NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Great Smoky Mountains NP
Ginseng Poacher Sentenced To Jail Time
On February 25th, D.F., 35, of Newport, Tennessee, was sentenced to 10 days in jail for digging up and taking protected ginseng roots from the park. D.F. was apprehended by rangers on September 8, 2006, in the Cosby area. When apprehended, he didn't have any of the roots in his possession, but an investigation of the scene revealed 37 freshly disturbed spots in an area where ginseng plants were growing. D.F. initially received a citation that required an appearance in federal court. When he failed to appear, a warrant was issued, and he subsequently pled guilty to the charge. D.F.'s conviction marks the third case this year in which ginseng poachers were sentenced to jail time. On January 24th, two North Carolina men were convicted for ginseng poaching in two separate incidents. N.M., 50, of Cherokee, North Carolina, was sentenced to 20 days in jail and fined a total of $125 for possessing 18 wild ginseng roots, and N.B., 27, of Topton, North Carolina, was sentenced to 15 days in jail and fined $135 for possessing 77 roots. Illegal harvesting of plants is a serious problem in the park, particularly ginseng, a favorite target of poachers for its high profit margin in the black market. Its roots have been a traditional ingredient in Chinese medicine for thousands of years. In the international and domestic legal trade market, wild ginseng roots can bring from $500 to $800 per pound. The larger and older the root, the more profitable. [Bob Miller, Public Affairs Officer]
Lake Mead NRA
Las Vegas Man Dies In Boating Accident
Park dispatch was notified of a boating accident near the Swallow Cove area just before 5 p.m. on the evening of Friday, February 29th. When rangers arrived, they learned that a boat operated by R.J., 60, of Las Vegas, Nevada, had started sinking after coming into contact with the cove's shoreline. Witnesses attempted to aid him after making the report, but could not find either R.J. or the boat. A search conducted that evening proved fruitless. On Saturday, rangers, volunteers and Metro PD SAR personnel found his body near the boat. The accident is under investigation by rangers and the county coroner's office. The cause of death has not yet been determined. [Roxanne Dey, Public Affairs Officer]
Capitol Reef NP
Illegal Desert Bighorn Sheep Hunting Case
In October of 2002, B.T. was convicted of numerous violations stemming from the taking of a desert bighorn sheep during an illegal hunt in the park and in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. As part of his sentencing, B.T. was banned from hunting or participating in hunts in either area (hunting is already a prohibited activity within the park). In October, 2006, park rangers again found B.T. guiding sheep hunters in and near the park. On October 1, 2007, a federal magistrate found B.T. in violation of his probation from the 2002 conviction. His probation was extended an additional year and was expanded to include specific definitions of what constitutes participating in hunts. This latest court decision was a result of a joint investigation by staff from Capitol Reef National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. [Scott Brown, Chief Ranger]
Scotts Bluff NM
Teenager Rescued From Side Of Bluff
At about 6:30 p.m. on the evening of February 28th, the park's resident ranger was notified that a 15-year-old boy had fallen off the bluff side of Scotts Bluff and was reportedly injured and hanging onto a rock outcropping. According to reports, three local juveniles had climbed the monument after dark. Two had descended down the summit road, but the third fell about 50 feet while attempted to climb down the side of the bluff. The resident ranger, chief ranger and local police, fire and SAR personnel responded and began searching for him. Efforts to find him were impeded by darkness and rough terrain, but he was eventually spotted from a local Airlink rescue helicopter. SAR personnel rescued him and got him to a waiting ambulance. He was found to be suffering from a dislocated elbow and mild hypothermia and was treated at a local hospital. [Pete Swisher, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Yosemite NP - The park hosted a symposium that addressed user capacity issues in national parks and on other public lands.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6264" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6264
Natural Resource Program Center - In order to improve communications and provide better service, the center is seeking input from parks, regions, and networks through a voluntary web-based survey.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6263" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6263
Alaska Region - Alaska Regional Director Marcia Blaszak has announced her retirement. The region will celebrate her 38-year-long career with a party and potluck dinner on May 6th.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1843" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1843
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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).
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