NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, August 23, 2012

INCIDENTS

Chiricahua NM

Scenic Drive And Campground Closed Due To Flooding

The upper portion of Bonita Canyon Drive and the Bonita Canyon Campground in Chiricahua National Monument have been closed due to flooding from weekend storms. Nearly three inches of rain fell in parts of the monument on Friday, August 17th, with additional storms dropping another seven tenths of an inch of rain on Sunday, August 19th. The monument was evacuated and closed around 5:00 p.m. on Friday evening. The entire Bonita Canyon Drive was closed overnight and the lower portion was reopened on Saturday morning after crews were able to assess the damages and clean up debris. Significant mud and debris flow and damage to the road shoulders has left the upper portion of the Bonita Canyon Drive (past the visitor center) unsafe for travelers. The Bonita Canyon Campground also sustained moderate damage from the flooding. Cleanup and repairs to the roadway and campground are estimated to be completed by Labor Day weekend. The park remains open to visitors. The lower portion of Bonita Canyon Drive is open and features access to historic Faraway Ranch, a picnic area, a visitor center and bookstore, and several trailheads. Trails in the monument are passable but users may encounter debris piles and loose soils. [Julena Campbell, Public Affairs Officer]

Great Smoky Mountains NP

Remains Of Missing Man Believed To Have Been Found

There has been a new development in the case of a M.G.C., a man thought to be missing in the park since last March. On Friday, park employees discovered items thought to belong to M.G.C. near the area where his vehicle was originally found parked along Newfound Gap Road. On Saturday and Sunday, searchers combed the area where clothing and other items consistent with those last seen on M.G.C. were located. On Monday, human remains were discovered in the area, but have not yet been positively identified. M.G.C.'s family has been notified of the new developments. The remains are being sent to the medical examiner for analysis and possible identification. [Molly Schroer, Public Affairs Office]

Cuyahoga Valley NP

Rangers Take Down Methamphetamine Operation On Park Land

On August 16th, rangers, Cuyahoga Falls narcotics detectives and members of the Summit County drug task force served arrest and search warrants at a residence adjacent to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The operation marked the culmination of weeks of surveillance and investigation of a clandestine methamphetamine lab on park land near the house. Two occupants of the home were arrested; a third fled into the woods during the raid and has not yet been arrested. Additional arrest warrants have also been issued. The case began when rangers on foot patrol near the boundary discovered a dump site containing methamphetamine related trash. Rangers then worked with detectives to establish the connection between the lab and suspected meth manufacturers at the residence. This is the second meth dumpsite discovered in the park in recent weeks and intelligence suggests a sharp increase in the “cooking” of meth on public lands in the area. In keeping with the tenets of Operational Leadership, training in the recognition of these hazards is planned for park staff, volunteers and park partners. [Ivan Kassovic, Operations Supervisor]

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/):

Apostle Islands NL - Retired career NPS employee John P. “Pako” Pavkovich passed away at home on Saturday, August 18th, following a courageous battle with cancer. Services will be held on Friday.

NPS Alumni - Retired career NPS employee Cindy Nielsen passed away on August 19th. A private service will be held on a future date.

Southeast Region - Sarah Craighead has been selected as the next superintendent of Mammoth Cave National Park. She assumes her new duties on November 4th.

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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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