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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Tuesday, December 18, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Little River Canyon NP Victim's Identity And Cause Of Death Determined On the evening of December 6th, a ranger saw a fire in the canyon and discovered a man's body aflame near a campfire that had gone out. An investigation conducted by rangers and Cherokee County and Alabama Bureau of Investigation officers led to the discovery of a .25 caliber pistol and a fired .25 caliber casing underneath the body and a key on his person that unlocked a Jeep parked nearby. FBI agents from the Gadsden Resident Agency were contacted and joined the investigation. An autopsy was conducted on December 7th that confirmed the man's identity - a 36-year-old resident of Chattanooga - and established that he'd shot himself. [Kimberly Kirk, Chief Ranger] Assateague Island NS Internet Posting Leads Rangers To Fishing Violation Ranger Dave Rapp prepared for a fishing compliance patrol on December 10th by first checking the activity on a popular internet discussion board used by many anglers visiting the park. He noticed one entry in which the author wrote that she had caught 22-inch and 24-inch stripers (rockfish) on Assateague Island - a violation, as Maryland state law establishes a minimum length of 28 inches for this species. The author also wrote that she was "keeping this baby for dinner!" Included in the entry was a photograph showing the angler holding up the fish. Rapp noted that the entry was only a few minutes old and that the photograph appeared to have been taken inside of the park. He located, recognized, and contacted the angler, who was still on the beach within the park. She produced a 21-inch striper, and reported that she'd utilized a Wi-Fi internet connection to post her entry from the park. A violation notice was issued for the undersized fish. [Ted Morlock, Acting Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external): National Park Service Centennial - The second in the George Wright Society's series of essays on the National Park Service's centennial is now out - a paper by the late Dr. Robin Winks evaluating the Organic Act's reputed contradictions, plus an afterword by Deny Galvin, retired NPS deputy director. Links are provided. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6079" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6079 Yosemite NP - Each year, the holiday season is ushered into Yosemite National Park with a flourish of song and revelry in the spirit of holidays past. The Bracebridge Dinner, an annual event held at in the Grand Dining Room of the Ahwahnee Hotel since 1927, recreates an 18th century Christmas as described by American author Washington Irving. Photo included. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6080" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6080 Biscayne NP - Biscayne National Park and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens have entered into an agreement to conserve the Sargent palm. Only eleven individual adult plants exist in the United States, all in the park. Photo included. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6081" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6081 Crater Lake NP - Dave Brennan, the park's chief ranger, will be retiring on December 31st. A retirement celebration will be held on Saturday, January 12th. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1769" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1769 Historic Preservation Training Center - Doug Hicks, deputy superintendent of the Historic Preservation Training Center, will retire on January 3rd following 37 years of federal service. Photo included. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1768" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1768 US Park Police - On December 7th, USPP officer Adam Zielinski was cited by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program for his outstanding commitment in the fight against drunk driving in Greater Washington. Photo included. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1767" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1767 Glen Canyon NRA - Earl (Lenny) Hempstead will be retiring on January 3rd after 20 years of federal service. Photo included. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1766" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1766 * * * * * 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). --- ### --- |