NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, August 1, 2011

INCIDENTS

Glen Canyon NRA

One Killed, Two Injured In Boating Accident

A 15-year-old Boy Scout was killed in a boating accident on Lake Powell last Thursday night, and a second Boy Scout and an adult were injured. A group of scouts and adults were riding in a boat back to camp after dinner on Antelope Island. The boat, which was being operated in darkness, apparently struck a rock outcropping, throwing the boy out of the boat and fatally injuring him. The second Scout and the adult sustained injuries in the impact but were not thrown from the vessel. The Scout was flown out by Classic Lifeguard helicopter for medical attention. The adult was transported by ambulance to Page Hospital. The accident is under investigation by the Coconino County Sheriff's Office with assistance from the NPS. [Max King, Public Affairs Specialist]

Upper Delaware S&RR

Teenager Drowns In Upper Delaware

Park dispatch received a report of a missing swimmer near Number Nine Railroad Bridge on the Ten Mile River Boy Scout Reservation just after 7 p.m. last Wednesday evening. A multi-agency response was immediately launched. Hasty searchers, including divers, checked the point where 18-year-old D.R. had disappeared while attempting to swim across the Delaware with two companions. D.R. began having trouble about half way across the river and the other two swimmers tried to help him. One took hold of D.R., but was unable to get him to shallow water. Although the point where he'd gone under was identified, searchers were unable to find him and the operation was called off around 9 p.m. The search was resumed the next morning, with several dive teams assisting, including one from Delaware Water Gap NRA. Port Jervis VFD divers recovered the body around 3 p.m. that afternoon. The park is leading the investigation into the death. [Joe Hinkes, Chief Ranger]

Chickamauga and Chattanooga NMP

Hiker Treated And Evacuated Following 50-Foot Fall

The park received a report of a serious fall and injury to a 23-year-old climber beneath Sunset Rock in the park's Lookout Mountain area on the evening of July 27th. He'd fallen 50 feet, landing on a hiking trail. Responding park and local rescuers treated his injuries and began a carryout up to the rim of Sunset Rock. He was air-lifted that evening to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga with non-life-threatening injuries - a dislocated shoulder and a shattered left foot. Climbing is allowed in this area of the park. [John McCutcheon, Supervisory Park Ranger]

Blue Ridge Parkway

Two Plead Guilty To Poaching Ginseng

On July 2nd, rangers came upon an orange moped covered in duct tape chained to an access gate at Milepost 374. The moped was identified as one that had been described in great detail in a “Crime Stoppers” tip as a vehicle operated by two people engaging in the illegal harvest of ginseng in and around the park. Rangers saw two men - later identified as C.J.D. and R.E.P. - walking in the woods. The two men, who matched the descriptions given in the “Crime Stoppers” tip, were wearing backpacks and, based on their behavior and actions, were apparently searching for and digging ginseng. They were found to have 52 ginseng roots in their possession. On July 27th, both pled guilty in federal court to harvesting ginseng in the park. C.J.D. was sentenced to 10 days in jail and a $600 fine; R.E.P. was sentenced to 17 days in jail, but was not fined. [Tim Francis, Pisgah 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/):

Great Lakes National Parks - A report issued earlier this month summarizes climate changes that are threatening the Great Lakes and the five largest NPS units along their shores - Apostle Islands, Pictured Rocks, Isle Royale, Indiana Dunes and Sleeping Bear Dunes.

Gateway NRA - Over 150 women from four states competed in the 27th annual All-Women Lifeguard Tournament in the park's Sandy Hook Unit last Wednesday. Photo.

Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the NPS.  Included in this week's summary are reports on two Senate hearings held last week.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of Communications and 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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