NPS Morning Report - Tuesday, April 23, 2002


                           NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT


To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, April 23, 2002

INCIDENTS

99-57/99-401 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Follow-up on Homicides

On April 15th, a California superior court judge ruled that C.S.'s
alleged confession to the murders of C. and J.S. and S.P.
can be admitted at his murder trial, which is to take place later
this year. C.S. is already serving life in federal prison for the murder
of J.A. in Yosemite in July, 1999. For further details, see the
newspaper story at
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20020415/ts_nm/crime_yosemite_dc_1
. [Reuters, via Yahoo! News)

02-117 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Follow-up on Wind Storm, Rescue

The windstorm that struck the park and surrounding area on April 15th
continued for two more days, with winds of 30 to 35 mph pushing up
four-foot waves on the lake. On the morning of April 17th, rangers
responded to a report of two overturned Hobie Cats near Sentinel Island in
Boulder Basin. The person making the report, who had barely made it to
shore, told rangers that he and two friends were racing when they saw their
friends' vessel flip. Rangers and aides-to-navigation personnel responded
in two boats, the "Major Powell," a 31-foot Bertram, and the "Lieutenant
Ives," a 47-foot retired Coast Guard buoy tender. One person was found in
open water near Black Island and taken to shore; the second person was
found near the Hobie Cat, which had notable damage to its mast. Both were
wearing wet suits and life jackets. [Billy Shott, LAME, 4/22]

02-222 - Biscayne NP (FL) - Serious Injuries to Employee and Spouse

Park cultural resource specialist J.A. and his wife P.A. were on the
Amtrak train that derailed in Florida, causing several fatalities and many
injuries. They were on their way to P.A.'s father's funeral. J.A. suffered
lacerations to his head; P.A. had a fractured vertebra, but was subsequently
found to also be bleeding internally. J.A.'s injuries have been treated and
he has been released from the hospital, but P.A. remains in intensive care.
Additional details will be provided when they become available. [Monika
Mayr, Linda Canzanelli, BISC, 4/22]

02-223 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Drowning

On the afternoon of Saturday, April 13th, F.C. became the
first drowning victim and the fourth fatality of the year at Lake Mead when
he was ejected from his 27-foot vessel after hitting a wake while traveling
at a high rate of speed. Witnesses estimated F.C.'s speed at 50 to 60
mph. F.C. was last seen cartwheeling out of his boat within Calville
Bay. Both the National Park Service and Nevada Division of Wildlife began
an immediate search of the area. F.C.'s boat was recovered and was
found to have notable damage on the driver's side. There was no sign of
F.C. Search efforts are underway and will include shoreline,
surface, and underwater side scan sonar searches. [Billy Shott, LAME, 4/22]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

National Fire Situation

Daily preparation and dissemination of the national fire report has been
temporarily suspended due to lack of activity.

Park Fire Situation

No reports.

Park Fire Danger

Extreme - N/A
Very High - N/A
High - Hawaii Volcanoes NP

[NPS Situation Summary Report, 4/22]

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Ozark NSR (MO) - The park is seeking applicants for a GS-0401-12/13 chief
of resource management and education. The park is reorganizing and
rebuilding back to a standard divisional format from the unit manager
concept, and the person in the position will direct the resource management
and interpretive functions in a growing and developing park. Opportunities
exist to make significant contributions in both of these program areas. The
park consists of 134 miles of the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers, with
diverse public use. The park is dealing with a number of significant
resource impacts and seeks applicants with leadership skills, community and
interagency relations and program management experience, and solid
foundations in both resource management and interpretation. Southeast
Missouri is considered a low cost of living area. Dual career opportunities
may exist, as the park will be advertising a number of vacancies. The
position is currently advertised on USAJobs and closes May 10th. Questions
can be directed to acting superintendent Chris Ward at 573-323-4236. [Larry
Johnson, OZAR]

                               *  *  *  *  *

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation
and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

                                --- ### ---