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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Wednesday, January 11, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Amistad NRA Homicide Victim Found On January 4th, rangers were contacted by the Del Rio Police Department concerning the case of a missing young woman. Police detectives had met with the missing woman's common law husband and were treating him as a prime suspect in the disappearance. The man took the detectives to the Diablo East viewpoint area within the park and told them that he had come to the area because he felt this was where his wife was located. Rangers and detectives conducted a shoreline search by boat that day but did not find anything of consequence to the case. On January 6th, rangers were contacted by the detectives, who requested a more extensive search in the lake area. A briefing was held later that day with agents and officers from the Del Rio Police Department, Val Verde County Sheriff's Department, FBI, Border Patrol, ICE, Texas Department of Public Safety, and the National Park Service. Early that afternoon, Border Patrol agents and a Del Rio detective were searching from a boat near the end of Spur Road 454 and discovered a body in the water believed to be that of the missing woman. The body and evidence were recovered by the Val Verde Sheriff's Department. The body was sent to the Bexar County medical examiner's office for an autopsy and was positively identified as the body of the missing woman. The death was ruled a homicide. The National Park Service is assisting in the investigation. [Bruce Malloy, Chief Ranger] Cape Cod NS Storm Damage On the afternoon of December 9th, a powerful windstorm with 100 mph gusts toppled four of the six towering cottonwood trees that mark the entrance to the park's historic Penniman House. The 1868 house was the home of whaling captain Edward Penniman, who reputedly brought the cottonwood seedlings back in his vest pocket after a trip to Chicago in 1880 and planted them along the drive leading to his home. Ironically, earlier this year the park and the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation signed a project agreement to propagate seedlings from the root stock of these trees for future planting to replace the aging trees. Fortunately, two of the trees survive so the park can move forward with the propagation. Meanwhile, the park continues storm cleanup. Much of Cape Cod suffered a power outage that lasted several days. Locals claim the winds from the brief but powerful storm were the worst on the Cape since the 1938 hurricane. [Bill Burke, Branch Chief, Cultural Resources Management] US Park Police Drug and Weapons Arrest On December 26th, Park Police officers assigned to the Rock Creek Station (D-3) made an arrest during a traffic stop in northwest Washington. The officers had detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana emanating from within the vehicle. During their on scene investigation, the operator of the vehicle became combative and attempted to flee from the scene. He was taken into custody by the officers, who seized 3.3 ounces of marijuana from his person. The man was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and assault on police officers. Investigators assigned to the U.S. Park Police Narcotics and Vice Unit conducted a follow-up investigation and obtained a search warrant for his residence, also in northwest Washington. On January 5th, officers from the Narcotics and Vice Unit, Rock Creek Station, and the special weapons and tactics team executed the warrant. Recovered from the residence were an additional 11 pounds of marijuana, 60 grams of cocaine base (crack), 190 grams of cocaine hydrochloride, a 9mm pistol, a .38 caliber revolver (which had been stolen in a burglary), and $51,285 in U.S. currency. During the course of the search, the man returned to his house and was placed under arrest without incident. He was subsequently charged in U.S. District Court with a variety of felony weapon and drug charges. [Sergeant Scott R. Fear, United States Park Police] PARKS AND PEOPLE NPS Alumni Director Hartzog Hospitalized Past Director George Hartzog has been hospitalized with a number of medical problems since December 26th. He will probably be released later this week, then be in a rehab center for a while before heading home. Cards and letters would be welcome and can be sent to him at Virginia Hospital Center, Room 624, 1701 N. George Mason Drive, Arlington, VA 22205-3698, or to his home at 1643 Chain Bridge Road, McLean, VA 22101. [Duncan Morrow, Public Affairs, WASO] JOBS New River Gorge NR GS-11 Supervisory Park Ranger New River Gorge National River, which also administers the Bluestone National Scenic River and the Gauley River National Recreation Area, is seeking candidates for a permanent GS-11 supervisory protection ranger position. The vacancy announcement is 05-NERI-005 and closes on January 18th. The person selected will serve as district ranger, supervising protection operations in the park's Sandstone District and Bluestone National Scenic River. Rangers here are on the move and involved in issues and incidents on a year-round basis. The ranger selected will be involved not only in traditional ranger duties in law enforcement, but activities integral to our boundary management, encroachment, hunting and trapping, landowner (in-holding and adjacent) liaison, and off-road vehicle enforcement and management programs. The park is a world-class climbing destination with over 1,500 identified routes, has a river program involving internationally known Class V whitewater on both the New and Gauley Rivers, and a very active vertical and whitewater SAR team. Numerous special events occur in the park, ranging from local marathons and triathlons to the International Whitewater Rafting Championships, National Canoe and Kayak Championships, and Bridge Day (at 100,000+ visitors, the largest annual single-day event in the state). New River Gorge NR supports the Servicewide field ranger training program and the individual selected for this position may be designated as a field training officer or lead. (Note: The park also has a human resource position announced at this time, so a dual career possibility exists.) For further information, please contact chief ranger Gary Hartley at 304-465-0508 ext. 218. [Gary Hartley, Chief Ranger] * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |