NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, February 25, 2013
INCIDENTS
Mojave NP
Searchers Find Body Of Missing Hiker
Rangers, San Bernardino County deputies, and California Highway Patrol officers began a search for a missing hiker in and around Caruthers Canyon on the afternoon of Friday, February 15th. The air and ground search began near the summit of New York Mountain, located on the northwest side of the condition. It continued until midnight and then resumed at first light on Saturday. Members of Colorado River Station Search and Rescue, assisted by rangers and Barstow Search and Rescue, continued to search the rugged terrain around the peak. Late that morning, the missing hiker's body was spotted from the air near the summit of New York Mountain. The cause of death is under investigation, but foul play does not appear to have been a factor. [Kirk Gebicke, Acting Chief Ranger]
Yellowstone NP
Former Concession Employee Sentenced Following Theft Conviction
On February 7th, C.M., 57, of Visalia, California, was sentenced to eight months in federal prison for theft involving the use of fraudulent checks. Upon release from prison, she will be on supervised probation for a period of one year. The judge ordered immediate payment of the restitution in the amount of $2,263.55 and imposed several special conditions of probation. On June 6, 2012, the Yellowstone Association reported that C.M., a park concession employee, had used fraudulent checks at their retail sales outlets. An investigation by Yellowstone and Grand Teton rangers and an ISB special agent determined that she had victimized businesses in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks and eight businesses in four counties in Montana and Wyoming. Search warrants were served on C.M., her vehicle, and her dormitory residence. During an interview, C.M. confessed to passing all of the fraudulent checks and on August 1, 2012, was arrested on felony charges. In consultation with surrounding jurisdictions, a plea agreement resulted in charging three counts of misdemeanor theft, with C.M. agreeing to make restitution to all ten victims. Significant assistance was provided by Yosemite National Park's law enforcement office in conducting the investigation. [Investigative Services Branch]
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/):
Office of Communications - Last Thursday night, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation presented the 2012 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award and the George and Helen Hartzog Awards at a ceremony in Washington.
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 the week ending on Friday, February 22nd.
Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - Ranger Andrew Goodrich and the NPS have received special recognition from the Army and Bethesda-Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for outstanding efforts in providing federal internships for wounded, ill and injured service members.
Lassen Volcanic NP - A first grader from Los Gatos, California, with a “passion for Lassen” has collected money in lieu of birthday presents and donated it to the park. He has been made an honorary board member of the Lassen Park Foundation.
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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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