NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

INCIDENTS

Colorado NM

Man Ordered To Pay Restitution In Significant Graffiti Case

On the morning of March 20th, rangers discovered significant graffiti in five locations throughout the park, including defacement of two historic walls. Following an investigation, they identified the suspect as 18-year-old D.S., who subsequently confessed. Charges were filed against D.S. with the United States Attorney's Office for defacement of mineral resources and vandalism (major graffiti), a Class B misdemeanor which carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment and a $5,000 fine. In court on April 10th, the defendant signed a plea agreement calling for over $1,400 in restitution (the cost of repair and removal), a $200 fine, and 40 hours of useful public service. In her ruling, the magistrate, after seeing before and after photos, complimented the park on its careful and thorough yet quick restoration of the historic structures. [Eric Paul, Acting Chief Ranger]

Death Valley NP

Injured Woman Rescued From Park Canyon

On the evening of Saturday, April 14th, dispatch advised rangers that a woman had broken her ankle in an unnamed canyon near Artist's Palette along the Badwater Road. Rangers immediately launched a hasty response and found the woman several hundred yards up from the parking lot at Artist's Palette. She had climbed up a side canyon, scaling several dry waterfalls, and was returning when she jumped from a ledge, injuring her ankle. She was conscious and oriented but unable to move due to severe pain. Local search and rescue helicopters were contacted due to the treacherous terrain, waning light, and dropping temperatures. No air assets were able to respond, however, due to high winds and deteriorating weather, so a rescue team consisting of six rangers, two volunteers and other park staff was assembled despite lower than normal staffing levels. Just before 10 p.m., the rescue team began a technical evacuation, lowering the woman and litter over two dry falls and carrying her out to the road. The team reached the road at 11:30 p.m. and she was transferred to an NPS ambulance and taken to Las Vegas via a rendezvous with a Las Vegas-based ambulance company in Lathrop Wells. The incident concluded on Sunday at 3 a.m. Ranger Amber Nattrass was the IC. [Brent Pennington, 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/):

Fort McHenry NM&HS - The bicentennial of the War of 1812 received another boost on Friday, April 6th, as Fort McHenry NMHS staff and volunteers of the Fort McHenry guard and NPS rangers presented the colors for the playing of the national anthem as part of opening day ceremonies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Office of Communications - The National Natural Landmarks Program annual photo contest is now open and accepting entries. Winning photographs will be featured in the 2013 National Natural Landmarks calendar.

Yosemite NP - Yosemite National Park unveiled the logo for the Yosemite Grant anniversary during a ceremony on April 12th. The logo was created to help the park plan for the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant, which will be commemorated on June 30, 2014.

US Park Police - Fourteen law enforcement officials from across the United States traveled to Israel in March to learn how Israel's police, intelligence, and security forces prevent terror attacks. Deputy Chief Robert MacLean represented the National Park Service.

Fire and Aviation Management - Christine Peters has been selected as the incident business specialist for the Division of Fire and Aviation Management in Boise.

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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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