|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, April 25, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Denali NP&P Climber Killed In Fall On Mt. Wake A climber on Mt. Wake was killed in a thousand-foot fall around 6 p.m. on Monday, April 23rd. The accident occurred as the climber was rappelling down the northeast ridge of the 8,130-foot peak. The climber's partner descended to the body, confirmed the death, then sought assistance from another climbing party in the area. A satellite phone was used to inform an emergency contact about the accident; that person then notified Denali mountaineering staff around 9 p.m. The climbers then returned to the accident scene and brought the body back to their camp in Ruth Gorge. A ranger flew to the gorge on Tuesday morning. He confirmed the identity of the victim and brought the body back to Talkeetna. The cause of the accident is unknown. Mt. Wake is a highly technical, mixed rock, snow, and ice peak located in the Great Gorge of the Ruth Glacier. At least five other parties were climbing in the vicinity of the Gorge at the time the accident occurred. [Maureen McLaughlin] Gettysburg NMP Historic Biggs Farmhouse Damaged By Fire A fire damaged the Basil Biggs House on the Gettysburg battlefield early yesterday morning. Smoke alarms activated around 3 a.m., alerting emergency responders to the blaze. A fire suppression system installed in the historic house in 2002 activated and three fire companies responded. The fire, which started in the attic, caused extensive damage to the roof. The building's interior suffered water damage as a result of the suppression effort. A park employee and his family live in the home, but were able to escape without injury. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No cost estimate for the damage is available at this time. The Basil Biggs farmhouse dates to 1850-1860. Located on Taneytown Road, the house was behind Union battle lines on Cemetery Ridge during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, and troops used it for cover and concealment. Its position close to major battle action made it one of the busiest of the forward hospital aid stations during the battle. In 2002, the park received special funding for and installed fire suppression systems in 50 historic structures on the Gettysburg battlefield, including the Biggs farmhouse. [Katie Lawhon, Public Affairs Officer]
Blue Ridge Parkway Follow-up On Arrest On Weapons And Drug Charges On February 4th, ranger Greg Johnston saw a vehicle turning off the parkway with a bow and arrow on the rear seat. He stopped it and contacted the operator, S.L.C. of Galax, Virginia. During a search of S.L.C. and the vehicle, Johnston recovered a concealed pistol, brass knuckles and a large amount of bundled cash. A Carroll County Sheriff's Office canine alerted on the vehicle, leading to the discovery of about six ounces of methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, digital scales, cellophane bags, a box of meth pipes, night vision goggles, and an audio cassette tape containing a monologue by S.L.C. in which he described his drug activities and ability to avoid capture. The total cash seized came to $18,473. On April 20th, S.L.C. was found guilty by a federal jury of one count of possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense. Sentencing is scheduled for late July. During the trial, J.C., the defendant's cousin, testified on behalf of the defendant that the pistol recovered from the vehicle was his and that he left the gun in the car when he loaned it to Scotty S.L.C. He also testified that he had used meth for approximately four years, had used it heavily during the months of January, February and part of March, and had purchased the gun during this time period. He said that he'd consumed meth on the day of the arrest, gone target shooting, then transported the vehicle to Scotty S.L.C.'s location with the weapon in it. While the jury was deliberating, Johnston and U.S. marshals submitted a criminal complaint charging J.C. with purchase and possession of a firearm by a person addicted to a controlled substance and acquired an arrest warrant from the district court judge. He was then arrested in the lobby of the federal courthouse. [Greg Johnston, Park Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vaw/press_releases/carico_23apr2007.html" http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/vaw/press_releases/carico_23apr2007.html 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: Western Parks - The Service's national all risk incident management team is meeting in Fort Collins this week to develop a plan to prevent the infestation of non-native quagga mussels into NPS sites throughout the western United States. Flight 93 NM - Since 2005, the Flight 93 Memorial oral history project has collected nearly 300 first person accounts from individuals with a direct connection to the Flight 93 story. Hawaii Volcanoes NP - Associated Press news story: Rangers are launching a program to stop people from leaving religious offerings at the summit of Mount Kilauea. Visitors leave 45 pounds of offerings each week, including flowers, bottles, money, incense, candles and crystals. Channel Islands NP - The park is seeking a permanent, full-time GL-025-9 protection ranger interested in a lateral reassignment. The person selected for this position will be duty stationed on Anacapa Island and will perform a variety of duties associated with island and marine protection. Risk Management - The second of a two part Tel Station course on managing workers' compensation cases will be held on April 26th. 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). --- ### --- |