Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (PA)
Assist on Homicide
On March 28th, the Pennsylvania State Police asked for assistance
from the park in responding to a shooting that had taken place in a
planned community adjacent to park lands. They advised that one person
had been shot in the chest, and that the shooter was still on scene.
Rangers Don Philpot and Michael Croll were the first law enforcement
units on scene. They took the admitted shooter into custody at gunpoint
without incident. They also took into custody the victim's wife, who was
discovered kneeling over him in the driveway of the residence. The
rangers then cleared the residence and secured several key pieces of
evidence. Once all was secure, a local paramedic squad was allowed to
enter the scene. Paramedics confirmed that the victim had succumbed to
his wounds. State troopers arrived on scene shortly thereafter and were
briefed by Philpot and Croll. Custody of the shooter and the victim's
wife was transferred to the them. The investigation is currently
ongoing, with further details to be released at a later date.
[Submitted by Phil Selleck, Chief Ranger]
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (HI)
Helicopter Accident in Honokohau Bay
A helicopter from Mauna Loa Helicopters with a student and flight
instructor aboard auto-rotated into the shallow water off shore of
Honokohau Bay just before 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 23rd. Neither was
injured. They were able to get out of the helicopter without problem,
then swam and waded to shore. A visitor notified 911 dispatch of the
accident via cell phone. The helicopter was found to be totally
submerged except for its left skid. It was resting on its right side on
an octocoral bed in about five feet of water and about 30 yards
offshore. No fuel sheen was seen, nor were any odors detectable. On
Sunday, the park's marine ecologist and archeologist waded and snorkeled
around the helicopter, gathering data and making an initial
determination of the degree of bed damage. A Paradise Helicopters Bell
407 flew to the scene and employed a line and hook to raise the downed
helicopter from the water. Park staff then determined that the damage to
the octocoral bed had been limited to less than two square meters.
Debris around the crash site was removed, and salvage operations have
since been completed. Park staff will continue with daily monitoring of
the Honokohau Bay shoreline this week, looking for any debris which may
wash ashore. The park's marine ecologist will monitor the long term
recovery of the impacted octocoral beds (Anthelia edmondsonii, an
endemic species).
[Submitted by Les Inafuku, Chief Ranger]
Cowpens National Battlefield (SC)
Car Clouts
At about 9 a.m. yesterday morning, the park received a telephone call reporting that three vehicles had been broken into at the front gate parking area. Entry had been gained by shattering the passenger side windows in each of them. The following vehicles were entered and items were stolen:
- License SC 210-STK, Hyundai Elantra — Ladies wallet, CD's and checkbook missing.
- License SC 599-JHL, Chevy Venture Van — Wallet and about $30 missing.
- License SC 743-TJL, Chevy Suburban — Ladies wallet with SS cards, driver's license & CD's missing.
Chief ranger Pat Ruff had noted a white male, perhaps 30 years old, driving an older model, cream-colored General Motors four-door vehicle turning right onto SC Highway 11 westbound as she entered the park, but did not see any evidence of broken windows when she arrived at 8:30 a.m. The same person was also spotted by maintenance staff, who noted that the man was not someone they knew as a regular to the area. The same description was provided by another person who had seen this person and vehicle parked in the area. When she saw him "crouching down in front of cars," she locked her doors and waited on the other persons with whom she was to walk. However, she did not see him leave the area. She described him as wearing a gray sweatshirt zip jacket with a tee underneath; he had shoulder length hair and had a ruddy complexion. Rangers in other parks in the region should maintain appropriate lookout for this car clouter. [Submitted by Pat Ruff, Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Situation Highlights — Friday, April 29, 2005
NPS Fires
For a brief supplemental narrative on each fire, click on the bar with the arrow. Internal NPS readers can link directly to full reports on each fire by clicking on the notepad icon; public readers of the Morning Report can obtain similar information by going to http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
No updates on National Park Service fires have been received since yesterday.
National Situation Report
The full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report for today can be obtained at http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf. NIFC's national fire news is at http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Servicewide
Upcoming Training Calendar
This listing is updated every Friday. It is not meant to replace any of the various training center calendars — just to augment them and provide a heads-up on new training courses. Please submit information to Bill_Halainen@nps.gov. New listings and revisions are in bold face.
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May 10 — May 12
CANCELLED: Colt M-16/AR-15 Armorer's School, Barataria Preserve, Jean Lafitte NHP&P, LA.
May 16 — May 20
High Angle Rope Rescue Training, New River Gorge NR, Fayetteville, WV. This course is designed for persons who are tasked with responding to calls of injured or stranded visitors in a steep, high angle environment. Students can range from beginners to intermediate — everyone will benefit. Students and instructors will be camping out at the Burnwood Ranger Station area, located on the rim of the New River Gorge. Showers will be provided. This will not only help in keeping the costs down, but will serve as a good logistical location for any night exercises. Students need to bring their own personal rescue/climbing gear including a comfortable sit harness, rappel device, carabiners, helmet, and gloves. All students need to be in good physical condition. There will be extended periods of hanging on a fixed rope in an exposed environment. A direct email from your supervisor will be sufficient for the nomination. (Note: This training will be held prior to, and in conjunction with, a climbers rendezvous sponsored by the New River Alliance of Climbers and the Access Fund. Special presentations by nationally recognized climbers have been incorporated into this training. Equipment demos, climbing workshops, and competitions will be held the weekend following the training, May 20th to 22nd). Please direct all questions and correspondence to Rob Turan at 304-763-3145 ex 15. fax # 304-465-6559, or at rob_turan@nps.gov.
May 16 — May 20
Tactical Tracking Operations Level 1, Little River Canyon NP. The Tactical Tracking Operations School will conduct a level one tactical tracking class near the park that will cover basic tracking techniques, tracking team formations, tactics, camouflage, cover shoot and more. For more information, contact Jimmy Dunn at 256-997-9239 or jimmy_dunn@nps.gov.
May 23 — May 27
Fundamentals of Special Park Uses, National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV. The 36-hour course, listed as VRPSPU3003 on My Learning Manager, covers all aspects of special park uses, from First Amendment to filming and photography to wireless telecommunication sites. Temporary food services and other health and safety issues related to special park uses will also be discussed. DO-53/RM-53, 36 CFR and NPS Management Policies (2001) will be covered in depth. A draft agenda is posted on the special park uses page. For more information, contact Lee Dickinson, WASO special park uses program manager, at 202-513-7092. For an agenda, go to http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=3&prg=185&id=3225
May 24 — May 26
Midwest Cemetery Monument Conservation Workshop, Omaha, NE. The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training has scheduled its third workshop on the conservation of cemetery monuments. The program will include a three-day, hands-on learning experience in cemetery and materials conservation. Partners include the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center and the Midwest Regional Office of the National Park Service. A lecture and a hands-on session on metal conservation will also be added to this year's training. For more information, contact Mary F. Striegel at 318-356-7444 or mary_striegel@nps.gov.
June 6 — June 10
First Responder (6/6 — 6/10) and First Responder Refresher (6/9 — 6/10), Daytona Beach Community College, New Smyrna Beach, FL. The course meets national standards. Tuition is $125 for the full course, $40 for the refresher. The closing date is May 20th. For more information, contact Wayne Rose at Canaveral NS at 321-861-8674.
June 6 — June 17
Covert Electronic Surveillance (CESP-505), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 2nd.
June 6 — June 17
Firearms Instructor Training (FITP-506), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 2nd.
June 13 — June 17
Vehicle Ambush Countermeasures Training (VACTP-505), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 4th.
June 14 — August 30
Criminal Investigator Training (CITP-535X), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 6th.
June 14 — June 24
National Center for Preservation Technology and Training Summer Institute, Natchitoches, LA. Includes courses in preservation engineering that offer participants fieldwork using nationally significant structures in the Cane River region of Louisiana where NCPTT is headquartered. For more information, contact Andy Ferrell at 318-356-7444 or Andrew_ferrell@nps.gov .
June 20 — June 24
Law Enforcement Advanced Interviewing (LEAINTP-505), FLETC, Glynco, GA. See My Learning Manager for the announcement. Closes on May 9th.
June 28 — July 1
"Cumulative Impact Analysis: Supporting the NPS Mission," NCTC, Shepherdstown, WV. Experts in the practice and theory of cumulative impact analyses will present case law, case studies and background on the requirements and policies as defined by the National Environmental Policy Act, Council on Environmental Quality regulations, and NPS Director's Order 12, "Conservation Planning, Environmental Impact Analyses and Decision-Making." Interested participants can apply through My Learning Manager for this course under NRS3021. There is no tuition and the application deadline is May 20th. For more information about the course contact Madelyn Carpenter at 202-513-7250.
September 13 — September 15
Capital Investments for Design and Construction, Carlsbad, CA. This course will cover preparation of PMIS entries, risk management, value based decisions, budgeting constraints, scoping, estimating, schematic design, pre-design, and Development Advisory Board review to manage and lead a capital construction investment related to the line item construction program. Complete and send nomination form to the employee development officer in your region or program center no later than Friday, June 6th. For more information, contact Kathy Hayden at 303-969-2420 or via email at Kathy_Hayden@nps.gov.
Servicewide
Upcoming Conference/Meetings Calendar
This listing is updated every Friday. Please submit information to Bill_Halainen@nps.gov. New listings and revisions are in bold face.
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May 26 — May 28
Conference on African Americans and the Civil War (CAACW), Petersburg, VA. The purpose of the conference is to examine the impact the Civil War has had on African American culture from the 1860s to the present. The conference will include papers by leading academics, a folklore program focusing o African American music and dance, an education program for high school students, and tours to highlight the cultural and historical assets of the Petersburg area. Information about the CAACW and a registration form are available on the conference's web site (www.caacw.org ). For more information, contact Ann Blumenschine at Petersburg NB at 804-732-3531 ext. 203.
August 26 — August 27
Rocky Mountain National Park Old-Timers and Employees Reunion, Estes Park Holiday Inn and Convention Center, Estes Park, CO. There will be a special program on Friday night at the Beaver Meadows VC, a free park bus tour on Saturday morning, and a banquet on Saturday evening. The cost for the latter is $30 per person. RSVP for dinner by sending a check made out to the Rocky Mountain Nature Association to Lynn Marquez, Rocky Mountain NP, 1000 Highway 36, Estes Park, CO 80517. Fore more information or to reserve a seat on the bus tour, call her at 970-586-1295 or email her at lynn_marquez@nps.gov.
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.