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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office Day/Date: Friday, January 4, 2002 INCIDENTS 01-654 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Suicide On the morning of December 25th, visitors found the body of a 55-year-old man from Superior, Colorado, in a willow copse south of Lily Lake. The lake is a popular day-use area along the Highway 7 corridor. The death has been classified as a suicide, pending further investigation by park staff and the county sheriff's office. [Joe Evans, CR, ROMO, 1/3] 02-001 - Rocky Mountain NP (CO) - Arson Two buildings at the Bear Lake parking lot - a small information kiosk and an eight-vault visitor restroom built in 1992 - were forcibly entered during the early morning hours of January 1st. Fires were ignited, and the two buildings, which were about 100 feet apart, burned to the ground. The total estimated replacement cost comes to $600,000, which includes cleanup, rental of temporary facilities, some redesign work, and replacement of emergency equipment. The Bear Lake parking area is one of the more popular trailheads in the park and is visited by close to a million visitors a year. At this time, the crime does not appear to be linked to any domestic or eco-terrorism group. The investigation is being managed in cooperation with the FBI. [Joe Evans, CR, ROMO, 1/3] 02-002 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - Possible Arson The historic Dorothy Hill House barn burned to the ground during the early hours of January 3rd. The barn was located behind the Hill House, just off Old Mine Road in the park's New Jersey District. Arson is suspected. Rangers and the local fire marshal's office are investigating. [Bill Halainen, DEWA, 1/3] INTERPRETATION AND VISITOR SERVICES San Antonio Missions NHP (TX) - Folk Play The Mexican folk play, "Los Pastores", was presented for 300 people at Mission San Jose on the evening of December 29th. This pageant depicts the pastores' (shepherds) journey to worship Christ at his birth and the obstacles the devil puts before them in their quest. The park interprets the cultural and religious aspects of the Spanish and native people who founded the missions. The play originated in the 16th Century, when Spanish Franciscans introduced the nativity play to Mesoamerica. The natives, who celebrated their own religious mysteries with drama and song, embraced the "pastorela" as their own. When the Franciscans expanded their territory northward into what is now Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona, the drama became the people's idea about the first Christmas. The presentation of the play at Mission San Jose has been a San Antonio tradition since 1947. The NPS partners with the San Antonio Conservation Society and the Guadalupe Players to present this annual event. [Elizabeth Dupree, CI, SAAN] PARKS AND PEOPLE Olympic NP (WA) - Roger Rudolph has retired following a 34-year career in the NPS and eleven years at Olympic as assistant superintendent. Roger was known throughout the Service and the local community for his ability to listen, his good humor, and his commitment to visitor service. Prior to becoming assistant superintendent at Olympic, he served as chief ranger at Yosemite NP, Zion NP and Crater Lake NP. Other assignments took him to Alaska, Maine and the Grand Canyon. He was also a founding member of the Association of National Park Rangers, which recently celebrated its 25th year of service on behalf of park rangers. [Barb Maynes, PIO, OLYM] * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |