NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, February 18, 2010
INCIDENTS
St. Croix NSR
Snowmobile Accident Results In Critical Injuries To Visitor
Rangers were notified of a snowmobile accident on the St. Croix River by the Washington County Sheriff's Office on the evening of Friday, February 13th. The sheriff's office had received a 911 call from a group of people who were on the St. Croix River approximately two miles north of the Boomsite landing, attending a bonfire party and drinking. According to witnesses, R.S., a member of the group, was operating a snowmobile at a high rate of speed in the vicinity of the bonfire when it appeared to suddenly veer to the left and became airborne for approximately 15 feet, colliding with a large tree. Members of the group put R.S. in a trailer towed by an ATV and transported him to the Boomsite landing. R.S. was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, where he remains in critical condition. Alcohol is suspected to have been a contributing factor in the accident. A week before this incident, a snowmobile went through the ice about 14 miles further south and outside the park. The operator still hasn't been found. [Bob Whaley, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
US Park Police - The two major winter storms that slammed the East Coast last week brought several feet of snow to the DC area - and immense challenges to Park Police officers and NPS road and tree crews.
Natural Resource Stewardship and Science - The National Park Service is now accepting applications for the George Melendez Wright Climate Change Fellowship. Applications must be received by March 15th.
Washington Office - The National Park Service uniform committee recently met to discuss complaints, potential changes, and policy in the uniform program. A summary of the meeting is provided, including action items.
Fire and Aviation Management - Entries are being accepted for the 2010 photo contest through March 19th. Submit your best NPS fire and aviation photos from 2009 now.
OCIO - The National Information Services Center is pleased to welcome Chris Dietrich as the Digital Information Services program manager in the Resource Information Services Division. Photo.
To see these and other stories posted on InsideNPS (or NPS Digest, its public version), click on one or the other of the following links (please note that not all stories in the former appear in the latter):
NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees: HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/
NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site: HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/notify" http://inside.nps.gov/notify
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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. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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