NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, December 8, 2011

INCIDENTS

Lake Mead NRA

Five Killed In Tour Helicopter Crash

A tour helicopter operated by Sundance Helicopters crashed just before 5 p.m. yesterday on the western side of the River Mountains within the park. All five people on board were killed. The National Park Service, Las Vegas Metro Police, Clark County Fire and Henderson Fire responded to the initial call. The helicopter was on a tour flight from McCarran International Airport to Hoover Dam and crashed along a normal route take by tour helicopters. Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are due to arrive on scene today. The identities of the deceased will not be released until the remains have been recovered and next of kin have been notified. Updates will be available on the park's Twitter site at HYPERLINK "http://www.twitter.com/lakemeadnra" http://www.twitter.com/lakemeadnra. A map showing the location of the crash site can be found at HYPERLINK "http://binged.it/s2JMKi" http://binged.it/s2JMKi. Operations will resume this morning; the first incident will be posted at 9 a.m. Pacific Time. [Andrew S. Muñoz, Public Affairs]

Yosemite NP

Body Of Third Waterfall Victim Found

A body found in the Merced River last Saturday about 120 yards below the Vernal Fall footbridge has been positively identified as that of 21-year-old R.B., who was swept over the 317-foot-high waterfall last July 19th along with H.D., 22, and N.Y., 27. H.D.'s body was found on August 5th and N.Y.'s was recovered on November 29th. The three victims were visiting the park with family and friends when they entered the water above Vernal Fall, approximately 25 feet from the precipice. Witnesses reported that several people urged them to step back from the river, since it was flowing swiftly and was extremely cold. The area is signed as a dangerous area, and the trio had crossed a metal guardrail placed there to keep visitors away from the dangerous, fast-moving water. Park staff and personnel from several other agencies had been searching for the bodies since July. Fluctuating water levels in the Merced River, changing weather conditions, and treacherous terrain contributed to a difficult and challenging search. However, with low water levels in the Merced River and dry weather, rangers were able to access areas within the river corridor that were previously impossible to search. [Scott Gediman and Kari Cobb]

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/):

Everglades NP - Everglades has introduced a much expanded mobile app for tracking invasive exotics in Florida. The park partnered with University of Georgia in the development of the "IveGot1" app for the popular iPhone to identify and report invasive plants and animals spotted in Florida.

Northeast Region - On December 6th, the completion of the restoration of the African Meeting House in Boston African American National Historic Site was celebrated with a rededication ceremony.

Workplace Enrichment - An assessment of NPS internal communications was conducted this past year. The results are summarized and recommendations are offered on how to improve internal communications within your office or park.

Accounting Operations Center - Sue Zurybida, deputy manager for financial operations at the Accounting Operations Center, will retire on December 31st.

Learning and Development Division - On December 31st, the National Park Service will bid a fond professional farewell to Clarenda Drake, superintendent of the Capital Area Training Center, who retires after 39 years of dedicated service and leadership.

Southeast Region - Nancy Walther has been selected as the new superintendent of Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. She took over her new post in early November.

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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced with the support of the Office of the Assistant Director for Information Resources 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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