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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Thursday, March 30, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Organ Pipe Cactus NM Sentencing of Drug Smugglers On July 18, 2005, rangers at Organ Pipe Cactus NM arrested seven male Mexican nationals who were caught smuggling backpacks of marijuana into the United States. The total weight of the marijuana was 408 pounds. The seven defendants were indicted a month later on one count each of 21 USC 846, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, and one count each of 21 USC 841, possession with intent to distribute marijuana. As of March 3rd, six of the defendants had pled guilty to one felony count on each of the conspiracy charges and were sentenced to thirteen months commitment with credit for time served. The seventh defendant also pled guilty to one felony count of the conspiracy charge and was sentenced to fifteen months commitment with time served. They will be deported upon completion of their sentences. [Susan Morton, Special Agent] Buffalo NR Attempted Suicide Late on the afternoon of March 16th, the Newton County Sheriff's Department received a phone call from a woman in Webb City, Missouri, regarding her 34-year-old boyfriend, who had disappeared from Webb City three days previously. He had been calling her each day, threatening that he was going to kill himself. On this day, he called her at 2 p.m., telling her that he was at Western Grove, Arkansas, and that he intended to go to Cane Branch within the park “to think.” If he did not hear from her by 4:30 p.m., something would happen to him. The woman was unable to reestablish contact with him, so drove to Arkansas by way of Springfield, Missouri, and contacted Newton County officers. At approximately 6:30 p.m., deputies from Newton and Searcy counties located the man and notified rangers. The man had ingested 10 to 20 Xanex pills and taken methamphetamines/marijuana. He's also run a tube from his car's exhaust into its back window. When deputies arrived on scene, they removed him from the vehicle, which was full of exhaust fumes. The man collapsed twice on scene prior to being transported to North Arkansas Medical Center by ambulance. He was admitted to ICU and is expected to recover. Notes and letters found inside the vehicle indicated that he intended to take his life in the park. The man had a previous history of depression, mental illness, and attempted suicide. [Robert Maguire, Chief Ranger] OPERATIONAL NOTES Emergency Incident Coordination Center Thank You Message The last group in support of ESF #3 was mobilized on Saturday. The staff at EICC would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks and gratitude to all the units throughout the National Park Service that helped or supported this effort. Your willingness to assist others in need and your contribution (whether you were the employee responding or back at the home unit completing the paperwork) was invaluable in making this process the success that it was. We have heard nothing but praise about NPS employees. There were a number who received some very distinguished awards and the rest of them received letters of thanks or medals. Again, we give you our THANKS! [Brenda Ritchie, Emergency Incident Coordination Center, Shenandoah National Park] JOBS NPS/FLETC GS-11/12 Armorer FLETC has issued a vacancy announcement for a full-time GS-11/12 armorer. This position is 6c covered. A Type I commission is required. There are no supervisory responsibilities. For a copy of the announcement, click on “More Information” below. [JJ Martin, Firearms Program Manager] HYPERLINK "http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=41371933&AVSDM=2006%2D03%2D29+10%3A17%3A20&Logo=0&q=national+park+service+park+ranger&paygrademin=11&paygrademax=12&FedEmp=Y&sort=dt&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&SUBMIT1.x=82&SUBMIT1.y=14" http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=41371933&AVSDM=2006%2D03%2D29+10%3A17%3A20&Logo=0&q=national+park+service+park+ranger&paygrademin=11&paygrademax=12&FedEmp=Y&sort=dt&vw=d&brd=3876&ss=0&FedPub=Y&SUBMIT1.x=82&SUBMIT1.y=14 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |