NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

INCIDENTS

Padre Island NS

Park Closing Today Due To Tropical Storm Alex

The park will close at 5 p.m. today in anticipation of the probable arrival of Tropical Storm Alex along the Texas-Mexican coast on Thursday. Beaches are being evacuated; overnight camping has been barred since yesterday. The Malaquite Beach campground and visitor center and Bird Island Basin will also close this afternoon. Please call the visitor center for more information (361-949-8068). [Juan Rodriguez]

Gettysburg NMP

First Amendment Rally Successfully Managed

Park staff and United States Park Police officers teamed up to provide law enforcement services during a First Amendment demonstration by the Aryan Nations on June 19th. This demonstration involved contentious issues requiring a coordinated response in which the United States Park Police could provide assets not regularly used at Gettysburg. This was perhaps the first major political demonstration where firearms would be allowed on National Park Service property. The USPP deployed aviation, horse mounted, and special service units. Planning and coordination for the event made it possible for several different groups to freely exercise their Constitutionally protected rights while protecting the cultural and natural resources of this park There were no arrests, injuries or illnesses despite the challenging hot, hazy, and humid conditions. [Sgt. David Schlosser, Public Information Officer]

Yellowstone NP

Visitor Killed In Motorcycle Accident

A motorcycle accident last Saturday afternoon in the northeast section of the park claimed the life of an Illinois man. J.F., 53, and two companions had rented motorcycles for a loop trip from Belgrade, Montana, through the park, over the Beartooth Pass, and back. J.F. was trailing the other two riders as they headed east into the Lamar Canyon when his Harley-Davidson struck a rock wall at the east end of the canyon. While the motorcycle remained on the road, J.F. went over the rock wall and down an embankment. There were no witnesses to the accident. J.F. was unconscious and not breathing when bystanders reached him. The helmet he was wearing had come off, and he suffered severe head trauma. He was declared dead at the scene. [Al Nash, Public Affairs Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Alaska Region - Sitka National Historical Park and the Sitka Cultural Center recently hosted the Alutiiq-Tlingit Sharing of Cultures event, one of a series of activities the park is holding to commemorate its centennial year.

Federal Protective Service - Flags lowered to half staff yesterday in remembrance of Senator Robert Byrd, who died on Monday, are to remain at half staff until sunset today.

Special Park Uses - The WASO Special Park Uses office has posted updated applications and permit forms on the Inside NPS special park uses web site. A link is provided.

Park Facility Management Division - The Washington Office has launched an aggressive energy and water audit program that will have significant implications for energy conservation and reduction Servicewide. Photo.

Midwest Region - Brian McCutchen, currently superintendent at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, has been selected as the new superintendent of George Rogers Clark National Historical Park.

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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