INCIDENTS

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Ford's Theatre National Historic Site (DC)
Death of Park Historian

Michael Maione, historian at Ford's Theatre NHS, passed away on Friday, February 21st. Michael came to Ford's Theatre in the fall of 1990 as a park ranger and later became the site historian. During his years at Ford's, he presented numerous interpretive programs and shared his enormous wealth of knowledge on President Lincoln's life as he interacted with many visitors. He was a tremendous asset to both Ford's Theatre NHS and the Ford's Theatre Society. Michael was very proud to be a native of New York City. He was a high school instructor at Carmel High School between the years of 1968 and 1971. He held a bachelor's degree in American history and had traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. He was an avid photographer and worked for many years as the staff photographer for the Putman County Courier; he also served as news director for WPUT-AM and WRVH-FM in Patterson, New York. Michael was instrumental in supporting numerous historical societies that dealt with President Lincoln's life. The Lincoln Group and the Bicentennial Commission on the President were two such groups. He enjoyed helping researchers in their scholarly pursuits on the president and reviewed numerous books and articles for historical accuracy. Mike will be missed but his dedication to President Lincoln will long be remembered. There will be a memorial service for him at the theatre on Thursday, March 6th, at 1 p.m.
[Submitted by Donna Birchard]

Biscayne National Park (FL)
Cuban Immigrants Come Ashore In Park

On the morning of March 4th, a visitor reported the Cuban migrants were stranded on Caesar's Rock, about ten miles east of Homestead Bayfront County Park on the southern end of Biscayne NP. The eleven men, eight women, male child and their dog had left from Cuba two days before on a stolen 25-foot boat that ran out of gas on Tuesday morning. Rangers were the first notified and first on scene and transported the immigrants to Adams Key, where they were treated for dehydration and hunger. The Coast Guard dispatched a 41-foot boat from Miami to take them to park headquarters at Convoy Point, where they were turned over to the Border Patrol. The Miami Dade Marine Patrol also assisted.
[Submitted by Susan Gonshor]

Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Mutiple Drug and Parole Violation Arrests

On February 23rd, West Yellowstone PD received information that A.P.G., Jr., wanted on a parole violation from Idaho, was staying in a local motel. Information from authorities in Idaho indicated that A.P.G. was violent, had an extensive criminal record, and could be in possession of a weapon. He was also reported to be involved in drugs. Because of this, West Yellowstone police asked for assistance from the park, the Gallatin County special response team, Gallatin County SO, and the Department of Livestock. A.P.G., another adult and a female juvenile were arrested. The juvenile was released to her mother and the two adults were held without bond for parole violations. The man with A.P.G. had methamphetamine in his possession at the time of the arrest and may be charged with felony possession of dangerous drugs. Shortly after these arrests, officers saw a person coming out of the motel room that the trio had allegedly been occupying. He was detained. Two others jumped out of a window from the second story room and were apprehended within 30 minutes, one by ranger David Barland-Liles. All three were later released pending investigation. Criminal charges will likely be filed against all of them. In an unrelated case earlier that day, Barland-Liles and a West Yellowstone PD officer were making an unsuccessful attempt to serve an arrest warrant when they came upon two men smoking marijuana. Arrested were D.L., 43, and G.T., 26, both of West Yellowstone. Both were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia; Larson will also be extradited to Wisconsin to face felony drug possession charges there.
[Submitted by Mona Divine, Deputy Chief Ranger]

Lake Meredith National Recreation Area (TX)
Methamphetamine Lab Arrests

Ranger Pam Griswold came upon a suspicious vehicle in the Chimney Hollow campground on the afternoon of February 16th; when she contacted the occupants, a man and woman, she smelled a strong odor of ether and found evidence that they were involved in the manufacture of methamphetamine. The two were arrested without incident. The regional drug task force processed the scene for evidence and a disposal contractor was brought in from Oklahoma City. Initial interviews revealed that the pair were acquainted with three other known drug manufacturers who've recently been arrested by the task force, and that they were known to local officers as drug users. The pair said that they'd previously manufactured drugs no park lands and on nearby private properties. They will be arraigned in state court for possession of ingredients for manufacturing methamphetamine and for possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
[Submitted by Bill Briggs, Chief Ranger]

Padre Island National Seashore (TX)
Drug Smuggling and Seizure

On February 14th, rangers received a report of an abandoned vessel near Mansfield Channel at the south end of the park. The responding ranger found a 20-foot pleasure boat aground on the beach. The floor deck of the boat, which was registered to a person in Houston, had been partially torn up to provide access to the inner hull. A bale of marijuana was found deeply wedged within the hull, and another four smaller "bricks" were located on the beach near the boat. Evidence indicates that much of the hull had been packed with marijuana bales. The marijuana left behind totaled 94 pounds. Rangers found two undocumented aliens walking north along the beach, but have not yet determined if they were associated with the boat. A follow-up investigation is underway.
[Submitted by Randy Larson, Chief Ranger]

Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Drug Arrests

On March 2nd and 3rd, a multi-agency drug interdiction operation resulted in the seizure of 1,167 pounds of processed marijuana. The marijuana was transported across the lake on March 2nd and stashed at a ranch just outside of the park's boundaries. Early the next morning, the smugglers entered the ranch and loaded the marijuana in the bed and cab of a 2001 Ford four-door pickup. The truck then headed west on Highway 90, where it was stopped by Border Patrol agents. Two men were arrested, both of them U.S. citizens. The truck and two cellular phones were also seized.
[Submitted by Scott Suchocki]

New River Gorge National River (WV)
Drug Arrest

This past January, the Trident drug task force began working a case involving several people selling cocaine, controlled drugs and marijuana in Minden, a small town within and adjacent to the park. Throughout January and February, the task force employed undercover officers and informants to make several drug buys in the area. Evidence obtained from those buys indicated that B.G., a local resident, was one of the main dealers and suppliers of cocaine. On February 26th, B.G. was arrested without incident and a search warrant was obtained for his residence. The park's drug dog, on contract from the Fayette County SO, was brought in to assist with the search. The dog alerted several times, leading officers to a half kilo of cocaine, 113 grams of marijuana, large numbers of controlled drugs, almost $32,000 in cash, and a loaded .38 caliber revolver. B.G. is a twice-convicted felon and has now been charged federally for drug possession and distribution and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Also seized were B.G.'s 1993 pickup truck and two Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Chris Schrader, the park's special agent, was instrumental in the investigation and in the service of the warrants.
[Submitted by Gary Hartley, Chief Ranger]

FIRE MANAGEMENT

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Fire and Aviation Management
NIFC Situation Report - March 5, 2003

FIRE MANAGEMENT

Preparedness Level 2

Initial attack remains light nationally. Only 10 new fires were reported yesterday.

National Situation

NIFC has committed three Type 1 teams and two Type 2 teams to the search for the and collection of shuttle materials in Texas. Forty-eight agencies are now cooperating in the effort.

A Type 1 team has been committed along with state and federal personnel to the Newcastle Incident - an outbreak of exotic Newcastle disease in Arizona, California, Maryland and Nevada. They are supporting the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

National Resource Commitments

Day	3/3	3/4
Crews	160	169
Engines	2	6
Helicopters	36	36
Air Tankers	0	0
Overhead	2,601	2,697

National Team Commitments

State	Type Team	Team IC	Incident & Location	Acres	Percent Contain	Est Full Contain
TX	T1	Lohrey	Columbia Response, TX	N/A	N/A	N/A
TX	T1	Martin	"	"	"	"
TX	T1	McCombs	"	"	"	"
TX	T2	Custer	"	"	"	"
TX	T2	Hildreth	"	"	"	"
NV	T1	Corley	Newcastle Incident, NV	"	"	"

PARKS AND PEOPLE

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Joshua Tree National Park (CA)
GS-025-11 District Ranger

Dates: 03/06/2003 - 03/14/2003

The park is recruiting for a GS-11 district ranger for the Lost Horse District. Duties also include parkwide coordination of SAR, EMS and aviation, supervision of six protection (LE) rangers and one seasonal biological science technician, coordination of the park climbing program and liaison with the climbing committee. The position is listed on USA Jobs and closes on March 14th. For more information, contact chief ranger Judy Bartzatt at 760-367-5540.
[Submitted by Judy Bartzatt, judy_bartzatt@nps.gov, 760-367-5540]

Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.

Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.