NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, January 10, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Everglades National Park
Search In Progress For Missing Man
On January 3rd, rangers were notified of a missing 46 year-old Tampa man who was believed to have traveled to the park. The man was reportedly distraught over a recent diagnosis of a severe illness. Investigation revealed that he'd stayed in the Flamingo campground on December 16th and that he had not been seen since then. The man's vehicle was found at the Whitewater Bay parking lot. An air and water search was launched on January 4th, with all high probability locations searched until nightfall. The search continued on January 5th, and a volunteer on foot found the man's canoe on land near Buttonwood Canal in mid-morning. Dogs were brought in late in the day to search the area around the canoe. The operation was suspended due to nightfall, but air and ground searchers and dogs resumed looking for the man the next day. The search continues. [Robert Gantt, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Death Valley
Presumed Suicide Victim Found In Park
On December 28th, military pilots flying over the western section of the park reported sighting a vehicle over the side of a canyon near the Father Crowley overlook. Rangers checking the vehicle found human remains nearby, evidently those of a man reported missing about four months ago. A suicide note was found nearby. The rangers assisted the Inyo County Sheriff's Department with removal of the remains the next day. The coroner's office is conducting a dental records check to determine the man's identity. No positive identification has yet been made. [Ed Derobertis, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Death Valley NP
Passenger Killed In Rollover Accident
Rangers responded to a report of a rollover accident in the northern section of the park on Saturday, December 29th. The driver was extricated and airlifted to a hospital, but the passenger - B.Z., 34, of Richmond, British Columbia - did not survive the crash. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident. [Ed Derobertis, Assistant Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external):
Death Valley NP - A photo by park scientist Dan Duriscoe was chosen as one of NASA's “Astronomy Pictures of the Year” for 2007. A link is provided to the full-size image.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6132" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6132
Wilderness and Recreation - Nominations are now being accepted for the 2007 Director's Wes Henry National Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Award.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6131" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6131
Fire and Aviation Management - The annual NPS fire photo contest is accepting entries until February 8th. There are some changes to the contest this year.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6128" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6128
Crater Lake NP - Superintendent Chuck Lundy retired on January 3rd after 33 years with the National Park Service. During those 33 years, he served in eight different parks and in a variety of roles.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1798" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1798
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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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