NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, December 19, 2011

INCIDENTS

Joshua Tree NP

Injured Climber Rescued After 30 Foot Fall

A 65-year-old man fell 30 feet and suffered injuries to his lower extremities while rock climbing in the Saddle Rock area on the afternoon of Friday, December 16th. Rangers learned of the accident around noon. Ten members of JOSAR, the park's search and rescue team, responded. They were assisted by emergency personnel from San Bernardino County Fire Engine 36, Morongo Basin Ambulance, and a Mercy Air helicopter. The victim was carried from the base of Saddle Rock to the park road, where he was loaded into an ambulance and taken a short distance to the Oyster Bar parking area for medical transport by Mercy Air to Desert Regional Hospital in Palm Springs. Ranger Mike Shuman was IC. [Joe Zarki, Public Affairs Officer]

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/):

Olympic NP - The ongoing removal of dams on the Elwha River, temporarily halted for late fall runs of chum salmon, resumes again today, two weeks ahead of schedule.

Office of Communications - Director Jarvis has signed a policy allowing national park superintendents to discontinue the sale of water in disposable plastic bottles. This article, which also appeared last Friday, has been updated with a working link to the policy statement.

Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings, newly introduced bills, and the status of legislation of interest to the National Park Service. This report covers activities during the week ending on December 16th.

NPS Alumni - On December 13th, the National Park Service family and community lost a good friend when retired ranger Gerald “Jerry” Mernin passed away.

Golden Gate NRA - Maya Seraphin, protection ranger at Golden Gate NRA, is retiring after about 26 years with the National Park Service, effective December 31st.

Natural Resource Program Center - Jim Woods, environmental protection specialist in the Geologic Resources Division, is retiring on December 31st after 36 years of federal service, including over 33 years with the NPS.

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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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