NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, August 27, 2007

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INCIDENTS

Zion NP

Ranger Hurt When Pickup Collides With Cruiser

Ranger Kelly Brownson was involved in a head on collision while on patrol on the Kolob Terrace Road around noon on Friday, August 24th. Brownson was able to call dispatch, report his accident, and request an ambulance and traffic control. Rangers and Utah Highway Patrol and Washington County officers responded and found that both Brownson's patrol vehicle and a full-size pickup from Arizona had sustained severe damage in the accident. Brownson and a 17-year-old passenger in the pickup were taken by ambulance to Dixie Regional Medical Center in St. George. Brownson was treated and released later that afternoon. Evidence at the scene suggests that the driver of the truck lost control on a curve due to high speed and drifted into the oncoming lane. The Utah Highway Patrol is investigating. Charges are pending. [Bonnie Schwartz, Chief Ranger]

National Mall and Memorial Parks

Demonstrators Arrested At Lincoln Memorial

Several demonstrators entered the chamber of the Lincoln Memorial just before 2 p.m. on Friday, August 17th. Two of them, dressed as superhero characters, climbed up onto the statue of Lincoln and hung out a banner. Park Police officers Stacy Palmer and Elizabeth Kessebeh immediately responded. They ordered the two men to come down and the other demonstrators in the chamber to sit down. When the latter declined to comply, a struggle ensued in which Palmer was injured. Other officers soon arrived. Major Kevin Hay took operational control of the incident, and officers and NPS employees began clearing visitors from the memorial's chamber and stairwell. Other officers assisted in the detention of the demonstrators. Sergeant Robert Lachance and officer Billy Brancato began negotiations with the demonstrators on the statue and were soon able to gain their compliance. Shortly thereafter, the two men handed down heavy duty chains, signs, locks, duct tape, super glue, large steel cables, and other materials. They were then safely helped down and arrested by several SWAT and K-9 officers. Based on the recovered items the demonstrators intended to use, it appears that they could have caused extensive damage to the Lincoln statue. Because of the quick actions and excellent teamwork on the part of Park Police officers and officials and the National Park Service employees who assisted in dealing with crowd management and the demonstrators, the situation was quickly contained and brought to an end with no damage to the Lincoln Memorial. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]

Grand Canyon NP

River Runner Being Treated For Rabies

A river runner is receiving rabies treatment after being bitten or scratched by a rabid bat while at Lees Ferry on August 21st. The river runner was loading his boat with supplies when a young bat (Cave myotis) flew into his shirt, which was lying next to him. When the river runner put his shirt back on, the bat bit/scratched him on his left hip. The bat was captured, euthanized and submitted for testing. On August 22nd, the Arizona State Health Lab determined that the bat had rabies. Since the river runner had continued with his river trip, the National Park Service had to evacuate him from the canyon by helicopter. He then transported himself to Flagstaff for further treatment. Someone exposed to rabies undergoes post exposure prophylaxis or PEP. In the United States, PEP consists of a regimen of one dose of immune globulin and five doses of rabies vaccine over a 28-day period. Rabies immune globulin and the first dose of rabies vaccine should be given by a health care provider as soon as possible after exposure. Additional doses or rabies vaccine should be given 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after the first vaccination. Current vaccines are relatively painless and are given in a person's arm, like a flu or tetanus vaccine. [Pamela Walls, Public Affairs Officer]

Yosemite NP

Injured Climber Rescued From Half Dome

Valley rangers received a report of an injured climber on the northwest face of Half Dome at 4:30 a.m. on August 21st. The climber, R.K., had taken a leader fall of about 80 feet after having gotten off route. During the fall, R.K. zippered out at least four additional protection pieces that he'd used as climbing aids. R.K.'s fall was finally arrested by his climbing rope, but not before he injured his back in a glancing blow off a protruding ledge. Rescuers were flown to the top of Half Dome in the park's contract helicopter. Two rescuers were then lowered 600 feet down the overhanging face to R.K.'s location. He was packaged in a vacuum body splint, raised to the top of Half Dome, then flown to a trauma center in Modesto. [Keith Lober, Emergency Services Coordinator]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories (among others) 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 are, respectively, HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/ and ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/).

* Rocky Mountain NP - On August 16th, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission endorsed a nitrogen deposition reduction plan for Rocky Mountain National Park that represents a significant milestone toward improving air quality in the park.

* Indiana Dunes NL - Costa Dillon, superintendent of the Horace Albright Training Center at Grand Canyon National Park, has been named the new superintendent of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Dillon will assume his new assignment on September 30th.

* US Park Police - United States Park Police officers Jason Omo and Scott Brecht are to receive awards for bravery from the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.

* CESU Network - Dr. Thomas Fish will become the new national coordinator of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network on September 17th.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828).

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