|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Thursday, November 8, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS John Day Fossil Beds NM Search Warrants Served For Stolen Paleolithic Items On October 30th, search warrants were served at the residence and storage facilities of D.W. and T.W. in Kelso, Washington, by a National Park Service Investigative Services Branch special agent, an NPS paleontologist, rangers and agents from the Bureau of Land Management, and officers from the Kelso Police Department, the Washington Department of Corrections, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This action stemmed from an investigation that's been underway since last May 6th, when the W.s were contacted by an off-duty NPS employee as they illegally excavated fossils in the park. D.W., while continuing to remove and photograph the fossils, expounded in detail to the employee (who did not identify himself as such) about fossils and geology. The employee was able to get a license plate number and provided descriptions of the suspects to the BLM ranger stationed in the park - a shared position between the Prineville District and the NPS. The BLM ranger continues to lead the investigation as case agent. Park paleontologists, from the evidence remaining at the site, determined that a fossilized skull of an oreodont was removed, possibly along with other fossil species. The oreodont was a medium-sized mammal that lived between 20 and 35 million years ago and is distantly related to modern pigs. D.W. is a convicted felon (multiple times and in several states) with an extensive history of assault, unlawful firearms possession, controlled substance crimes, larceny, and forgery. His wife does not have a criminal record. The search resulted in finding fossil remains from a rhinoceros, other unidentified mammals, leaves and plants, and a trilobite. The rhinoceros and the unidentified mammal remains were tentatively identified as being from the park and may be as much as 40 million years old. More testing will occur at the park. Also seized were computers, cameras, notes and associated computer discs and CDs. The Washington Fish and Wildlife officers issued a violation notice for illegal crab harvesting. [Alan Foster, Special Agent, Pacific West Region] Prince William Forest Park Body Of Probable Suicide Victim Found In Park Early on the afternoon of November 5th, rangers were notified by a grandfather and his granddaughter that they'd come upon a “dead body” in the park. They reported that they'd found the man's body leaning against a tree and that his body was “cold, blue and heavy.” Ranger Chuck Huston and chief ranger Norman Nelson responded. The body was found southeast of the C parking lot connector and the South Valley trail. The victim was leaning against a tree about 30 feet off the trail. They confirmed that he was dead and determined that there was no outward sign of trauma. Prince William County fire and rescue personnel arrived shortly thereafter and confirmed that no additional measures to revive him needed to be taken. A joint investigation with the county is underway. The victim had a long history of suicide attempts. Rangers found his identification with him, along with a note with directions to the commuter lot outside the park where his car could be found. [Norman W. Nelson, Jr., Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external): Yosemite NP - The Associated Press is carrying a story about the impacts of climbing to this and other parks: “As neophyte rock jocks head to national parks to test their skills in the great outdoors, some are unwittingly breaking the wilderness ethic governing the sport.” HYPERLINK "http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003997479_webrockclimbing06.html" http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2003997479_webrockclimbing06.html George Washington Memorial Parkway - After over 60 years of silence, World War II veterans were finally reunited and given the opportunity to speak about their work at “P.O. Box 1142,” a secret military intelligence facility that operated at what is now known as Fort Hunt Park. On October 5th and 6th, the park hosted a reunion, symposium, and the first formal recognition to honor the veterans. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5963" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5963 Washington Office - The Washington Office is seeking highly skilled permanent GS-14 and GS-15 National Park Service employees interested in serving on a detail assignment as the Associate Director, Park Planning, Facilities and Lands. This assignment is a noncompetitive detail for up to 120 days and will include travel and per diem, as appropriate. Applications are due by November 27th. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=3028" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewjobdetails&type=Jobs&id=3028 Natural Resources Program Center - The Natural Resource Program Center is seeking a permanent geologist (GS-1350-14/15), physical scientist (GS-1301-14/15), or biologist/ecologist (GS-401-14/15) to serve as chief of the Geologic Resources Division. The announcement closes on November 23rd. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3029" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Jobs&id=3029
* * * * * 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). --- ### --- |