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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Wednesday, March 21, 2012 INCIDENTS Great Smoky Mountains NP Two Searches Underway In Park Two searches are currently underway in the park - the continuing effort to find D.L., 24, missing since March 15th, and a search begun yesterday afternoon for a missing and despondent 23-year-old man. Approximately 30 searchers, three tracking dog teams and a helicopter were employed in yesterday's search for D.L. Park trackers and search dog team followed up on a couple of potential clues that might help determine his route after leaving his vehicle. Other teams worked the expanded search area, which now includes the overlooks along Newfound Gap Road and Clingmans Dome Road. A helicopter from the North Carolina Highway Patrol surveyed the areas along Newfound Gap Road and some of the trails that are accessed from the Newfound Gap Trailhead. Personnel were also posted at some of the park's other popular trailheads, such as Alum Cave, Chimney Tops, Sugarlands Visitor Center and Clingmans Dome. They are handing out flyers in hopes that somebody coming out of the backcountry may have seen D.L. A second search was begun yesterday when an abandoned vehicle was found along the New Found Gap Road. Investigation revealed that the 23-year-old operator was believed to be despondent. Hasty searchers and dog teams began looking for him yesterday, and the operation will be expanded today. [Bob Miller, Management Assistant, and Clay Jordan, Chief Ranger] Organ Pipe Cactus NM Illegal Immigrant Rescued From Park Backcountry On March 1st, rangers rescued an undocumented alien in a remote desert area within the park. A second undocumented alien approached rangers on backcountry patrol with an urgent request - his sister lay sick and unconscious in a remote location and needed help. The rangers determined that the man had left his sister about four hours earlier and immediately began a ground search with assistance from a Customs helicopter. Less than an hour later, they found her. Although unconscious, she soon awoke and told the rangers that she'd become ill two days before and was suffering from abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. She was carried to a park patrol vehicle and transported with EMS providers to rendezvous with an awaiting ambulance. At last report, the woman was doing well and expected to recover without complications. Both the man and his sister were turned over to the Border Patrol. [Matt Vandzura, Chief 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/): San Juan NHS - San Juan National Historic Site opened its new Discovery Center on Friday, January 27th. The center was created to have a special place for young visitors to get more involved in the park's education programs. Workplace Enrichment - The newest article in the "From Where I Sit" leadership and management series has been posted. Patty Wissinger, superintendent at Chattahoochee River NRA, discusses respecting and valuing employees. Saguaro NP - Ranger Samuel Arnberger was recently honored by the Southern Arizona Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) for his outstanding efforts in DUI enforcement. * * * * 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). --- ### --- |