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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Thursday, April 26, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Yosemite NP Fatal Fall From Half Dome Cables At 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 19th, Yosemite dispatch received a cell phone report from witnesses who reported that about two hours earlier a solo hiker had slipped off the Half Dome cables and slid out of sight. The cables are laid down on the rock this time of year and the stanchions which hold the cables up are removed to prevent damage by avalanches. Rescue personnel began hiking up the nine trail miles toward Half Dome because weather made flying impossible. The team was turned around above the shoulder of the dome several hours later by heavy snow, wind, and icy conditions that made travel on the exposed ridge too dangerous even before they reached the bottom of the cables. The bad weather continued throughout the following day and the dome was never out of the clouds. The weather broke the following morning and a spotter posted across Tenaya Canyon from Half Dome picked out what he believed was a body in the gully to the north of and below the cables. The location of the body, about 1,000 feet below the base of the cables, was confirmed from a helicopter. A recovery team was flown to the shoulder of Half Dome and was able to descend to the victim utilizing crampons, ice axes and roped climbing. The body was flown out by long line under a helicopter. She was eventually identified as Jennie Bettles, a 43-years old marketing executive and marathon runner from Oakland, California. [Leslie Reynolds, Valley District Ranger] Yellowstone NP Conviction For Illegal Reentry Into U.S. Rangers arrested a man for driving a vehicle with a suspended license and without insurance during an interagency criminal interdiction operation last May. A special agent reviewing the case file noted some inconsistencies in the information regarding his identity. Working with the FBI, ICE and state of Montana authorities, special agents identified the man as J.D.G.-D., an undocumented and previously deported alien. The NPS investigation showed that he'd stolen and was using the identity of a U.S. citizen and had been arrested, convicted and served jail time for DUI. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in Wyoming for violations of Title 8 (convicted felon, prior deportation, illegal reentry into the U.S.). On April 16th, J.D.G.-D. was sentenced in federal court to 33 months in prison, ordered to pay $250 in fines and assessments, given 13 other probation conditions, and directed ICE to deport him after he served his prison time. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge, Intermountain Region] Blue Ridge Parkway Rollover Accident With Two Fatalities Rangers were dispatched to a fatal one-car rollover accident on the parkway near the towns of Boone and Blowing Rock at 7 a.m. on Monday, April 23rd. A blue 1996 Lincoln Town Car had gone over an embankment north of the Yadkin Valley overlook and evidently rolled several times before coming to rest about 200 feet below. The accident had been discovered by park neighbors at 6:30 a.m. Killed in the crash were 59-year-old R.H. of Patrick Springs, Virginia, and 56-year-old C.F. of Stuart, Virginia. The accident is still under investigation, but preliminary evidence indicates that speed was a factor. Ranger Hope Powers is the lead investigator. [Brent Pennington, Highlands District Ranger] 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: Grand Canyon NP - The park recently displayed its contracted MD-900 Explorer helicopter at an Air Force Week show at Luke Air Force Base. The exhibit proved to be very popular and was well received. Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. Fire and Aviation Management - After many years at the Fire Management Program Center, Steve Botti, the lead for fire program planning, will be retiring from the NPS. Items are being sought for Steve's 'memory box.' Director's Office - The Washington Office is seeking highly skilled permanent NPS employees interested in serving on details or temporary promotions to various GS-14, GS-15 and SES positions. These assignments will generally range from 60 to 120 days and will include travel and per diem, as appropriate. 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). --- ### --- |