NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, October 2, 2008

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INCIDENTS

Shenandoah NP

Search In Progress For Missing Man

Rangers are entering the fourth day of a search for a missing 50-year-old Staunton area man. E.F. was last seen around 1 p.m. on Monday, September 29th, in the Cedar Mountain area. A hasty search of the area was conducted by volunteers and friends on Monday night and Tuesday morning. Friends then reported E.F. missing to the Albemarle County Police Department on Tuesday morning, and county officers searched the area until late Tuesday night. Yesterday's search centered on the Cedar Mountain area of the park. E.F. is described as a white male with brown hair and green eyes, 5' 8” tall, weighing about 145 pounds, and wearing dark pants and a light shirt. Over 40 searchers - including a dog team - are currently looking for him. The search is a joint operation between Shenandoah National Park and the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office. The agencies are currently being assisted by the Albemarle County Police Department and a Virginia State Police dog team. Anyone with any information about Earl E.F. is encouraged to call Shenandoah National Park at 1-800-732-0911. For additional information about the search and rescue operation please call 540-999-3300. [Karen Beck-Herzog, Public Affairs Officer]

Rock Creek Park

Hand Grenade Found In Park

A park maintenance worker came upon a suspicious looking device in a playing field north of Morrow Drive early on the morning of October 1st and notified the Park Police. The responding officer determined that it could be a hand grenade. A perimeter was established and nearby residents were directed to evacuate the area. The Metropolitan Police explosive ordnance unit responded, examined the device, and determined that it was in fact a grenade. They contacted a military explosive ordnance unit and asked for assistance. The grenade was recovered, rendered safe, and found to be real but without any explosives inside. It was turned over to the Park Police. The surrounding area was checked and the scene was cleared. The incident is currently under investigation. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]

OTHER NEWS

Among the stories in today's edition are the following:

Lincoln Home NHS - Lincoln Home NHS and the NPS Park Museum Management Program recently launched a virtual museum exhibit that highlights Abraham Lincoln's political and legal careers, Mary Todd Lincoln, and their family at their home in Springfield, Illinois.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6927" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6927

Yellowstone NP/Grand Teton NP - Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks are considering all legal options on a temporary plan for oversnow vehicle travel this winter. The latest winter use plan and regulations allowing limited, commercially guided snowmobile and snowcoach travel were rejected in federal court last month.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6925" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6925

Northeast Region - Rick Harris has been selected as the new associate regional director for natural resources for Northeast Region. He begins his assignment in mid-November.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2086" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2086

Mesa Verde NP - Beverly Cunningham, the human resources officer at Mesa Verde National Park, is retiring on October 2nd after 34 years with the National Park Service, with all but one summer spent at Mesa Verde.

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2085" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=2085

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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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