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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Tuesday, September 25, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Gulf Islands NS Update: Park Reopens Following Passage Of Weakened Storm After the National Hurricane Center issued a tropical storm warning for the Gulf Coast last Friday afternoon, the park closed all park facilities and offices and released employees soon thereafter. Tropical Depression 10 took an unexpected jog to the north on Friday evening, though, and came ashore earlier than expected. It therefore had less time over water to strengthen and came ashore with winds just shy of tropical storm strength. Although the center of the store crossed over the park's Okaloosa Unit, it caused no damage to facilities there - or anywhere else in the park. Most areas reopened by late Saturday morning except for Fort Pickens, which remained closed until surge waters receded, and West Ship Island, which was not reopened until marine conditions calmed on Sunday. The park resumed normal operations on Saturday afternoon. [Clay Jordan, IC] American Memorial Park Man Arrested For Assault On Protection Ranger Ranger Sam Martinsen was patrolling the Outer Cove Marina on the morning of September 12th when he came upon a vehicle being driven by a man who was known not to have a valid license, as he'd received numerous warnings and three violation notices during the previous six months for the same infraction. Martinsen stopped him and was in the process of writing him another violation notice when the man began walking away and towards his boat. Martinsen ordered him to stop, but he kept going. Martinsen then attempted to stop him by getting in front of the man and placing his forearm against him. The man responded by hitting Martinsen in the face, lacerating his lower lip. He was placed under arrest with the help of park maintenance employees who were in the area. A grand jury was to hear the case yesterday. [Neil Akana, Special Agent] Blue Ridge Parkway Rangers Assist In Successful SAR For Missing Scouts When the eight Boy Scouts and three leaders of a Boy Scout troop from Raleigh failed to return as scheduled from a hiking trip in the Pisgah NF on Sunday, a major search was begun that included five rangers from the park. The search, managed by Haywood County Emergency Services, was entirely outside of the park. They were found in good condition on Monday morning. According to CNN, the troop was on a weekend camping trip in the Black Balsam Gap area near the parkway in southern Haywood County. They veered off a hiking trail and got lost, so decided to camp out for an extra night rather than try to find their way out in the dark. Search teams combed the area on Sunday night, but found no sign of the scouts. A searcher located them Monday morning. Said a Boy Scout official: “As the Scout motto says, they were prepared, and they did just as they were supposed to." [John Garrison, Chief Ranger, plus CNN report] HYPERLINK "http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/24/scouts.missing/index.html" http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/24/scouts.missing/index.html 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/). * Central High School NHS - In a ceremony yesterday, held on the 50th anniversary of the integration of Central High School, the National Park Service dedicated its newest visitor center. It recognizes the Little Rock Nine for their courage and tells their story in the struggle for equal rights. * 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. * US Park Police - Sergeant Robert German is retiring from the United States Park Police after more than 34 years of distinguished service. * * * * * 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). --- ### --- |