NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Lake Meredith NRA
Long-Missing Aircraft Found In Lake
On May 30th, two teenagers canoeing on Lake Meredith discovered the tail section and part of an aircraft fuselage protruding from the water near Harbor Bay. The lake level has fallen significantly over the past few years, which led to the wreckage being revealed. Rangers were notified. They checked the tail number against records and found that the plane was a Beechcraft Skipper 77 that had been reported overdue on January 27, 1984. There were two people onboard the plane at the time. A fisherman found an aircraft wheel floating on the lake the day after the Beechcraft disappeared, but an extensive search of the lake proved fruitless. Rangers secured the area after last week's discovery and began an investigation. A relative of the plane's pilot has been notified, as have the NTSB and FAA. Investigators from those agencies and representatives from the manufacturers of both the plane and engine are expected on-site this week to complete the investigation and remove the wreckage. [Cindy Ott-Jones, Superintendent]
Natchez Trace Parkway
Man Dies When Vehicle Enters Flooded Creek
On the afternoon of May 27th, park dispatch received a report of a motor vehicle accident near milepost 336 in Lauderdale County, Alabama. G.R., 72, and his wife J.D.R., 71, of Saltillo, Mississippi, were traveling northbound on the parkway when their vehicle left the road and entered a flooded creek. Recent rainfall in that area had caused the creeks in that area to swell to the degree that the R.'s vehicle was swiftly carried downstream. J.D.R. was able to escape the vehicle, but G.R. was not. The Florence Emergency Management Agency's swift water rescue team was on scene to assist in the search and rescue. When the submerged vehicle was initially found, the water was too deep, the current too strong and the water too turbid to safely enter. After the waters subsided, a team member was able to reach the vehicle and discovered that G.R. was still seat belted in the driver's seat. He was declared dead at the scene, but the cause has not yet been determined. J.D.R. was treated for hypothermia, then assisted home by friends. Anthony Franks is the case ranger. [Calvin T. Farmer, Assistant Chief Ranger]
Lake Mead NRA
Mexican National Drowns In Lake Mohave
A 22-year-old Mexican citizen, A.C.-R., died while swimming at the Cottonwood Cove swim beach on Thursday, May 29th. A.C.-R. was attempting to swim to the buoys north of the launch ramp when the accident occurred. He was not wearing a life jacket. Friends and family members noticed they could no longer see him; they swam out to try to find him and discovered his body in about 10 feet of water. Cottonwood Cove is located on the Nevada side of Lake Mohave. A.C.-R. was in the area visiting family members from North Las Vegas, Nevada. At this time, rangers do not believe alcohol or drugs were a factor in this presumed drowning. The Clark County Coroner will make the official determination about the cause of death. This is the second drowning and 12th fatality this year at Lake Mead. [Roxanne Dey, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
New Bedford Whaling NHP - The park's new Corson Maritime Learning Center was dedicated in a ceremony held on Friday, May 16th.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6563" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6563
Richmond NBP - David Ruth has been selected as the superintendent of Richmond National Battlefield Park and Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site. He follows Cynthia MacLeod, who left Richmond in February to become superintendent of Independence NHP in Philadelphia.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1941" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1941
Gateway NRA - Richard Wells, superintendent of the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, has retired after a 32 year career with the National Park Service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1940" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1940
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Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
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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