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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Wednesday, May 3, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Independence NHP Three Special Events Park staff were involved in providing support and assistance at three significant special events between April 28th and May 1st. The first event was a visit by Supreme Court justice Stephen Breyer on April 28th and 29th. Breyer visited the park while in Philadelphia as a guest and speaker for the general annual membership meeting of the American Philosophical Society. Breyer and other distinguished guests were given tours of the National Constitution Center. Dignitary protection was coordinated through the US Marshals Service. The center also served as the site for the final evening's reception for the annual retreat of Senate Democrats, held in Philadelphia from April 28th to the 30th. Governor Ed Rendell visited with the senators during the reception. Dignitary protection for this event was coordinated by the US Capitol Police, with assistance from numerous local and federal agencies. On May 1st, a crowd of more than 5,000 immigrants and their supporters rallied in the park across from the Liberty Bell for several hours. A large group of primarily Hispanic immigrants boycotted work and school to increase awareness of the rights of undocumented foreigners. Two large groups - one from the Philadelphia area, the other from nearby Camden - met at the 500 block of Market Street and joined forces to promote their cause. Numerous media groups were in attendance. [Ian Crane, Chief Ranger] Delaware Water Gap NRA Drug Arrest A field training ranger and his trainee were on patrol in the Point of Gap area on the evening of March 17th when they made contact with the driver of a vehicle regarding a closure violation. The rangers detected a white powdery substance in the car that they believed to be cocaine. The subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery and seizure of 39 zip lock bags containing cocaine. The driver was arrested and later agreed to plead guilty to state charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of drug paraphernalia. [Chris Kross, Supervisory Park Ranger] Saguaro NP Suicide in Rincon Mountain District On Saturday, April 29th, motorists driving on Speedway Boulevard inside the park's Rincon Mountain District came upon a car stopped on the road's shoulder. The vehicle was smoking and the driver was slumped over the steering wheel. The motorists investigated and found that the woman was not breathing and had no pulse, so pulled her free from the car and started CPR. The vehicle eventually became fully engulfed in flame. When fire and EMS responders arrived, they determined that the woman had sustained an injury of unknown origin to her head. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The county medical examiner subsequently determined that the 50-year-old Tucson woman had shot herself and ruled the death a suicide. A handgun registered to her was found in the burned out vehicle. It appears that the fire was caused by the vehicle overheating. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS Links to stories for those of you who are within the NPS… Today's combined NPS/NIFC fire report: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewfirenpsnewsarticle&type=FireManagement&id=589" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewfirenpsnewsarticle&type=FireManagement&id=589 Report on release of revised version of DO-21: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=PressReleases&id=646" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=PressReleases&id=646 Announcement for regional chief ranger for Intermountain Region: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2369" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2369 Announcement for superintendency of WRST: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2368" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=2368 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |