NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Sunday, October 10, 2010

INCIDENTS

Glen Canyon NRA

Glen Canyon Mourns The Loss Of Two Rangers

On October 8th, Chief Ranger Brent McGinn and Dangling Rope District Ranger Laurie Axelsen took off from the Bryce Canyon Airport in a privately-owned Cessna 172 for a pleasure flight over Mount Dutton, continuing on to Page, Arizona. Both were off duty at the time and had flown to Bryce Canyon so that McGinn could meet friends and scout out hunting locations. Early on the morning of October 9th, Glen Canyon's dispatch center received a report that the plane was overdue. Shortly thereafter, a search was begun by Garfield and Kane Counties, the National Park Service and Classic Lifeguard, a local air medical evacuation service. Around 8 a.m., the crew of the latter spotted the plane in a rugged area known as Deep Creek on Mount Dutton in the Dixie National Forest. Both Axelsen and McGinn were killed in the crash. McGinn was 49 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon for almost three years. He was from Duluth, Minnesota, and started his National Park Service career in 1980 as a park technician at Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Through the years, he had worked at several National Park Service units, including Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks and Canaveral National Seashore. He is survived by his parents and three siblings. Axelsen was 41 years old and had worked at Glen Canyon for over eight years. She was from Great Falls, Montana, and started with the National Park Service in 1989 as a park ranger at Mount Rainier National Park. Axelsen had previously worked at several national park units, including Olympic, Big Bend and Shenandoah National Parks. She is survived by her parents and a brother. Both are survived by their National Park Service family and friends across the nation. “As what often happens with a tragic event within the NPS family, employees from around the country have sent e-mails and made phone calls with offers of support -- both with thoughts and prayers and by sending staff to help,” said Acting Superintendent Kym Hall. “Knowing we can continually turn to our park service brothers and sisters for support is a priceless gift we receive as being members of this organization. Our neighbors and friends throughout the area have demonstrated that same support through phone calls and sharing of resources as much as possible. For that, we are very appreciative. The staff at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is facing some tough days and weeks ahead as we gather ourselves up and find the strength to move forward and get back into our daily lives. There will be a tremendous hole in our organization with the loss of two such well-known and passionate people. It is a comfort to know they were doing something they loved when their lives ended." Additional details on services and where you can send condolences will appear as soon as they are available. [Shannan Marcak, Public Information Officer]

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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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