NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, August 19, 2010
INCIDENTS
Grand Canyon NP
Former Learning Center Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement
The former director of the Kaibab Learning Center, a not-for-profit center located in the park and the primary day-care provider for the area, has pled guilty to embezzlement from the center. In April, 2009, allegations surfaced that she had been stealing money from the center. The Grand Canyon Field Office of the Investigative Services Branch (ISB) subsequently launched an investigation into her activities. Witness interviews were conducted and the center's financial records were analyzed with the assistance of the ISB's intelligence analyst. Multiple searches were also conducted, including the service of a search warrant at her residence. On August 4th, she pled guilty to embezzlement in federal district court in Flagstaff. She admitted to collecting cash payments from parents whose children attended the center and keeping the money for herself rather than depositing the funds to the Kaibab Learning Center account. As part of her plea agreement, she has agreed to pay $55,294 in restitution to the center. A conviction for embezzlement carries a maximum penalty of five years, a $250,000 fine, or both. Sentencing is set for November 19th. [Robert W. Mullikin, Special Agent in Charge, ISB Central]
Ozark NSR
Juvenile Drowns In Upper Current River
In the early morning hours of Saturday, August 14th, a family camped along the upper Current River near Cedargrove reported that a 13-year old member of their family was missing. The juvenile was last seen about midnight, swimming and wading near the riverbank. Members of the family searched the immediate area; when they couldn't locate the youth, they requested assistance in the search. Rangers were joined by Missouri State Water Patrol and Jadwin Fire Department personnel in a search by land and water. Another camper reported someone swimming or splashing near their campsite around the time the juvenile was discovered missing. At 1:50 p.m., searchers recovered the body of the juvenile in about eight feet of water approximately 900 feet from his campsite. Ranger Mary Ficker was IC. [Faye Walmsley, Public Affairs Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):
Office of Sustainable Tourism - Nearly 50,000 Boy Scouts and leaders participated in the 17th National Scout Jamboree in Northern Virginia this summer. The National Park Service, which has a strong and continuing relationship with the Boy Scouts, was one of the agencies present and providing myriad programs and activities.
Commercial Services Division - The Commercial Services Program's Asset Management Branch recently conducted its inaugural ‘Asset Management 101' training seminar for park concession specialists at the National Conservation Training Center. Photo.
National Partnership Office - The National Park Foundation has announced that applications are now being accepted for its 2010 impact grants. The deadline is October 1st.
Lake Roosevelt NRA - Chief of Maintenance Ray Dashiell announced that he will be retiring on September 3rd after more than 40 years of service to the visiting public at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Photo.
NPS incident submission standards can be found online at the HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id=8728&lv=2&pgid=3504" serious incident notification web page.
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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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