the beach and 
found him after three hours of looking. It's estimated that the victim 
was unconscious for at least five hours before the initial call for 
help was made via satellite phone. The man who found him was a retired 
veterinarian and was able to both start an IV and give an excellent 
patient report to responding rangers. The park helicopter flew to the 
location; on board were pilot Eddie Thoroughgood, paramedic Phil 
Mennenoh, IEMT ranger Kent Mecham, river ranger Brenton White and 
helicopter manager John Scoia. The patient was treated at the scene 
for head and spinal injuries, transported over rugged terrain, and 
flown to the Flagstaff Medical Center. White remained behind to 
investigate and to help the reporting party get both boats down river 
in order to rejoin the other members of the river trip. Doctors 
subsequently determined that the man had broken his skull into 18 
pieces and fractured his C1, C2 and C3 vertebrae. He remains in the 
ICU three weeks later. [Jennifer Flynn, IC, GRCA, 11/7]

HOMELAND SECURITY

No reports today.

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation - Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack was heavy in the South on Tuesday and light elsewhere.  
Very high to extreme fire indices were reported in California, 
Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

Stam's Type 1 team is demobilizing today from operations in New York 
City.

Park Fire Situation

No new reports.

Fire Management Notes

No reports.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report, 11/7]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Veterans Day Weekend for Unity, Hope, and Healing - REMINDER: The 
special Veterans Day event is almost upon us. The director has asked 
that all areas promote and publicize this weekend so that Americans 
will visit their national parks and learn more about the people and 
events that shaped our nation. Concessioners, cooperating 
associations, friends groups, and many federal and state agencies will 
also be participating. The NPS web sites (www.nps.gov/unity on the 
internet, www.nps.gov/unityweekend on the intranet) provide further 
information and materials. If you haven't had a chance to check them 
out, please do so now. Please download and utilize all of the 
informational materials/tools from the intranet site and put them to 
good use. If you run across any problems, refer to the help desk web 
page. Copies of the director's video regarding the weekend were mailed 
out to each park via Federal Express on October 30th. [Carol Anthony, 
Office of Communications, WASO]

New Policy Internet Site - The Office of Policy has a new internet 
site up and running which contains a wealth of policy-related 
information. The site can be accessed by employees and the public at 
www.nps.gov/policy. The site contains information about how policy is 
developed and provides access to NPS management policies, director's 
orders, and related supporting documents, statutes, regulations, and 
executive orders. It also has links to the National Leadership 
Council's "NLC Journals" and information about NPS advisory committees 
and commissions. A quick index provides ready access to information on 
more than 150 policy topics. Those who cannot find what they need may 
submit questions or suggestions to the policy office through the site. 
[Chick Fagan, Office of Policy, WASO]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Boston NHP (MA) - The park has several openings for long-term seasonal 
law enforcement rangers at the GS-7 level. Candidates must possess a 
valid seasonal (type II) law enforcement commission. Government 
housing may be available. If you're interested, please call Phyllis 
Coppola at 617-242-5618 or contact her via cc:Mail (Phyllis Coppola at 
NP-BOST) or the internet (Phyllis_Coppola@nps.gov).  [John Lynch, 
BOST]

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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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