NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
INCIDENTS
Shenandoah NP
Numerous Rescues Conducted During Fall Months
During the busy fall colors season at Shenandoah, the park conducted four major rescues among other smaller rescues and the many other activities:
A 66-year-old man fell from the summit of Little Stony Man, sustaining head injuries. The Park Police assisted in the operation, using their hoist helicopter for the rescue and transporting the man to the hospital.
A 24-year-old woman broke her ankle on Old Rag Mountain. Winds were too erratic to utilize the USPP hoist, so a technical ground rescue was undertaken. Fortunately, the winds stabilized and USPP was able to extricate the woman just before sunset, eliminating the need for a lengthy and hazardous night rescue.
A 46-year-old woman broke her ankle on the Cedar Run trail, requiring a lengthy night rescue operation.
A 40-year-old woman sustained a knee injury on Old Rag Mountain. Winds did not permit the USPP helicopter to assist in the operation, so a lengthy, 12-hour technical rescue and carryout was conducted utilizing 30 responders.
All major rescue operations in Shenandoah are conducted utilizing personnel from all divisions as well as several cooperating organizations. The USPP aviation program has been a great asset for the park's rescue operations by reducing the need for hazardous technical ground evacuations as well as improving patient care through much more timely transportation to hospital care. [Pete Webster, Deputy Chief Ranger]
Blue Ridge Parkway
Deer Poachers Caught
On the morning of November 24th, a park visitor/neighbor called Blue Ridge Parkway dispatch to inform them that he had just seen two men poach a large buck. According to the caller, he was watching the deer in a field in the park and told the two men about it. As he departed the area, the two men shot the deer. The Blowing Rock Police Department was able to respond and detain the two men until ranger Bruce Gagnon arrived. The investigation revealed that a large, eight-point buck had been shot from the roadway from a distance of about 50 yards. The investigation into this case is being handled jointly by the National Park Service and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. [Kurt Speers, Ridge District 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/):
Tallgrass Prairie NP - On Friday, November 12th, ground was broken for the park's long awaited visitor center and administrative office buildings in a ceremony with a number of dignitaries, including two cabinet secretaries and four past or present Kansas governors.
Cultural Resources - The NPS Cultural Resources Diversity Internship Program is inviting the submission of project proposals for next summer. The deadline for applications is Tuesday, November 30th.
NPS/FLETC - The National Park Service at FLETC will be accepting applications for the Ranger Honor Guard until February 28th. A number of positions may be filled from this applicant pool. Photo.
Gettysburg Foundation - The Gettysburg Foundation yesterday announced the selection of Joanne Hanley as its president. She currently serves as general superintendent for the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania. Hanley will assume her new position on February 1st.
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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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