NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, May 13, 2013
INCIDENTS
Buffalo NR
Kayaker Drowns In Boating Accident
On the afternoon of May 6th, a 79-year-old woman from Vermont drowned after striking her head on a tree that was hanging over the river and subsequently caused her kayak to overturn. A friend who was kayaking with her witnessed the accident. She said that the woman was underwater for several minutes before she could get to her and that she was unable to get the kayak upright or get her friend's head above water. Boaters floating down the river came upon the scene and assisted with turning the kayak upright and getting the woman, now deceased, out of the kayak. It is thought that she was underwater for 40 to 45 minutes prior to help arriving. Maintenance employee Jesse Morris was first on scene after hiking in from a location above the accident site and was instrumental in assisting responding rangers. Newton County Search and Rescue also arrived on scene and assisted in the body recovery. The river was running at 588 cubic feet per second at the time of the accident. The longtime friend said that her companion was an experienced kayaker and that they had been taking river trips together since 1988. [Karen Bradford, 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/):
Everglades NP - Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell visited the Everglades in early May on one of her first trips to the field since being sworn in on April 12th. During her visit, she spent time with employees from all the South Florida parks.
Frederick Law Olmstead NHS - A Jefferson Elm, successor to the historic Olmsted Elm that was removed from the park two years ago due to disease, was planted by staff, elementary school students and others in a ceremony held on April 26th.
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, May 10th.
Glen Canyon NRA - On April 29th, the third Brent McGinn and Laurie Axelsen Scholarship was presented to Jesse Vooz for being the “Best in Class” at the Northern Arizona University Seasonal Law Enforcement Training Program.
US Park Police - Captain Charles A. Orton, the assistant commander for technical services, will retire on June 1st after 34 years with the U.S. Park Police.
* * * *
Guidance on incident notification can be found under the “Hot Topics” heading on InsideNPS or at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id=8728&lv=2&pgid=3504" http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id=8728&lv=2&pgid=3504.
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@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
--- ### ---