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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Thursday, February 16, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Natchez Trace Parkway Two Pursuits Culminate with Arrests On February 11th, a ranger from the Leipers Fork District in Tennessee observed a pickup truck doing “doughnuts” on the parkway's grass shoulder. When the ranger attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver took off and a pursuit ensued, with speeds reaching 100 mph. The pickup truck eventually crashed into the trees on the edge of the parkway. The intoxicated male driver, age 18, and the intoxicated female passenger, age 16, were taken into custody without incident. Neither was injured, but the pickup truck was totaled. The girl was transported to a juvenile facility in Williamson County, Tennessee. The driver was taken to the Willamson County Jail and charged with a state felony evading charge and five state misdemeanor charges, including DUI, drug possession and reckless driving. On that same day, another pursuit took place at the north end of the parkway. Local deputies chased a man who entered the parkway in Madison County, Mississippi. The pursuit continued up the parkway from milepost 115 to milepost 135. At that point, a ranger was able to successfully deploy spike strips on the road, deflating three tires on the pursued vehicle. The driver was arrested. The county is the lead agency on this case. [Charles Cuvelier, Chief Ranger] JOBS Organ Pipe Cactus NM Security Detail Opportunity Organ Pipe Cactus is experiencing extreme fire danger conditions and will be staging an engine crew in the monument starting on February 20th. Southeast Zone Dispatch is looking to fill a resource order for an LEO to be attached to the engine for security. Severity funding will pay base eight, travel and overtime for the 14 day minimum assignment. The resource order will request that the LEO come with a marked law enforcement vehicle. NPS rangers interested in this assignment should recognize that the illegal activity at Organ Pipe carries an elevated level of risk to law enforcement officers. Rangers with level I commissions and experience with higher levels of enforcement will be considered. If interested, contact Kevin Parish, fuels management specialist, at 520-733-5132. Interested rangers will need to establish a ROSS profile through their local zone dispatcher. The need for these assignments is likely to continue well into the fire season. [Fred Patton, Chief Ranger] PARKS AND PEOPLE Grand Canyon NP Sherrie Collins Retires Sherrie Collins is hanging up her Stetson…. A retirement party is planned for March 18th at the Grand Canyon. All are welcome and encouraged to celebrate Sherrie's career with presentations, memories, and laughs. Festivities will be held at the Community Center on the South Rim, beginning at 6 p.m. Dinner will be served for $25 per plate (kids eat for free). Please RSVP with Jen Flynn via email ( HYPERLINK "mailto:jennifer_flynn@nps.gov" jennifer_flynn@nps.gov) or by phone at 304-535-6232. A very unique and special gift will be presented to Sherrie from all her friends. Donations towards Sherrie's gift can be made to Mary Hinson, 778 Fairway Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005 (702-239-8931). A memory album is also being put together. Contributions of photos, letters, stories, etc. may be sent to Jenny Dems, 7322 S Miller Street, Littleton, CO 80127 (303-969-2613).
* * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |