NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, July 5, 2013
INCIDENTS
Independence NHP
Marijuana Reform Demonstration Held In Park
On Sunday, June 30th, marijuana reform activists held an event entitled “Smokedown 6,” which began with a march from LOVE Park, located in Center City Philadelphia, to the People's Plaza in Independence NHP.
The number of activists grew from approximately 85 participants to about 175 protesters by the time they reached the park's First Amendment area.
Rangers worked closely with Philadelphia Police Department and Federal Protective Service officers to prepare for this event. Over 50 rangers and officers were on hand to deal with the activists, who participated in civil disobedience by smoking marijuana despite knowing of the law prohibiting it.
Seven violation notices were issued for possession of a controlled substance and for interfering with an agency function.
Click on this link for a related news story and video - HYPERLINK "http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9157487" http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=9157487
[Patrick Suddath, Chief Ranger]
Shenandoah NP
Injured Hiker Rescued From Old Rag Mountain
On June 3rd, rangers responded to a report that a man had fallen on Old Rag Mountain in the park's Central District. Initial reports were that he'd broken a leg and was unable to move.
Ascending Old Rag Mountain requires a three-and-a-half mile hike up Ridge Trail, followed by a mile-long rock scramble to the summit. The rock scramble contains numerous technical areas that create a more challenging experience for hikers. Once at the summit, visitors are back on a trail which leads to a fire road back to the park's boundary.
Shortly after the report came in, a Shenandoah trail crew arrived on scene and confirmed the initial report of the man's condition. Rangers determined he had a broken tibia-fibula and prepared him for a litter carryout. He was extricated via litter through the remainder of the rock scramble to the Ridge Trail, where he was put on a wheeled litter and transported to the trail head. He refused further care and was taken to a hospital by someone in his party.
[Brian Sikes, Chief Ranger]
Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs
Rangers, Officers Conduct Sobriety Checkpoint
The park, in cooperation with Tulare County Sheriff's Office and the California Highway Patrol, conducted a driving under the influence/sobriety checkpoint near the entrance to Sequoia National Park on Sunday, June 30th.
A total of 571 drivers received initial screening at the checkpoint. Law enforcement officers conducted field sobriety tests on 13 people. At the checkpoint, officers arrested three people, including one for driving under the influence and two for driving on suspended licenses. One of the suspended licenses was for a prior DUI offense. In addition, a citation was issued for possession of a controlled substance and a warning was issued to a passenger for an open container of alcohol in a vehicle.
This sobriety checkpoint took dangerous drivers off the road, increased public awareness of the consequences of impaired driving, and encouraged the use of sober designated drivers.
[Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]
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/):
Keweenaw NHP - Finland's Secretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently spoke at the Italian Hall ceremony in Keweenaw National Historical Park as part of FinnFest USA 2013.
Lake Mead NRA - A delegation from Metsähallitus, the national park system in Finland, visited the Washington Office, several western parks and Albright Training Center in June to learn about NPS management and training practices.
Denver Service Center - Dr. Robert John Schiller, 72, passed away on Tuesday, June 25th. He retired as chief of natural resources at Grand Teton NP in 2002.
Servicewide Training Calendar - Added to this week's calendar are the following - a webinar on digital media for interpreters, two NAGPRA training courses, and three offerings of a webinar on recreation fees and FBMS.
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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@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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