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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, April 11, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP Three Relic Hunters Arrested On Felony ARPA Charges On Sunday, March 11th, ranger Chuck Lochart saw three men - F.T., J.B. and V.W. - metal-detecting and digging relics up in the Spotsylvania battlefield. The three men were apprehended as they left the park by Lochart and rangers Craig Johnson and Tad Pultorak. Their metal-detecting equipment and nearly 200 artifacts were seized. Over 450 excavated holes were found on and around park earthworks where the three had been digging. Rangers, an NPS criminal investigator and Spotsylvania County deputies executed a search warrant at the homes of two of the men and found and seized a number of items, including a computer that may have been used to sell relics on eBay. On April 5th, the three were arrested, taken before a U.S. magistrate in Richmond and charged with felony ARPA violations. A damage assessment is being done by regional NPS archeologists. In a separate incident on the afternoon of March 17th, a park volunteer reported two people metal-detecting in the Hill-Ewell Drive area of Wilderness battlefield. Ranger Steve Davis responded and apprehended two juveniles who he saw metal detecting and digging in the park. They were issued mandatory citations and are scheduled to appear before a U.S. magistrate in Charlottesville on April 12th. [Keith Kelly, Chief Ranger] Glen Canyon NRA Driver Killed In Rollover Accident Near Halls Crossing A 37-year-old man died in a single vehicle rollover accident on Route 276 south of Halls Crossing around 9:30 p.m. on April 6th. S.K. of Park City, Utah, was driving alone in a Dodge pickup at a high right of speed when he swerved off the right side of a curved section of road. When he attempted to pull the pickup back onto the road, he lost control and it rolled several times. S.K. was not wearing a seatbelt and was killed instantly. Visitors came upon the accident and called 911. Rangers responded along with Utah Highway Patrol officers. S.K. was traveling to Bullfrog to meet his 15-year-old daughter and friends when the accident occurred. He was a well known international Kung Fu (weapons) master who trained and competed at the world level. Alcohol appears to have been a factor in the accident. The accident is under investigation by the Utah Highway Patrol. [Lindy L. Mihata, Law Enforcement Specialist] 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: President's Park/White House - Director Bomar was one of several dignitaries, including First Lady Laura Bush, Mrs. Lynne Cheney and Secretary Kempthorne, to read a story in a “reading nook” on the White House Lawn as part of the 2007 White House Easter Egg Roll. Facility Management Division - Nominations will be accepted until April 27th for outstanding accomplishments in resource stewardship. Point Reyes NS - The Point Reyes National Seashore Association, a non-profit organization that provides direct and indirect support to the park, has raised more than $5.7 million to fund a major wetlands restoration project. Redwood N&SP - The park is seeking a full-time GL-9 protection ranger interested in a lateral transfer. To see the above articles, 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/). For NPS incident reporting standards, go to HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363 * * * * * 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 ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-426-2430). --- ### --- |