NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Monday, August 6, 2012

INCIDENTS

Glacier NP

Search For Missing Concession Employee Scaled Back

No new clues have been found in the search for missing hiker J.K. Limited search efforts will continue until the probability of finding new information or clues leading to the location of J.K. are exhausted. Saturday's search operations included investigation of additional boot tracks found the previous day in the Floral Park area. The track evidence led searchers to a hazardous cliff band. Four teams searched ledges and waterfalls in the Floral Park and Avalanche Basin areas, including a helicopter working in tandem with technical climbing teams, but no signs of J.K. were found. The search for J.K., a seasonal employee with Glacier Park, Inc. at Lake McDonald Lodge, began Sunday, July 29th, after he failed to return following a Saturday hike. The search area has included the Hidden Lake, Logan Pass, Floral Park, and Avalanche Lake areas, which include treacherous terrain filled with rock cliffs, waterfalls, wet and slippery rocks and boulders, and dense vegetation. A park incident management team has managed the incident, with up to 50 people dedicated to the search over the last eight days. North Valley Search and Rescue, Flathead Search and Rescue, the Flathead County Sheriff's Office and the US Border Patrol have assisted the National Park Service with search operations. Trackers, canine search teams, aerial observers, and ground searchers have been utilized during the search. J.K. is from Michigan. This is his first year working in the area. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall with black, short and curly hair and a black beard. It is believed he is wearing a yellow/gold sweatshirt and grey colored khaki pants, and carrying a grey and yellow backpack. Anyone who may have information regarding J.K.'s whereabouts is encouraged to contact park dispatch at 406-888-7800. [Denise Germann, Public Affairs Officer]

Castillo de San Marcos NM

Rangers, Officers Confront Disturbed Man In Park

On the afternoon of August 1st, the operator of a vehicle that overturned in an accident outside the park ran towards the park, removing his clothing along the way. He bypassed the entrance station and ran into the fort while naked, ignoring all commands to stop and pushing visitors out of his way. Law enforcement rangers and St. Augustine PD officers soon arrived on scene and isolated him in an upstairs room. The man, who was bleeding from facial injuries, refused to obey their commands, threw punches at them, and ran repeatedly into the coquina walls while rambling incoherently. Rangers and officers drew and displayed their tasers. A St. Augustine officer fired his taser, but it had little effect on the man, who then ran to a railing, threw himself over, and landed head first about 15 feet below, sustaining additional injuries. He was conscious and breathing when he was removed from the fort. A medevac flight took him to Orange Park Medical Center in Jacksonville for treatment of injuries, including a skull fracture. [Kimberly Mayo, Chief Ranger]

Delaware Water Gap NRA

Rabid Beaver Bites Park Visitor

A park visitor was bitten by a beaver while swimming in the Delaware River just south of Eshback Access on the afternoon of Thursday, August 2nd. The beaver subsequently tested positive for rabies. At this time, it is unknown if other animals in the park are affected. The park is working with the Office of Public Health and the Service's Wildlife Health Branch to protect the health and safety of visitors and wildlife in the park by testing any sick or dead wildlife and notifying the public when rabies is detected in the park. More information will be released as it becomes available. [Kathleen Sandt, 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/):

Northeast Region - The Chesapeake Bay Office recently launched the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail with a festive ceremony honoring the trail's partners.

Mount Rainier NP - Douglas S. Chappell, an engineering equipment operator at Mount Rainier National Park, died in a single car accident early on July 29th. Doug came from an NPS family and worked at Mount Rainier on the road crew for over five years.

Workforce Management - The Service kicks off the “90 Day Telework Challenge” today. The challenge is for managers to become familiar with the telework program and encourage employees to give it a try over the next 90 days (August 6th to November 3rd).

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 August 3rd.

Vicksburg NMP - Terry Winschel, historian at Vicksburg National Military Park, retired on August 3rd after 35 years with the National Park Service.

Fire and Aviation Management - Mark Koontz has been selected as the operations program leader for the Service's wildland fire program, based at the National Interagency Fire Center.

* * * *

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).

--- ### ---