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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT
To: All National Park Service Areas and Offices From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office Day/Date: Thursday, December 20, 2001 *** NOTICE *** As you know, the Department of Interior's Internet connections have been shut down since early December. The action stemmed from a court case concerning access to Indian trust data. Efforts to resolve this problem entail meeting court requests for certifications regarding every individual system within DOI agencies that might access such information. The NPS alone has compiled over 1600 certifications over the past week. These are being presented to the Department this week. There's still no definitive word on when service might be restored, however. Meanwhile, Dominic Nessi, chief information officer for the NPS, extends his thanks "for the terrific job done by NPS staff throughout the country who responded so rapidly to the certification requirements. It was amazing how quick and responsive everyone was." INCIDENTS 01-642 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Accidental Shooting A nine-year-old boy shot himself while on a legal muzzleloader hunting trip in the Quinnimont area of the park on the afternoon of Saturday, December 15th. The boy and his father were near the top of Backus Mountain at the time - a distance of about two-and-a-half miles from their vehicle. They were walking down the steep terrain when the boy, who was carrying his short- barreled, youth model .50 caliber muzzleloader, slipped and the rifle fell under his leg. The hammer of the gun was evidently in the half-cock/safe mode and discharged when it hit the ground. The bullet struck the boy in his left knee, destroying it, then passed through into his right calf. The bullet did massive damage to both legs and caused severe bleeding. The boy's father used surveying ribbon he had with him to make a constricting bandage on both legs, then carried his son to their vehicle and drove to a hospital in Beckley. The boy was stabilized and transported to a major trauma center in Charleston. He initially had no circulation in his lower legs, but it was restored after surgery. Although he has several operations and a long recovery period before him, doctors believe that we will fully recover and regain the use of both legs. The father's quick thinking in placing a constricting bandage around his son's legs saved his life. Rangers are working with the county sheriff's department and the state DNR on the investigation. [Rick Brown, ACR, NERI, 12/17] 01-643 - Richmond NBP (VA) - Suicide While on routine patrol of the park on December 17th, ranger Barry Krieg came upon an unoccupied vehicle at the Confederate turnout in the Cold Harbor unit. Since it was after hours, Krieg checked the area, but found nobody around. A telephone call to the home of the vehicle's registered owner led to the discovery that the owner's husband was overdue, that he suffered from depression, and that he might have a handgun in his possession. Hanover County SD deputies were summoned and soon found the body of the 46-year-old male with the aid of search dogs. He had a single gunshot wound to his head. The body was found about 250 feet from the parking area. The sheriff's department is conducting the follow-up investigation with assistance from the park. The cause of death has been ruled a suicide. The deceased was the well-known minister of a local Baptist church in the Mechanicsville area. [Tim Mauch, SPR, 12/18] [Additional reports pendingÉ] OPERATIONAL NOTES American Flag Pins - Sharp-eyed employees have noted that many of the American flag pins made by Blackinton for wear on the NPS uniform and civilian clothes have only 11 stripes instead of the requisite 13. The manufacturer has been apprised of this and reports that the wrong die was used on many of the orders. These will be corrected immediately. Blackinton will be sending out new pins at no charge to all NPS areas and offices that have ordered them. You should receive the new pins within about two weeks. [Randy Coffman, RAD/WASO] PARKS AND PEOPLE Assateague Island NS (MD/VA) - Facility manager LeRoy Ross will retire from the National Park Service on January 3rd after 37 years of service. Roy began his career in 1965 in National Capital Region; he transferred to Everglades in 1970, then moved to Assateague in 1974 and spent the rest of his career there. A party will be held in Berlin, Maryland, on Saturday, January 19th to celebrate his retirement. If you'd like details or want to attend, please contact Tina Hartz at tina_hartz@nps.gov or 410-641-1443 ext. 239. RSVPs to attend need to be made by January 9th. If you have good, bad, or ugly stories to share and you cannot attend, please send them to Tina. [Tina Hartz, ASIS] UPCOMING IN CONGRESS The following activities will be taking place in Congress during coming weeks on matters pertaining to the National Park Service or kindred agencies. For inquiries regarding legislation pertaining to the NPS, please contact the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at 202-208-5883/5656 and ask to be forwarded to the appropriate legislative specialist. For additional information on specific bills (full text, status, etc.), please check Congress's web site at http://thomas.loc.gov/. HEARINGS/MARK-UPS No hearings or mark-ups scheduled. LEGISLATION INTRODUCED The following bills either directly or indirectly pertaining to the NPS have been introduced since the last Morning Report listing of new legislation (December 12th): H.R. 3442 (Lewis, GA), a bill to develop a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance
of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., and for
other purposes. NEW LAWS The following bills have passed Congress and been signed into law by the President: No new laws. * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |