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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Wednesday, May 10, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Great Smoky Mountains NP Special Event: Hot Rod Rally On the weekend of April 21st and 22nd, the neighboring city of Pigeon Forge hosted the “Grand Rod Run,” a hot rod rally which greatly impacts all of roads in Sevier county, including those in the park. During evenings, traffic backups occurred on the five-mile Foothills Parkway Spur that lasted as long as three hours. The rally typically results in a number of traffic, drug, alcohol and disorderly conduct violations. The park managed the event under ICS, bringing in rangers from each district. Bicycle, vehicle and stationary patrols were employed through the length of the spur. Over the two-day event, rangers made four DUI arrests and cited people for numerous traffic and other violations, including 24 that were alcohol-related. Rangers also responded to two other significant incidents during the weekend. The first was a motorcycle MVA on the spur. The operator, who was driving recklessly, lost control of his bike and was thrown into the river, which was at flood stage due to heavy rains from the previous night. A ranger rescued him from whitewater after he'd floated about 100 yards downstream. He sustained multiple injuries, including compound fractures of both legs, a compound fracture in one arm, and internal injuries. He was flown to a hospital by air ambulance. The passenger on his bike was eventually located and found to be uninjured. The second incident was a report from Gatlinburg PD of a fight on the spur involving a large number of participants. By the time rangers arrived, the fight had ended and all parties had disappeared into the traffic in Pigeon Forge. [Rick Brown, Assistant Chief Ranger] Jefferson NEM Special Event: Annual Red Mass On May 3rd, the annual Red Mass was held within the park at the Old Cathedral, an active Roman Catholic parish. The Red Mass dates from the thirteenth century and is based on the belief that all justice comes from God and the Holy Spirit, working through judges, lawyers and government officials. It is accordingly celebrated for members of those three groups. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia and Missouri Governor Matt Blount were in attendance. The US Marshal's Service and Missouri Highway Patrol worked closely with the park's law enforcement staff to provide dignitary protection. The event concluded without incident. [Joel Musick, Chief Ranger] Colonial NHP Tour Bus Fire A bus that was operating as part of the park's "Historic Triangle Shuttle" service caught fire and was destroyed on the Colonial Parkway on Friday, May 5th. The driver of the bus escaped injury and there were no passengers on board at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Historic Triangle Shuttle is funded and managed by Colonial NHP and provides daily service along two routes from the Colonial Williamsburg Visitor Center - one leg running along the Colonial Parkway to Jamestown, the second following the parkway to Yorktown. The buses for the service are provided by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation through a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service. [Mike Litterst, Public Affairs Specialist] OTHER NEWS News Article - On Tuesday, Arches NP issued a statement reinforcing a long-standing rock-climbing ban on all named arches after a climber announced that he had successfully ascended Delicate Arch. HYPERLINK "http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3804296" http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_3804296 Ranger Randy Morgenson Honored - His name was inscribed on a memorial in California. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1223" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1223 Ranger Jeff Christensen Honored - His name was inscribed on a memorial in Colorado. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1221" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1221 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |