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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, March 26, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Blue Ridge Parkway Missing Boy Scout Found After Major SAR Twelve-year-old Boy Scout M.A. wandered away from a primitive backcountry campground in nearby Doughton Park and was reported missing by Scout leaders around 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 17th. Rangers responded immediately and requested assistance from SAR teams from Wilkes County and Alleghany County. A North Carolina Highway Patrol helicopter with FLIR (forward-looking infrared) capabilities flew to the scene and checked high probability areas in coordination with ground crews. The latter searched all 30 miles of trails within Doughton Park and areas around the primitive campground. Three dog teams were also deployed, using scent articles from the boy's backpack, which had been left at camp. The only significant clue located during this period was the lid to Michael's mess kit, found near the Brooks Branch drainage approximately one half mile northwest of the campsite. Around midnight, the NPS incident commander conferred with the command staff from other initially responding agencies. Plans were made to expand the overhead team and additional resources were called in. A unified command structure was established, with the NPS incident commanders taking the lead. Media interest was high by Sunday and continued to grow. Around 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, following nearly four days of continuous searching, M.A. was found by a dog team from South Carolina. He was weak, dehydrated and hungry, but was able to walk to the searchers on his own. M.A. was found in the Basin Creek drainage, about a mile-and-a-half from the campground. Due to his weakened condition, he was carried out and transported by ambulance to the Highlands district office, where he was reunited with his parents. He was taken to Wilkes Regional Medial Center in Wilkesboro, then transferred to the Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro. He was treated for possible cold-related injuries, but remains in good condition. In all, more than 82 agencies and over 532 people participated in the search. Media coverage was extensive. [Brent Pennington, Highlands District Ranger] President's Park/National Mall and Memorial Parks Park Police Officers Deal With Anti-War Demonstrations On Friday, March 16th, the United States Park Police handled a large demonstration at the White House. A large group of demonstrators marched from the National Cathedral to Lafayette Park, with the majority continuing on around the White House complex. A portion of the demonstrators moved onto the White House sidewalk and engaged in non-violent civil disobedience. United States Park Police officers then revoked the demonstrators' permit and made 222 arrests. On Saturday, officers handled a major demonstration at the ball fields near 23rd Street and Constitution Avenue. Demonstrators rallied at that location and eventually marched across Memorial Bridge to the Pentagon to continue their demonstration. A counter demonstration also took place along the east side of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the northwest sidewalk at the Lincoln Memorial. USPP horse-mounted officers provided crowd control assistance; USPP motor units also provided crowd control assistance and were instrumental in ensuring that the demonstrators began their march. Intelligence gathered prior to the demonstration indicated the possibility of vandalism to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. To prevent this, extra security measures were implemented. Park Police officers were able to provide a safe environment for the demonstrators. There were no arrests and no memorials were defaced. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer] OTHER NEWS The following stories can be read on either the InsideNPS web site (if you are within the National Park Service) or at the InsideNPS public ‘news digest' site (if you are outside of the NPS). The web sites appear below: Biological Resource Management Division - The theme of International Migratory Bird Day this year will be “Birds In A Changing Climate” and will focus on the impacts of climate change on migratory birds. The event will take place on May 12th. Fire and Aviation Management - Nominations are being solicited for the third annual Jeanie Harris Award for park/region fire program management assistants and fire budget analysts. Nominations are due by Wednesday, April 18th. Yellowstone NP - News story: Grizzly-bear recovery has been so successful in and around Yellowstone National Park that the animals no longer need protection under the Endangered Species Act, federal officials said Thursday. Delaware Water Gap NRA - Protection ranger Randy Seese will retire on April 30th following 28 years of federal service - 24 of them with the National Park Service at Delaware Water Gap NRA. Jobs - Listings appear for a GL-9 ranger at Petroglyph and for a GS-9/11 facility operations specialist at Tallgrass Prairie. For more information, go to InsideNPS ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/) or NPS Digest ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/). * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-426-2430). --- ### --- |