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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, October 1, 2012 INCIDENTS Great Smoky Mountains NP Labor Day Weekend Operation Nets Numerous Drunk Drivers Over the Labor Day weekend, the Foothills Law Enforcement Coalition Against Impaired Driving conducted a campaign to combat drivers operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sixty-five people were arrested and charged with DUI by the 13 participating agencies; six of those arrests were made by rangers within the park. Rangers also issued 162 traffic citations, including 16 for possession of controlled substances. During the 18-day special operation, area law enforcement agencies conducted a series of saturation patrols and sobriety checkpoints throughout the Smoky Mountain region. This coordinated effort was part of the statewide Labor Day “Booze It and Lose It” campaign coordinated by the Governor's Highway Safety Office, with funding support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In addition to the DUI arrests, more than 88 felony arrests were made, 25 fugitives captured, and nearly 2100 tickets issued by coalition officers for offenses that included reckless driving, seatbelt violations, and possession of a controlled substance. [Dana Soehn, Management Assistant] Valley Forge NHP Park Staff Assist In Retrieving Sunken Jeep A man who came to the park's Betzwood boat ramp on September 19th to put his canoe into the river neglected to shift his 2010 Jeep Wrangler Sport into park before getting out of it. Shortly thereafter, the Jeep rolled down the ramp and into the Schuylkill River with his canoe attached to the roof. Recent rains had created a strong current, which immediately swept the vehicle downstream about 250 feet. When it came to a stop, the tip of the canoe was the only part visible above the water. A local tow company was notified; due to the depth of the water and length of the tow, they brought in a company specializing in vehicle water recovery. The removal operation lasted approximately five hours, but the vehicle was eventually recovered without further incident. Law enforcement rangers provided assistance on land and in the water. The operator of the Jeep, a CBS traffic anchor, HYPERLINK "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evQ5t5WQdEk&feature=player_embedded" explained his misfortune the following day on the air. [Gregg Tinkham, 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/): Grand Teton NP - Nature lovers enjoyed an uncommon treat last month as the second annual Grand Teton Film Festival brought a panoply of outstanding movies to the big screen at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Commercial Services - The Service recently announced the recipients of its 2012 environmental achievement awards, which honor outstanding accomplishments in the preservation and protection of park resources. Midwest Region - On Saturday, September 8th, 33 Nicodemus descendants and friends, mainly from Kansas, reenacted the departure of many of their ancestors from Sadieville, Kentucky, to Nicodemus, Kansas. Park Facility Management Division - The Facility Manager Leaders Program (FMLP) is now accepting applications for the class to be held in the coming year, the seventh since the program was launched. Applications will be accepted from today, October 1st, through January 11th. Legislative and Congressional Affairs - The Facility Manager Leaders Program (FMLP) is now accepting applications for the class to be held in the coming year, the seventh since the program was launched. Applications will be accepted from today, October 1st, through January 11th. Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - Lance Corporal Jeffrey Cole, operations chief for the National Park Service's Operation Guardian, was meritoriously promoted to corporal on Monday, September 17th. * * * * 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). --- ### --- |