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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Friday, November 30, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Jean Lafitte NHP&P Two Charged For Operating Motorcycles At High Speeds Ranger Michael Callais was on patrol in the Barataria Preserve unit on the evening of November 17th when he saw two motorcycles approaching him at a very high rate of speed in a posted 45 mph zone. Callais clocked the first bike at 97 mph and the second at 93 mph. When he turned on his lights and siren, both operators accelerated and continued northbound through the park. Officers from other jurisdictions responded to assist, but the motorcycles were soon out of the ranger's sight. As Callais was returning to the park, he came upon a crashed motorcycle in a ditch with a person down on the ground next to the bike. Callais recognized this bike as one of the two that had fled from him. The badly injured operator was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital. Investigating rangers determined that he'd lost control of his motorcycle, which had then gone off the road and struck a telephone pole. The operator gave Callais the name of the other motorcyclist, and rangers subsequently found and contacted him. He made a full confession, admitting to fleeing from the ranger. Numerous federal charges were filed against the two men. This was the fourth incident in the past month in which rangers have clocked motorists in the park traveling at greater than 90 mph. [John Hughes, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external): The White House - America's national parks are the focus of this year's elaborate White House holiday decorations. The displays include natural objects from parks, models of park icons such as the Statue of Liberty, paintings of scenic park vistas, and hundreds of handmade ornaments on the White House Christmas tree submitted by parks throughout the System. The story includes links to photos of ornaments, of presidents visiting parks, etc. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6025" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6025 Workforce Management - On November 28th, the Assistant Director, Workforce Management, transmitted a memo to the regional directors entitled “Centralized Seasonal Hiring Pilot for FY 08.” The full text is included. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6028" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6028 Fire and Aviation Management - On Wednesday, November 21st, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne thanked federal wildland firefighters at NIFC for their dedication and outstanding efforts during the past year. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6012" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6012 DSC - The transportation section of DSC's Web Workflows is now available. This section of the site includes information on the workflow processes for the three programs in DSC's Transportation Division - the park roads and parkways program, the revegetation program, and the transportation planning program. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6022" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6022 Training - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the NPS and its partners across the nation. Added today are an EMT refresher course at NCTC, a law enforcement for managers course at FLETC, and the annual Eastern high angle rescue training course, this year at Buffalo NR. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775 * * * * * 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 ( Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |