NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

INCIDENTS

Great Smoky Mountains NP

Reported Shooting Took Place Outside Of Park

S.L., 29, of Sevier County, who reported that he'd been shot while hiking in the park on September 7th, has confessed to park investigators that the gunshot wounds he suffered were sustained in an incident occurring outside of park boundaries in Sevier County. The county has accordingly taken the lead in the investigation. S.L. sustained and was treated for two gunshot wounds to the lower leg which he originally claimed to have received while hiking in the park, off trail, in the Cosby area. He was flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center, where he was treated and later released. [Molly Schroer, Public Affairs Officer]

Whiskeytown NRA

Woman Dies In Fall Into Lake

M.A. and J.A. arrived in the park to go fishing early on the morning of September 4th. They chose an area with easy access to the lake, taking a turnoff off from the old Highway 299 to a lakeside spot they had visited before. They planned to go fishing at this area, which has a very gentle and regular slope leading down to the water. While J.A. began getting fishing gear from the car, M.A. walked down to the lakeshore. J.A. told responders that M.A. evidently tripped on something, either a root or a rock, causing her to fall face-first into the water, striking her face hard on rocks that were just underwater off the lakeshore. J.A. dropped his fishing gear and went to M.A.'s aid, finding that she was not responsive and was bleeding a lot from her face. He began calling for help, as M.A. was too large for him to pull her from the water. Two fishermen across the narrow lakeshore waved but continued fishing (they quickly departed the area when they later saw emergency vehicles arrive). The couple's son, J.M., and his wife M.M. arrived soon thereafter to join them for fishing. J.M. had a cell phone and called 911, and both helped J.A. pull M.A. up on the shore. The 911 call was dispatched to Shasta County Sheriffs Office deputies and CAL FIRE firefighters, who responded immediately, then to NPS rangers shortly thereafter. Although CPR was in progress when they arrived, it was stopped by emergency personnel because it was obvious that M.A. was deceased. The death investigation is being led by the Shasta County coroner and Shasta County deputies with assistance from NPS rangers. J.A. was transported to an area hospital for treatment of hypothermia. As of this time the fishermen witnesses have not been located. [Jim Richardson, 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/):

Servicewide - Today is Patriot Day, the day we pause to remember those who were killed on September 11, 2001 - and the many people who responded to the tragic events of that day, including rangers, Park Police officers, and other NPS employees. All flags are to be flown at half staff.

Denver Service Center - Kerri Cahill has been selected as a branch chief in DSC's Planning Division. She is currently the DSC lead for the visitor use management team.

Intermountain Region - Dave Worthington, a 19-year veteran of the federal government, will be serving as interim superintendent at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah. 

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The Morning Report is a publication of the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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