NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, March 26, 2002



                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, March 26, 2002

INCIDENTS

00-620 - Badlands NP (SD) - Follow-up: Fossil Theft

While off duty on September 24, 2000, ranger Mark Gorman saw a woman
digging in a known fossil area near Sheep Mountain. Gorman contacted her,
found that she was part of a group collecting fossils in the area, and
determined that group members were aware that they were within the park and
that their activities were illegal. During the ensuing investigation,
rangers found that the members of the group - A.K., N.S.,
M.V.A., and A.B. - had more than 1,700
fossil specimens in their possession, all of them collected from various
locations within the park over the previous several days. They were
released pending further investigation and contact with the United States
Attorney's Office. Following a grand jury indictment last year, the four
were arrested by U.S. marshals in Wisconsin and brought to trial in Rapid
City. All were convicted of theft of government property and aiding and
abetting. At a sentencing hearing last week, they were fined a total of
about $2,250. A.K., a geology student from Wisconsin, was fined $1,000.
Park paleontologist Dr. Rachel Benton was asked to testify during the
sentencing hearing by the U.S. Attorneys Office.  During that hearing, the
federal magistrate asked A.K. if he understood how serious this
violation was. A.K. replied that he did, and announced to the court
that he was changing his major from geology to psychology. [Mark Gorman,
DR, BADL, 3/24]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Fort McHenry NM&HS (MD) - The park is seeking to fill a GS-025-7 protection
ranger position. This is a term position for six to nine months or longer,
backfilling behind a ranger on military duty. The person in the position
will serve as the park's primary law enforcement field ranger, working in
an urban park environment. He/she may serve as event permit coordinator,
EMS lead, safety lead, and fire protection coordinator. The park places an
emphasis on interagency coordination because of the dozens of living
history, athletic and patriotic events and dignitary visits that occur each
year. This job provides a great opportunity to improve your management
skills and work closely with park partners. Baltimore is a wonderful city
filled with history and cultural attractions and is within an hour of other
national park sites, including Gettysburg NMP and the National Mall sites
and museums in Washington, D.C. There's no government housing; rental rates
are in the $400 to $600 range. This position may be filled through
emergency hiring authority. Applicants should contact chief ranger Charlie
Strickfaden (410-962-4290 extension 224) for more information about the
position and area, or fax materials to the park (410-962-2500).  [Charles
Strickfaden, FOMC]

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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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