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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, May 14, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Everglades NP Third Manatee Protection Boating Operation Conducted Park rangers, in cooperation with the United States Coast Guard, US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, recently ran a third special operation to enforce manatee speed zones in the Gulf Coast District. Rangers and officers worked in Chokoloskee Bay, issuing 24 speed zone citations along with numerous safety and resource violations over a two-day period. The operation coincided with a large “catch and keep” fishing tournament that takes place every year at the end of the spring snook season. Rangers spoke at the captain's meeting prior to the tournament; as a result, no violations were issued to any of the participants over the weekend. Chokoloskee Bay is considered an area of inadequate protection for manatees and is undergoing an interagency review to improve the protection for this endangered species. Enforcement is therefore increasing, as are outreach and education efforts by rangers. The result has been improved compliance with speed limits in these zones. More special operations are planned for the future. [Bonnie Foist, Chief Ranger] Petersburg NB Historic Railings Stolen From Civil War Monument On May 10th, the park discovered that 22 of the historic railings surrounding the Pennsylvania Monument on Wakefield Street had been stolen. The railings, made of bronze, measure seven to eight feet in length and three to four inches in diameter. Of all the monuments in this historic city, the Pennsylvania Monument was the only one to be dedicated in the presence of a United States president. On May 19, 1909, President Taft attended the dedication ceremony along with veterans of Pennsylvania regiments who fought in the Battle of Fort Stedman on March 25, 1865, and the assault on Confederate Fort Mahone on April 2, 1865. The Pennsylvania veterans, who were members of the Third Division of the Ninth Corps, were escorted by the local chapter of the United Confederate Veterans, namely the A.P. Hill Camp. A $500 reward is being offered to anyone who offers information leading to the arrest and conviction of the thief or thieves. Anyone with such information should call either the ranger station at 804-732-3966 or ranger Richard Hotchkiss at 804-691-4786. Information can also be submitted to the Petersburg Police Department at 804-732-4222. [Ann Blumenschine] Richmond NBP Suicide Attempt Interdicted, Life Saved During the early evening hours of Tuesday, May 8th, a 53-year-old Mechanicville man attempted suicide at the Cold Harbor park unit by taking a large number of prescription drugs and drinking a bottle of rum. He'd called his wife earlier in the day and left a “good-bye to life” voice mail message on their home phone. She called the Hanover County Sheriff's Department, which relayed the information to the park. A protection ranger responded and joined the man's son in searching for him. They found him lying half-conscious on the ground within the earthworks. A suicide note was found nearby. The ranger provided initial first aid, with East Hanover Rescue Squad later administering advanced care. The man was transported to Memorial Region Hospital, where he is slowly recovering and will then be admitted for psychiatric care. The attending doctor said that the quick EMS response by the ranger and rescue squad personnel saved the man's life. [Tim Mauch, Chief 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: Colonial NHP - The 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, America's first permanent English settlement, was commemorated in spectacular fashion this past weekend with a three-day festival of ceremonies, visits by the President and other dignitaries, and dedications of new NPS facilities. Chief Information Officer - All National Park Service employees, contractors, partners, and volunteers are required to complete Records Management and Privacy Act training. The Department has requested immediate, 100% compliance. Grand Canyon NP - Highway 67 to the North Rim of Grand Canyon, which is closed each winter, will reopen to the public at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning. In the Press - News article from USA Today: “Hundreds of thousands of Americans are moving to neighborhoods in the West repeatedly scorched by wildfires that now threaten to burn more often and with greater intensity.” Fire Management - First report of the season in today's edition. NIFC is at PL 2. Eleven national teams and 77 crews are committed. An area command team is coordinating responses to fires in Florida. Lassen Volcanic NP - Mary G. Martin, superintendent at Lassen Volcano NP, has announced her plans to retire on July 3rd. Mary has worked for the National Park Service for 26 years and has 38 years with the federal government. 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). --- ### --- |