NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

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INCIDENTS

Gateway NRA

Maintenance Worker Killed in Accident

Joe Sordi, an equipment operator in the park's Staten Island Unit, died Tuesday morning after an accident that occurred during snow removal operations. The New York City Sanitation Department has traditionally cooperated with the park by providing salt from their facilities for park snow removal efforts. At about 2 a.m., Joe was standing outside his government truck at a city-operated facility, waiting for a load of salt, when he was struck by a Department of Sanitation front-end loader, causing severe injuries. He was taken to a nearby hospital, but passed away at approximately 7 a.m. As with any accident of this nature, the NPS, U.S. Park Police and NYPD will cooperate on the investigation of the incident. Joseph was a five-year employee at Gateway NRA and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. The park will transmit information on arrangements and condolences when they become available. [Phil Sheridan, Public Affairs Officer, Northeast Regional Office)

Yellowstone NP

Drug Interdiction Program

Since early 2005, Yellowstone rangers and special agents have been working in conjunction with the US Attorney's Office, the local area drug task force, the DEA, and US Post Office postal inspectors on an enhanced drug interdiction program focusing on illegal drug users, the quality of life impacts to the park, and overall illegal drug demand reduction. This upgraded 2005 NPS effort came at the direction of the US Attorney's Office. To date, 197 misdemeanor or felony drug cases have been filed in US Magistrate's Court in Yellowstone or in US District Courts in Cheyenne or Casper, Wyoming. This is an approximate 75% increase over the averages for the years 2002 through 2004. The seized drugs include 4.5 grams of cocaine and 16.5 grams of methamphetamine. The enforcement posture has been directed toward impacting and changing the behavior of illegal drug consumers. Key components of the program are physical arrest for marijuana possession over 9 grams, arrest for possession of cocaine, methamphetamine, or similar drugs, and jail sentences for second or subsequent drug offenses. Other key parts of the program include the filing of Title 21 USC 844(a) Class A misdemeanor charges and formal federal probation for most drug possession cases, felony indictment and prosecution of drug possession with intent to sell, and investigation and charging of persons violating 18 USC 922(g) (possession of prohibited firearms) are also key parts of the program. The use of NPS and US Forest Service drug canine units in routine enforcement, planned interdiction patrols, and community, 'problem oriented' policing efforts with park concessionaires have augmented what has been an increasingly effective effort by field rangers on daily patrol and special agents providing support and follow-up investigation on drug cases. (Brian Smith, Special Agent In Charge)

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Fire Management Program Center

Mike Warren to Retire at Month's End

NPS structural fire program leader Mike Warren will retire on December 31st after approximately 38 years of federal service.

Mike started his federal career by working seasonally while at Colorado State University - for the Forest Service (Targee and Humboldt NF's), the Soil Conservation Service, and the NPS (Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP and Colorado NM). His first permanent position was as an intake ranger assigned to Albright Training Center at Grand Canyon. He moved from Grand Canyon to Yellowstone, where he worked until he joined the Coast Guard during the Vietnam conflict. Upon his discharge, he returned to Yellowstone, then transferred to Everglades.

Mike spent four years in Everglades as a subdistrict ranger before transferring to Cumberland Gap as the park's natural resource management specialist. From there, he moved to Big Bend, where he again served as a natural resource specialist. Mike's next position was as the natural resource specialist and regional FMO for the old Southwest Regional Office in Santa Fe.

From Santa Fe, Mike went to Sequoia-Kings Canyon to take a position there as FMO. Since leaving Sequoia-Kings, he's been at the Fire Management Program Center in Boise, where he first served as the facilities and equipment specialist, then as the structural fire program lead.

Mike and Joy intend to remain in the Boise area at this time. Says Mike: “We want to say hello to everyone who has helped to make this a wonderful journey. We look forward to seeing many of our old friends.”

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Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

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