NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Thursday, March 16, 2006

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INCIDENTS

Joshua Tree NP

Suicide in Hidden Valley Day Use Area

The body of a 49-year-old man who apparently committed suicide by jumping from one of the rock formations in the Hidden Valley day use area was discovered just after noon on Monday, March 13th. Friends of the man had contacted the San Bernadino County Sheriff's Office and reported that he'd threatened suicide and that he'd told them that he was going to jump from a high point within the park. A ranger found his vehicle while other rangers conducted a hasty search of the area and found his body. The Riverside County Sheriff's Office is in charge of the investigation. [Judy Bartzatt, Chief Ranger]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Director/Deputy Director

Nominations Sought for Wilderness Stewardship Award

Nominations are being solicited for the 2005 Wes Henry National Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Award. Nominations are due by March 31st. For additional information, including both the cover memorandum and application forms, please click on the following URL: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=2&prg=81&id=4193" http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custommenu.cfm?lv=2&prg=81&id=4193

PARKS AND PEOPLE

NPS Alumni

Death of Bonnie Lissoway

Bonnie Lissoway, the wife of former Bandelier NM fire management officer John Lissoway and mother of current VUA Brenna Lissoway, passed away after a brief fight with cancer on March 11th. Bonnie and John were a well-known and loved couple in the NPS family and in the Los Alamos community, she being a school nurse there for many years. They lived in Bandelier for over 20 years. John retired in 1997 and they relocated to nearby White Rock, where John, with Bonnie's support, has remained active in fire planning and teaching through his business venture. A celebration of Bonnie's life will be held on Sunday March 19th at 4 p.m. in Los Alamos. Park employees are making a donation and will be attending the service. The web address below connects to the blog for Bonnie's info, directions to the service, and suggested charities: HYPERLINK "http://www.boninnm.blogspot.com" www.boninnm.blogspot.com [Carl Newman, Chief Ranger]

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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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