NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

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INCIDENTS

Amistad NRA

Drug Arrest and Seizure

Rangers made their first drug seizure of the year earlier this month when they recovered more than 400 pounds of marijuana at a popular campground at Lake Amistad. Rangers were called to the San Pedro Campground around 4:20 p.m. on January 8th to investigate a call about suspicious activity in the area. When they arrived at the campground, they saw a shirtless man in the area where the suspicious activity had been reported. When the man saw the rangers, he fled on foot, but the rangers chased and soon caught him. The man told rangers after he was captured that he was an undocumented immigrant and that this was the reason why he ran when he saw them. He was later identified, however, as an 18-year-old from Del Rio, Texas. When rangers began searching the area, they found five black duffel bags filled with bundles containing a substance they believed to be marijuana. The duffel bags, which were discovered in a brushy area near the lakeshore at the campground, contained tightly-wrapped packages weighing a total of 448 pounds. Because the NPS is a member of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force, both the marijuana and the man were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. He has been charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Court officials said the case may be presented to the federal grand jury this week. The recovery of the 448 pounds of marijuana is the first drug seizure made inside the park's boundary this year. During 2005, park rangers recovered a total of 3,990 pounds of marijuana, an increase from the 2,837 pounds of marijuana they recovered in 2004. [Bruce Malloy, Chief Ranger]

Mammoth Cave NP

Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide

On January 19th, a 24-year-old Cincinnati man entered a plea of guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in federal court. The maximum potential penalties are 12 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and 3 years supervised probation after release from prison. The man admitted that on August 13, 2004, he caused the deaths of his two passengers by driving his motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner near Houchins Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park, where he struck a tree. The accident resulted in his passengers' near instantaneous deaths, one of whose body burned in the fiery wreck. Although the man said that he suffers from amnesia and does not recall the wreck which caused the deaths, he nevertheless told the court that he believed the government could prove that he was driving the car. Kathman also agreed that he was legally drunk at the time. Sentencing is schedule for April 5th. [Vickie Carson, Public Affairs Officer]

JOBS

Dinosaur NM

GS-11 Supervisory Park Ranger

Dinosaur National Monument is seeking candidates for a permanent GS-11 supervisory protection ranger position. The vacancy announcement is IMDE-06-16 and closes on February 9th. The person who is selected will serve as a supervisor for parkwide protection operations. She/he will be involved in not only traditional ranger duties in law enforcement, but also issues such poaching, antler collection, off-road vehicle use, river use management, and concessions management. Two of the west's premiere whitewater rivers - the Yampa and the Green - flow through Dinosaur National Monument. The Yampa is the only remaining large tributary of the Colorado River system that retains its free-flowing character. Dinosaur contains more than 186,000 acres of proposed wilderness and 4,000 acres of potential wilderness additions. The rugged landscape provides diverse habitats that support a surprisingly wide range of plants and animals and critical habitat for endangered species. The area has trophy deer and elk hunting along the park boundary. Cultural resources (granaries, campsites, pit houses, rock art, artifacts, foundations, and cabins) span 11,000 years and are a pristine record of the evolution of the prehistoric culture and historic settlement of the region. Dinosaur has the most complete geologic record of any national park area and an internationally renowned display of Jurassic-era dinosaur bones. For further information, please contact Superintendent Mary Risser at 970-374-3001.

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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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