NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Yellowstone NP
Lab Confirms Identity Of Remains Of Long-Missing Woman
DNA tests have confirmed that remains discovered in Yellowstone last fall are those of a woman missing for nearly three years. Nineteen-year-old C.M.K. of Belgrade, Montana, was a concessions employee at Roosevelt Lodge. She was last seen driving away from the employee housing area in the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 29, 2005. Later that same day, a hiker found her green Ford Explorer submerged in the Yellowstone River about a mile east of Tower Junction. Investigators believe C.M.K. was eastbound when her vehicle struck an embankment on the right side of the road, then crossed to the left side and went over another embankment before dropping more than 100 feet into the river. The vehicle apparently was swept downstream a short distance before coming to rest in shallow water about 50 feet from the river bank. The heavily damaged vehicle was found to be unoccupied when pulled from the river. Despite an extensive search, no sign of the missing woman was found. This past September, anglers discovered a human skull in the Yellowstone River upstream from the town of Gardiner, Montana. A search of the area by park rangers and archeologists failed to turn up any additional physical evidence. When the Wyoming State Crime Lab was unable to identify the remains using dental records, the skull was sent to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth. DNA tests were conducted at state of the art facilities at the university's Center for Human Identification. Based on the strength of the test results, investigators are convinced that the remains are those of the missing young woman. [Public Affairs]
Little River Canyon NP
Four-Year-Old Drowns In River
On Sunday, June 1st, a four-year-old girl was found floating in the river by two 12-year-old girls who were swimming near the Canyon Mouth day use area. The two girls - soon joined by a man who came out to help - got the child to shore. They found that she was not breathing and had no pulse. CPR was begun and continued by a nurse who was visiting the park until a Cherokee County ambulance arrived. The child was taken to a hospital in Centre, Alabama, but did not survive. Early indications are that the child went into the water without the knowledge of any accompanying adults. She may have been in the water for around 20 minutes when found. The Cherokee County Department of Human Resources is investigating. [Kimberly Kirk, Chief Ranger]
Lake Mead NRA
Man Drowns Near Hemenway Fishing Pier
R.D., 45, drowned near the Hemenway fishing pier on June 1st while attempting to retrieve a boogey board that had floated away from shore. He was not wearing a life jacket. R.D.'s friends and family members noticed saw him go under; they pulled him from the lake and immediately began CPR. The pier is located on the Nevada side of Lake Mead near the Hemenway launch ramp. At this time, rangers do not believe that either alcohol or drugs were factors in this presumed drowning. The Clark County Coroner will make the official determination about the cause of death. This is the third drowning and 13th fatality this year at Lake Mead. [Mary Hinson, Chief Ranger]
Yellowstone NP
Hiker Scalded By Water From Hidden Natural Pool
Scalding water from a hidden natural pool burned a Utah woman hiking in the park on the afternoon of Thursday, May 29th. J.H. was walking with family members on an established dirt trail when she stepped into a pool of rainwater. Her foot broke through and landed in a previously undiscovered hot pool. The slightly acidic water was 171 degrees Fahrenheit, 26 degrees short of boiling temperature at that altitude. The water scalded J.H.'s ankle and lower leg. A park trail crew working nearby gave first aid, and J.H. was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, where she was treated and released. J.H. was hiking in the Artists' Paintpots, a mile-long loop hike of colorful mud hot springs located about two-and-a-half miles south of the Norris Junction. Continuing geological activity causes the earth at Yellowstone to shift often, and boiling water can lie beneath a thin crust of earth. The area is temporarily closed. Four people were treated for thermal burns in the park last year. [Salt Lake Tribune]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Fort Raleigh NHS - An archeological excavation being conducted this year in an effort to answer some of the many questions regarding the mystery of the Lost Colony has turned up a number of important discoveries, including copper plates and 16th century English artifacts.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6566" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6566
Budget Formulation Office - The Budget Office has released the FY 2007 Scorecard. The NPS Scorecard was developed to improve the Service's ability to justify and defend funding priorities for park operating programs, critical to competing successfully in a tight federal budget environment.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6564" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6564
Chief Information Officer - The content management system (CMS) forum is being disbanded, effective June 9th. The division will then move back to its previous process of using email for web support.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6567" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6567
Mount Rushmore NM - Mike Pflaum, chief ranger at Mount Rushmore National Memorial for the past 19 years, is transferring to Midwest Region Office in Omaha, Nebraska. Friday will be his last day in the park.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1943" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1943
Northeast Region - Joe Finan has been selected as the new superintendent of Saratoga National Historical Park. He will begin his assignment immediately.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1944" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1944
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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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