NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

INCIDENTS

Joshua Tree NP

Search Underway For Missing Hiker

Park rangers and volunteer searchers are combing an area of rugged hills and canyons near Yucca Valley for a missing hiker. E.R., 64, of Culver City, California, has been missing since last Friday evening, when he failed to return from a hike near the park's Black Rock Campground. E.R. was reported missing to park rangers on Sunday afternoon. Under the guidance of IC Dan Messaros, rangers and members of Joshua Tree Search & Rescue are concentrating ground search activities in the wilderness area south of the campground, where E.R. was believed to have gone hiking. Six teams of ground searchers are looking throughout the area's many hiking and equestrian trails. The ground search effort is being aided by a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office helicopter. E.R. parked at the campground and told other campers that he intended to go out for a solo day hike on Friday afternoon. When he failed to return on either Friday or Saturday, his absence was reported to rangers. Based on information provided by E.R.'s family, it is believed that he is an experienced hiker and is in good physical condition. The terrain in the search area is characterized by steep, rocky ridges cut by canyons and dry streambeds. The general elevation is 4,000 to 5,500 feet. There are few natural water sources. Some shade can be found beneath scattered trees and rocks. Recent weather at Black Rock Canyon has been sunny and hot, with daytime temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s. E.R. is a Caucasian male, 5'7” in height, weighing 145 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing eyeglasses, a tan shirt, tan pants, and a tan wide-brim hat with a tail for sun protection. He was carrying a black camelback-style backpack. Anyone traveling in the area who might have seen him or someone matching his description should call the Federal Interagency Communications Center at 909-383-5668. [Joe Zarki, Public Affairs Officer]

Lake Mead NRA

Body Of Missing Teenage Hiker Found

A Las Vegas Metro Police search and rescue team found the body of S.M. yesterday morning in Boy Scout Canyon. At approximately 9 a.m., searchers located footprints that matched the shoes S.M. was wearing. The team tracked the prints, which lead them to his body at the bottom of a ravine. The area was described as having 200-foot cliff faces. The cause of death will be determined by the Clark County Coroner's Office. The search lasted three days, during which searchers logged over 2000 man hours and covered an area of about 30 square miles. Yesterday's operation included searchers from Lake Mead and Grand Canyon, Las Vegas Metro Police, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, Mohave County Sheriff's Office, Hoover Dam Police, and the U.S. Air Force 58th and 66th Rescue Squadrons. [Andrew S. Muñoz, Public Affairs Officer]

Keweenaw NHP

Historic Smelter Buildings Destroyed In Fire

Two historic buildings burned on the night of Saturday, September 25th, at the historic Quincy Smelting Works site. The 30-acre site, home to a (now) 26-building 19th century copper smelting complex, is in the Quincy Mining Company National Historic Landmark District (1989). The cooper/carpenter shop (1898) and lumber shed (1917) were contributing structures to the NHL, which is within the park. The fire was called in by an alert citizen from across the Portage Shipping Canal in Houghton around 11 p.m. and drew a response from five area volunteer fire departments as well as the City of Hancock. While the two buildings are a total loss, firefighters were able to cool the adjacent smoldering Cooper Stock building before the fire spread and caused further damage. No cause has yet been determined, but the state fire marshal is expected to inspect the scene soon. For more information and a photo, click on the link below. [Tom Baker, Management Assistant]

HYPERLINK "http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=9623" http://classicinside.nps.gov/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=9623

C&O Canal NHP

Two Arrested For Car Clouts

For the past couple of months, C&O Canal NHP, Harpers Ferry NHP, Antietam NB, and the surrounding areas have experienced numerous thefts from unattended motor vehicles. Special operations and surveillances have been conducted to apprehend the thieves. On September 12th, ranger Leigh Zahm saw a break-in while conducting surveillance on the Dargan parking lot. A man and a woman shattered a vehicle's window with a rock and stole a purse from it. Zahm managed to videotape the event, but the thieves were not apprehended at that time. Later that day, they were seen in another parking lot in the park by ranger Darius Jones. Zahm positively identified the suspects - J.G. and T.W. - and they were arrested. The pair have been connected to several of the auto break-ins and also to a forced entry and theft case at the Cushwa Basin Visitor Center. Special agent Tim Alley is assisting with the investigation. [Brad Clawson, Chief Ranger]

Bighorn Canyon NRA

One Drowns, One Saved In Marina Incident

On September 25th, rangers Scott Hall, Brooke Henthorne, and Alex Sehman responded to a report of a drowning at the Ok-A-Beh Marina. Upon arrival, they were advised that there were two victims, one who had been rescued from the Day Board Nine Campground after being underwater for approximately 30 minutes and a 70-year old man who was experiencing chest pains. Investigation revealed that E.W., 56, was at the Day Board Nine campground when he saw his boat drifting into the lake. E.W. swam to the boat, became tired, grabbed a nearby buoy, and then sank beneath it. Boaters in the area responded E.W.'s family's calls for help and found him in approximately 10 feet of water. He was taken aboard a bystander's boat and transported to the Ok-A-Beh Marina. While en route to the marina, a 70-year-old man in E.W.'s party began experiencing chest pains. Henthorne met the cardiac patient near the marina and assumed patient care until the Bighorn County ambulance arrived and transported him to Hardin, Montana. Hall and Sehman secured the marina as a crime scene and investigation until other assistance arrived. A joint investigation by the National Park Service, Bighorn County Sheriff's Office, and Bureau of Indian Affairs determined that the drowning was an accident. Scott Hall is the lead investigator. [Kevin Tillman, Chief Ranger]

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/):

Yosemite NP - Recent scientific research has shown that the great gray owls found in and around Yosemite National Park are genetically distinct from other populations of great gray owls. They have therefore been classified as a new subspecies.

Fire and Aviation Management - The National Park Service's structural fire program is seeking stories from employees on instances in which they've been impacted by such fires at work or at home. Submissions are due by December 31st. Photo.

Intermountain Region - Michelle Wheatley, Colorado National Monument's chief of interpretation, education and visitor services, has been awarded the regional Freeman Tilden Award for excellence in interpretation. Photo.

National Capital Region - National Capital Region recently held its Excellence in Interpretation Awards Ceremony. Photo.

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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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