NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

BLACKBERRY EDITION

Thursday, September 7, 2006

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INCIDENTS

Eastern Areas

Final Update On Tropical Storm Ernesto

Four more reports, all from parks in Virginia, have been received on the impacts of the tropical storm:

Colonial NHP - The park received between eight and ten inches of rain. A section of the Colonial Parkway at Paper Mill Creek was flooded on Friday, but waters began to recede later in the evening. Numerous trees fell during the storm and the parkway had to be closed for a period.

Richmond NBP - The park reports some damage from flooding and fallen trees. Staff worked overtime to cleanup the park and to stem the flow of water that infiltrated several historic structures.

Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields MNMP - Some tree limbs fell, but no roads were closed and no significant damage occurred.

George Washington Birthplace NM - By 9 a.m. on Friday morning, winds were exceeding 25 to 30 mph and gusting to 40 mph. A large sweet gum tree was uprooted and smashed into a maintenance outbuilding. At 10 a.m. power was lost to the log house and quarters due to downed power lines from falling trees and limbs. Wavers on the Potomac River increased, exceeding four feet at times. At 11 a.m., the park began closing down. Winds reached 50 mph by evening. The entire park lost power when a tree on Route 204 fell across power lines and snapped four electrical poles. The park remained closed over the weekend while staff cleaned up the area. Power was restored to the visitor center on Monday, but remained out for most of the rest of the park. Thomas Stone NHS also closed on Friday and Saturday, but reopened on Sunday. Nearly 20 Eastern red cedars were lost along with the maintenance outbuilding. Severe erosion occurred along the Potomac River and Popes Creek and water damaged the Memorial House and visitor center offices. Damage to the Northern Neck of Virginia has been estimated at some $18 million.

[Marc Vagos, Northeast Regional Office]

National Mall

Five Plead Guilty To Robberies, Sexual Assaults

In mid-August, five men ranging in age from 16 to 22 years old were arrested and charged in connection with a series of armed robberies and sexual assaults that occurred on the National Mall last May and July (click on “More Information” below for the original incident report). Four of them subsequently pled guilty to the charges. On Tuesday, September 5th, R.N., the fifth and final defendant, appeared in DC Superior Court and pled guilty to one count of first degree sexual abuse while armed, six counts of robbery, and four counts of possessing a firearm while committing a crime of violence. When he is sentenced on November 8th, R.N. will face a maximum possible sentence of 180 years of incarceration under the statute, and between 41 and 83 years under the voluntary sentencing guidelines. “Today's fifth and final guilty plea puts an end to the brutal reign of terror committed by this band of defendants on

unsuspecting visitors to our National Mall,” said U.S. Attorney Kenneth L. Wainstein. “The fact that investigators and prosecutors were able to resolve this case with all five defendants pleading guilty within 32 days of the first arrest is a testament to the outstanding work and tenacity of the investigative team.” The five men were arrested by USPP officers following an intensive investigation conducted by the U.S. Park Police and the U.S. Attorney's Office and assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Prince George's County Police Department, the Metro Transit Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department.

HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2803" http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Incidents&id=2803

[Channing Phillips, Public Affairs, United States Attorneys Office]

Big Thicket NP

One Drowns, Five Others Rescued

On the afternoon of Sunday, September 3rd, rangers, Texas Parks and Wildlife officers and divers from Silsbee FD recovered the body of a 24-year-old man who drowned in Village Creek. The creek, a tributary to the Neches River that is less than two hours from Houston, is one of the most popular canoeing streams in Texas. It's also the park's most visited area. The victim and 18 other college men, all from India, had rented canoes for a daytrip on the creek. When they stopped to play in the water along a sandbar, all removed their lifejackets even though only two of the 19 men could swim. About six of the non swimmers stepped off into a deep hole and began to panic when they realized that the water was over their heads. The Acker family of Houston was eating lunch on the sandbar at the time. M.A., 16, who had just completed Red Cross lifeguard training, realized that the men were in trouble and went to their assistance. She extended a canoe paddle to them from chest deep water and was able to pull four to safety. A fifth man was rescued by another member of the group. It was some time after they'd reassembled on the beach when they realized that one of their group was missing. They then called 911 and reported the drowning. [Keith Flanery, District Ranger]

Colorado NM

Suicide At Grand View Overlook

During the early morning hours on September 1st, a 59-year-old woman from Grand Junction shot herself with a .357 caliber handgun at the Grand View overlook. Rangers and the Mesa County Sheriff's Office are investigating. [Phil Akers, 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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