Mammoth Cave |  |
The following Incident Reports were extracted from the NPS Morning Reports/Coalition Reports from 1989-2024. They are not a complete record of all incidents which occurred in this park during this timeframe. INCIDENTS | |
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March 28, 1988 Location: Administration Building D.H. and C.S., both Job Corps members, sexually assaulted a female Corps member outside the Great Onyx administration building on the evening of the 26th. The woman was taken to a medical center in Bowling Green where she was treated and released. The two men were charged with aggravated sexual assault and are currently being held in the Barren County Correctional Center. Several staff members, including an area rape crisis counselor and the Center rape crisis coordinator, provided support.
On the evening of the 13th, a 19-year-old female trainee received a telephone call telling her to meet a friend at the mess hall garage. When she arrived, she was confronted by an 18-year-old Job Corpsman, who allegedly assaulted her sexually. The woman filed a complaint, a warrant was issued and the alleged assailant was arrested yesterday on Federal charges of aggravated sexual abuse. He will be arraigned in Federal District Court in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
The arrest in the sexual assault at the Job Corps Center reported yesterday came following an intensive investigation by park rangers. The suspect appeared before a U.S. magistrate in Bowling Green on the 15th and is being detained without bond. The investigation is continuing. (Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA).
On June 12th, a 29-year-old women from Horse Cave, Kentucky, reported to local police that she'd been sexually assaulted at the Beaver Pond viewing area adjacent to Highway 70. The victim reported that she'd been sitting at the area when she was grabbed from behind by an assailant who told her that he had a handgun and would kill her, then dragged her a short distance down a trail and assaulted her. There were no witnesses. Park rangers and the FBI are investigating. (Telephone report from RAD/SERO).
Around noon on the 19th, a truck with 1800 gallons of diesel fuel on board overturned on Old Highway 70 in the park. The park immediately implemented its hazardous materials response plan. The area was diked, the spilled fuel - approximately 370 gallons - was pumped out of the area, and about 30 tons of contaminated soil was dug up and removed. The entire operation was completed by 4 p.m. The spill occurred on a ridge which has a cave system lying 200 feet below, but the oil was apparently removed before any damage occurred, to the cave. There were no injuries in the accident. (Telephone report from Bill Sturgeon, RAD/SERO, 12/20).
On the morning of the 19th, Kentucky state police officers arrested Mrs. L.S., a secretary at Mammoth Cave, at park headquarters on a warrant charging her with possession of more than eight ounces of marijuana with intent to sell - a Class D felony. The warrant was in connection with an incident which occurred outside the park. (Phil Veluzat, MACA, via CompuServe message from RAD/SERO, noon EDT, 4/19/90).
On August 6th, a group of students at Great Onyx Job Corps Center went to a skating rink in Glasgow, Kentucky. During their visit, students from the center became involved in a verbal exchange with subjects from the local community. The apparent instigator of the incident was local resident 20- year-old K.F., of Munfordville, Kentucky. This verbal exchange escalated into numerous altercations between the Job Corps students and locals in a parking lot outside the rink. During that time, L.R. apparently produced a handgun from his car and fired several shots, some of them aimed at the bus which Great Onyx had used to travel to the rink. One shot stuck 17-year-old L.F. of Memphis, Tennessee, in the leg. L.F. was admitted to a Glasgow hospital and is reported to be in satisfactory condition. L.R. was arrested on charges of first and fourth degree assault. (Telefaxed report from Capt. Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 8/7).
Park personnel discovered the theft of two aboriginal sandals from a display case in the historic section of Mammoth Cave on the 22nd. The sandals, which are estimated to be from 2,000 to 5,000 years old, are woven from vegetable fiber and are considered unique because they represent some of the bestpreserved examples of cave artifacts in existence. The glass on the display case was broken to provide access; no other items in the case were taken. There is no evidence of forcible entry into the gated cave. The black market value of the sandals is estimated to be over $2,000. An investigation is underway. (Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, via telefaxed report from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 10/26).
Around 6:00 p.m. on the 18th, a pickup truck towing a horse trailer approached the north landing for the Green River ferry, went through a stop sign, and plunged into the river. Both truck and trailer were submerged in about eight feet of water. The ferry's operator saw the accident, employed a small boat kept on the ferry for emergencies to paddle to the truck, and rescued one of the vehicle's occupants, 29-year-old P.M. of Owensboro, Kentucky. A second occupant, B.B., 31, of Rockport, Indiana, failed to surface, and help was summoned. An NPS diver checked the vehicle, but found no one inside. Rangers and members of a local rescue squad began dragging operations. About three hours later, B.B.'s body was recovered 75 yards downstream. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the county coroner. P.M. was taken to a medical center in Bowling Green for treatment. Two horses in the trailer also drowned in the accident. (Telefax from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 11/20).
T.C., a 17-year-old male student at Great Onyx Job Corps Center, was assaulted by an undetermined number of fellow students in his dormitory in the early morning hours of the 21st. Initial reports indicate that he was pulled from his bunk, restrained by a blanket on the dorm room floor, then kicked repeatedly by four or five students, all of whom were wearing steel-toed boots. T.C. sustained numerous cuts and contusions and was hospitalized at the Bowling Green Medical Center that morning. Tests were being conducted to determine the extent of his head injuries. An investigation is underway. (Telefax from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 11/22).
E.H., a student at the Great Onyx Job Corp Center, was arrested in Savannah, Georgia, on December 17th and charged with possession of a vehicle which had been stolen from Hinesville, Georgia, on that same date. E.H. was returned to Hinesville yesterday to face preliminary proceedings. He'd left Great Onyx on December 13th for an extended period of Christmas leave. (Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, via CompuServe message from Bill Sturgeon, RAD/SERO, 12/18).
Great Onyx Job Corps officials received information that a student was carrying a handgun at the center on April 27th. The staff investigated and recovered a five-shot, .22 caliber revolver from the jacket pocket of a 19-year-old student, who claimed that he borrowed the jacket from another student. Neither student has a known criminal history, and the recovered weapon is not listed as stolen. The offense is a misdemeanor under federal law. The student who owned the weapon was immediately dismissed from the job corps program. The case will be reviewed by the U.S. attorney. [Telefax from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 4/28]
Around noon on June 5th, a train derailed in Cave City, about ten miles southwest of the park and at the edge of the park's groundwater recharge basin. Seven or eight of the 30 rail cars that left the tracks contained hazardous materials, including one filled with liquid ammonia nitrate. One of the cars caught fire in the accident. The park provided a fire pumper and threeman crew to assist at the scene; the state's disaster and emergency services office has also asked the park's safety officer to serve as the incident safety officer, and has requested the assistance of the park's hydrologist to monitor groundwater for potential contamination. (Telefax from Marla Davis, MACA, 6/5]
Joe Wagoner, the recently retired chief of interpretation at Mammoth Cave, died of cancer on August 10th. Graveside services were held yesterday. The family has asked that donations be made to the Edmonson County Hospice Association in Brownsville, Kentucky, in lieu of flowers. Besides his wife, Virginia, Wagoner is survived by two sons, Chip and Kimerick, and a daughter, Katrinka. Messages of condolence may be sent to Virginia at 407 Ollie Ridge Road, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259. [Telefax from John Beck, RAD/SERO, 8/12]
A severe thunderstorm struck the park's headquarters area on the afternoon of August 17th. A large tree in the headquarters campground was struck by lightning during the storm. As it fell, it damaged a comfort station, knocked down a powerline and damaged a visitor's recreational vehicle. Power was restored late that evening. [Telefax from RAD/SERO, 8/19]
A 16-year-old female student at the Job Corps Center attempted to commit suicide on August 18th by injecting herself with an unknown substance. She was found unconscious in her bed by fellow students around 10:00 p.m. She was taken to Greenview Hospital in Bowling Green for treatment and is listed in satisfactory condition. Plans have been made for her to return to her home after she is released from the hospital. [Telefax from RAD/SERO, 8/19]
The park received a report of a diesel fuel spill at a nearby truck stop on August 17th. Resource managers and rangers responded to determine if park resources were threatened. The spill occurred when a charter bus was filling tanks and the nozzle failed to shut off. About 25 to 30 gallons of fuel spilled. A sand dike and absorbent materials were employed to collect some of the spill, but an undetermined amount flowed into a storm sewer that emptied into a sinkhole which may drain into the Hawkins River, an underground river within the park. Resource managers are monitoring both the spill site and Hawkins River. [Telefax from RAD/SERO, 8/19]
On December 5th, rangers began investigating a series of assaults resulting in physical injuries which had occurred the previous day in student dormitories at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center. Interviews with victims and witnesses of these assaults implicated three adult students. The center's management staff and investigating officials felt that renewed violence was possible if the three suspects remained at the center, so all three were advised of the board of review rights and placed on administrative leave. They were transported from the center shortly thereafter. The investigation is continuing. The U.S. attorney's office will be consulted regarding possible criminal prosecution. [Telefax from Steve Alscher, LES, RAD/SERO, 12/9]
J.S., an 18-year-old student at Great Onyx Job Corps Center, was arrested on December 17th and charged with assaulting another student with a dangerous weapon. J.S. confessed to striking 19-year-old P.M. on the head with a pool cue. He appeared before a U.S. magistrate the following day, and a plea agreement was reached wherein J.S. pled guilty to a reduced charge of simple assault. He was sentenced to seven days incarceration in a local jail and is to begin serving his sentence on January 8th. [Telefax from Steve Alscher, LES, RAD/SERO, 12/19]
The eleven-day-old search for a specially trained companion dog that was lost in a serious accident culminated successfully on February 3rd when she was found approximately three miles from the accident scene near the Sand Cave parking lot in the park. The dog, named Nicole, is one of only 21 members of a new breed called Charlee Bears which have been bred and trained to provide emotional support to their owners. Nicole's owner, J.M., 58, lost a leg to vascular disease five years ago and must spend much of her time in a wheelchair. The family was en route from their home in Brookfield, Wisconsin, to Florida when her husband, 59, fell asleep at the wheel on Interstate 65. Their van rolled over and struck a rock embankment, throwing all three family members (none of whom were wearing seatbelts) and Nicole from the vehicle. T.M., 30, suffered spinal injuries and is paralyzed from the waist down; Mr. M's neck, pelvis and one leg were broken; J.M. suffered a ruptured bladder and broken pelvis. Local police and firefighters, joined by truckers and other volunteers, searched for the dog, but she was able to elude them. On February 2nd, she was spotted on the East Entrance Road on three occasions by park employees, but they were unable to catch her. The dog's breeder, who had worked for ten years to develop Charlee Bears by crossing Portuguese water dogs and wheaten terriers, was notified of the sightings and flew down from Maine to help in the search. He found Nicole at the parking lot; when he called to her, she came to him. [Telefax from MACA, 2/5]
Steve Williams, the EEO officer for Midwest Region, died from lung cancer last weekend. Steve started his NPS career as a guidance counselor at the Great Onyx Civilian Conservation Center at Mammoth Cave, then transferred to NCRO as an employee development specialist. He moved to Midwest Region in December, 1972. He is survived by his wife, Louise, a son, a daughter, and six grandchildren. Services will be held this morning. Condolences may be sent to the family at 8029 Manderson Circle, Omaha, NE 68134. [Telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 2/24]
On the evening of April 7th, an overflowing sewer line was discovered in the park. The sewer line, which carries effluent from the park residential area, had plugged up part-way down the northwest flank of Mammoth Dome Sink, and sewage was spilling from beneath a manhole cover, onto the side of a hill, then running to the bottom of the hill and sinking into the ground. Rangers and maintenance crews responded quickly and were able to clear the obstruction. Although its not known when the spill began, an interpreter in the Mammoth Dome section of the cave had noticed and reported a foul odor there to the park's science and resource management division that afternoon. Resource management personnel acquired water samples in Mammoth Dome on the morning of the 8th and detected no odor at that time. Main shaft waters in the dome had a bacterial density of 6900 colonies/100 ml, which indicated moderate sewage contamination. On the evening of the 10th, samples were again drawn; this time only 500 colonies/100 ml were detected. This rapid decrease in bacterial density suggests that the adverse impact of the sewage leak on cave water quality will be relatively short-lived. One more sample will be drawn in the near future to confirm this hypothesis. [Telefax from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 4/14]
Barry Toohey, 47, the assistant student supervisor at Great Onyx Job Corp Center, died of cancer early yesterday morning. Toohey had gone on disability retirement on April 10th. He is survived by his wife and three children. Condolences may be sent to 1406 East Broadway, Cave City, KY 42127. [Gayle Giesecke, MACA, via telefax from Marcella Gibson, RAD/SERO, 4/22]
On the afternoon of May 16th, a bus carrying 11 students from the Great Onyx Job Corps Center went off the road about eight miles north of the park and overturned. All 11 students and the driver were taken by ambulance to two local hospitals, where they were examined, treated for minor injuries and later released. According to the driver, the bus went off the road to the right and began to fishtail. The driver was unable to regain control, and the bus subsequently rolled over. The group was returning to the center after a visit to the park. The accident was investigated by Edmonson County sheriff's deputies; Mammoth Cave rangers assisted. [Telefax from Steve Alscher, RAD/SERO, 5/19]
On the afternoon of May 28th, the park was notified that a tractor-trailer traveling north on I-65 with a ruptured fuel line had discharged an estimated 60 gallons of diesel fuel into the park's groundwater recharge basin. The truck then stopped at a service station in Park City, where approximately 20 more gallons were spilled. Because of quick response by the Park City volunteer fire department and park staff, all fuel spilled at the service station was captured with absorbent material. If not for the rapid action, the fuel would have entered an adjacent sinkhole and flowed into the park's cave system. Previous research has shown that hazardous materials or pollutants entering the groundwater at this sinkhole could enter the park within a few hours and could reach visited portions of the cave system in less than a day. This is the second sizable spill at the same location in the past nine months. [Telefax from Marcella Gibson, RAD/SERO, 5/29]
Early on the afternoon of July 28th, ranger Roy Hundley was assisting a visitor during a cave tour when he tripped and fell from the trail into loose cave rock. He sustained a broken tooth, lacerations and abrasions to his left arm, and severe trauma injury to his face. ICS was implemented, and Hundley was extricated from the cave by park employees assisted by local ambulance personnel. He was taken to a hospital in Bowling Green, where he underwent surgery to repair damage to his upper lip. Further surgery will likely be required. Hundley was released from the hospital on July 31st. [MACA, 8/4]
The orientation education program office at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center was entered through an unsecured service door sometime in the late evening hours of August 11th or the early hours of the 12th. The office door and a window were damaged, and several pieces of equipment were removed from the office and thrown in the hallway along with student profile sheets and photographs. Damage to the building and contents is estimated to be no more than $200. [Marcella Gibson, RAD/SERO, 8/12]
On August 28th, seasonal ranger James Blanton was patrolling the headquarters campground when he spotted an individual staggering along the campground road and wandering through several campsites. Blanton summoned assistance and was joined by rangers David Alexander and Ezra Brandon. Alexander and Brandon talked with the man, who identified himself as J.E. J.E. began cursing loudly and threatened both rangers, at which point they took him into custody for disorderly conduct. As they attempted to place him in the patrol car, J.E. started spitting and screaming profanities at the rangers. Alexander and Brandon, assisted by Blanton and ranger Brad McDougal, were finally able to get him into the back of the car. J.E. then screamed that he was hurt; when McDougal opened the car, J.E. kicked out the rear window of the car. Alexander suffered minor facial cuts from flying glass. When J.E. was being moved to another patrol car, he lunged toward the rangers. J.E. was sprayed in the face with a single burst of OC-10, a pepper spray, and he immediately ceased all resistance. Rangers attempted to flush his eyes, but he refused to cooperate. While Blanton was attempting to help him, J.E. kicked him in the knees. As he was being placed in another patrol car, he kicked Alexander in the face. J.E. was taken by rangers to a local hospital for evaluation, then lodged in a county correctional center. J.E. subsequently admitted to jail staff that his real name was James Bugg, and that he was from Carpinteria, California. A criminal history check on Bugg revealed a lengthy record, including arrests for armed robbery, possession and distribution of dangerous weapons, domestic abuse, and numerous instances of battery. The U.S. attorney will prosecute Bugg for felony assault on federal officers and destruction of government property. [CR, MACA, 8/31]
Following the receipt of information on the possible location of items stolen from the park in a 1989 burglary, rangers and Kentucky state police officers conducted a search of a private residence near the park in Northtown, Kentucky, on October 6th. Rangers recovered 18 items of government property taken during that burglary, and state police officers found items linked to five separate burglaries which had occurred in communities surrounding the park. The U.S. attorney's office is reviewing the case for prosecution. [Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 10/7]
On November 14th, Brad McDougal, the park's protection specialist, videotaped two Great Onyx Job Corps students digging in an archeological site located in the park about a half mile from the corps center. The pair fled when approached by McDougal, but were subsequently identified. One of the students confessed to digging for arrowheads both in this incident and on five other occasions. The other student, who is a juvenile, admitted his involvement in damaging the site. An archeologist from the Southeast Archeological Center was to visit the site yesterday and prepare a damage assessment. The U.S. Attorney's Office will prosecute the case as an ARPA violation. At this time, no decision has been reached on whether to proceed with ARPA felony or misdemeanor charges. [RAD/SERO, 11/16]
A search was begun on the night of November 14th for six Boy Scouts and a Scout leader who failed to return to their campsite at Maple Springs group campground following a hike in the park. An incident command team was established, and hasty searches were conducted during the night while additional resources were being mobilized. At dawn on the following morning, 21 park searchers and a state police canine unit began a search of for the group. Just before 7 a.m., rangers found them hiking out on Turnhole Bend trail. The group had attempted to return to their base camp in the darkness and had lost the trail. They were unable to start a fire, and had no maps, flashlights, food, water or shelter. During the night, the temperature had dropped to 19 degrees. Nonetheless, all were in good condition. [RAD/SERO, 11/16]
On January 29th, J.M.B. of Carpinteria, California, pled guilty in U.S. district court in Louisville to one count of assaulting federal officers [18 USC 111(a)(1)]. J.M.B., 29, was arrested by rangers on August 28, 1992 for public intoxication and disorderly conduct. Rangers had to use OC-10 to subdue him after he violently resisted arrest, kicking a window out of a patrol car and assaulting rangers David Alexander and James Blanton. J.M.B. was sentenced to two months imprisonment, ordered to pay $554 in fines and restitution, and will be placed on a year's supervised probation when he is released from prison. [Brad McDougal, MACA, 2/25]
The body of A.O., a 22-year-old student at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center, was found at the base of a 120-foot cliff about a half mile from the center at 7:15 a.m. yesterday morning by searchers who'd been looking for him through the night. A.O. and three other students had become lost after sunset on May 11th, and A.O. fell as they were trying to return to the job corps center. They were found to be missing during a routine bed check and rangers were notified. A hasty search of the area was conducted during the night, and the three remaining students were located around 5:30 a.m. Although the death appears to be accidental, an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident continues. An autopsy will be performed. Funeral arrangements for A.O., who was from Flintville, Tennessee, are not yet complete. The incident is being handled under the incident command system. The park is seeking individuals with training in critical incident stress debriefing to augment the center's counseling staff and local Wellness Center personnel in taking care of the needs of students and staff members. [Dave Mihalic, Superintendent, MACA, 5/12]
The investigation into the death of A.O., the Job Corps student who fell to his death on May 11th, has been completed, and it's been established that his death was accidental. A.O. died instantly from massive trauma to the head, trunk and extremities. A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. on Friday at the Job Corps center. Critical incident counseling has been made available to all employees and students involved in the incident. Several staff members and students planned to attend A.O.'s funeral in Flintsville, Tennessee, on Saturday. The investigation into the incident was conducted by rangers, FBI agents and the local coroner. [RAD/SERO, 5/14]
On May 30th, the park's cave rescue team assisted in a rescue at privately- owned Buzzards Roost Historic Cave in Cave City about three miles east of the park. The cave has recently been opened for "wild" cave tours. While on a guided tour, one of the members of a party of five fell between 20 and 40 feet into a pit and became wedged at the bottom of a small V-shaped canyon. Two other cavers were trapped behind the victim. Rangers Henry Holman, Barry Melloan and James Blanton were dispatched to the scene around midnight. Homan and Melloan have significant caving experience; Melloan and Blanton are EMTs. Rescue efforts continued through the night, but all efforts to remove the stuck person proved fruitless. He died around 5 a.m. and his body remained lodged in the canyon. More assistance was requested from the park. Rescue teams were formed utilizing members of the National Speleological Society who were attending a regional caving event at a campground near the park. The team was headed by park ecologist Rick Olsen and park hydrological technician Marty Ryan, both of whom have extensive caving experience. A second team composed of members of the Cave Research Foundation who were in the park for their Memorial Day expedition was formed to replace Olsen's team in the event that the rescue went into a third operational period. Park hydrologist Joe Meiman and ranger George Corrie headed this team. Members of Olsen's team were successful in their efforts to remove the victim from the cave. The other two cavers were then rescued. Both were in good shape and declined medical treatment. [Bill Sturgeon, RAD/SERO, 6/3] 93-327 - Mammoth Cave (Kentucky) - Severe Thunderstorms A line of severe thunderstorms which passed through south-central Kentucky on June 4th produced extremely heavy rain, hail and damaging winds. Electricity, telephones and the park's repeater system went out almost immediately. About 300 visitors were on tours below ground at the time. Ten of the eleven park entrance roads were closed by downed trees, and operations of the park's two ferry boats were curtailed due to debris in the Green River. Several sites in the headquarters campground were closed due to broken and dangling limbs. While hundreds of trees snapped off or were uprooted, there was a noticeable difference in developed areas and along roadsides where recent efforts to reduce hazard trees had occurred. Damage to facilities was minimal. Emergency operations plans, managed under the incident command system, were immediately implemented. Park staff evacuated all visitors from the cave system within two hours after the storm's passage. All roads were cleared and opened by park crews by nightfall. Power outages in surrounding areas were severe; as of Sunday, June 6th, utility crews had yet to even begin efforts to restore power. Visitors are being given refunds for tours, which have been curtailed except for one no- cost lantern tour per day. The student dining hall at the Job Corps center is being powered by generator and remains in operation. The park's concession facilities were hard hit. Guests who stayed were treated to meals grilled outdoors. A major loss of all perishable foods is anticipated. Park residents have rotated use of one generator to maintain freezers and refrigerators. [Dave Mihalic, Superintendent, MACA, 6/6]
Electrical power was restored to the park on June 7th. Park employees, working under the incident command system, provided security and assistance for park visitors, residences and facilities. Park maintenance personnel and rangers are making resource damage assessments for recovery work. Initial evaluations confirm that blockage of front and backcountry trails and damage to other park property (signs, picnic tables, etc.) was extensive. Cave tours have returned to normal operations and the reservation system is now back in service. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 6/8]
On June 12th, a woman approached a young deer standing alongside the park's South Entrance Road, picked it up, and placed it in the front seat of her car. The entire episode was videotaped by two park visitors, who also recorded her saying that she was taking the deer to her home. The visitors notified rangers and turned the videotape over to them to help in the investigation. The rangers were able to identify the woman as a local resident. When they questions her, she admitted to taking the deer. The animal was recovered and taken to a state rehabilitation center. The U.S. attorney's office is reviewing the case for prosecution. [CR, MACA, 6/17]
A body found in a van off the road along the Joppa Ridge motor nature trail on the morning of July 8th has been identified as that of 31-year-old T.R., a resident of nearby Cave City. Ranger Brad McDougal investigated and learned that T.R. had been involved in a domestic dispute with his wife the previous afternoon. He then traveled to the park, where he was contacted on the trail around 7:30 p.m. by ranger Faith Koeck. T.R. assured Koeck that he was just enjoying the park and that there was no problem. Family members reported that T.R. had a history of mental problems and had attempted suicide previously. An autopsy is underway. [Brad McDougal, MACA, 7/8]
On July 13th, a vehicle was broken into while it was parked in the Green River Ferry parking lot. The only items taken were a pair of diamond earrings valued at $500 and a purse which contained $500 in cash. Investigation by ranger Henry Holman revealed that the thief had inserted a wire through the weather stripping around a window to enter the vehicle. The purse was later recovered along the East Entrance Road; except for the money and earrings, nothing had been taken from it. Police in nearby Cave City also reported several incidents of car clouting during this time period. [CR, MACA, 7/16]
On July 7th, rangers eradicated two marijuana plots which had been found during parkwide marijuana eradication patrols. The plots, which were in an area that had previously been used for marijuana cultivation, contained a total of 15 plants. Significant resource damage was sustained through the preparation, fertilization and maintenance of the plots. Total estimated value of the plants was placed at $11,400. [CR, MACA, 7/16]
Just after midnight on July 21st, canoers T.B. and J.C. advised rangers that two other members of their party, M.H. and D.C., were overdue from a trip town the Green River. The four had put in approximately ten miles above the park boundary and planned to canoe through the park and land at Dennison Ferry campground. The canoe carrying T.B. and J.C. had capsized, though, and the group became separated. T.B. and J.C. were able to reach shore, walk to a nearby community, and call rangers. A search of the river was begun at 5 a.m. Hoots and Carder were found in good condition on Three Sisters Island around 5:45 a.m. They had been unprepared for an overnight trip and had stopped at the island when darkness fell. [RAD/SERO, 7/21]
On the morning of August 12th, rangers conducted marijuana eradication operations at three cultivation sites that were discovered in the park's northern district. A total of 65 plants were found and destroyed; the valuation has been placed at $70,500. Significant resource damage resulted from cultivation, including the destruction of numerous small trees, ground disturbance, and the use of chemicals, including fertilizer. Rangers were first alerted to the possibility of marijuana plots in the area when two park visitors reported being stalked by an unidentified male as they hiked the White Oak trail. There are suspects in the case, but it appears that they abandoned the sites after the incident with the hikers. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 8/12]
At about 4 p.m. on August 19th, J.M., a member of a National Speleological Society (NSS) group on an expedition in Crystal Cave, dislocated his shoulder when he lost his footing while chimneying through a canyon passageway. He was stabilized by members of the expedition, while others left the cave and notified the park. ICS was implemented and rescue operations were begun at 6 p.m. Resources from the region were mobilized and rescue teams formed to extricate J.M., who was about two miles from the cave entrance. The area of the cave in which he was located has a 2,000-foot belly crawl which requires advanced technical extrication methods. Due to these complexities, a medical doctor was brought to the scene to stabilize J.M.'s injury so that rescue teams could begin to remove him. At the time of the report (6 a.m. last Friday), the rescue was continuing. More than 70 persons were involved, including rescue crews made up of park staff, NSS expedition members and area cave rescue team members. [MACA, 8/20]
A fire was spotted in the farm house at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center around 9:30 p.m. on November 7th. The blaze was knocked down by the local volunteer fire department, but reignited about an hour later and was finally extinguished by the volunteer department and rangers. When Job Corps moved to its current location in the early 1980s, the farm house was retained as an office building. At the time of the fire, it was being renovated into offices for Job Corps counselors. Although the fire appears to have been started by an electrical fault, the park will have the building inspected by an arson investigator. The building is a total loss. [MACA, 11/9]
Although the storms and cold moving through the east have caused disruptions to many areas, two parks report significant problems: * Mammoth Cave - The storm which struck the park on Sunday brought freezing rain and snow; by Monday noon, the park was covered with six inches of snow on top of a thick layer of ice. Many trees have broken under the heavy snow load, closing roads and interrupting electrical service - most of the park has been without power since early Monday morning. Most park roads, the visitor center and all cave tours are closed. The park and Great Onyx Job Corps Center have been operating with essential personnel. Rangers and maintenance personnel have been working to keep primary access routes open for emergency travel and to provide heat for park residences and other government buildings. The Green River ferry is being kept open around the clock to provide for emergency travel by park staff, utility crews and National Guard vehicles which are being used to transport doctors, nurses, and other essential medical personnel. The governor of Kentucky, after declaring a state of emergency, closed all interstate highways and parkways within Kentucky. This closure is expected to last at least through this afternoon. [Bobbie Hjelmgren, CRO, GRSM; CRO, MACA; 1/18]
Electrical service has been restored to critical areas, and the park and Job Corps center plan to return to near-normal operations today. Employees will be asked to report at regular times, but this may be complicated due to road closures in the vicinity. A limited schedule of tours is planned. Conditions should begin to improve over the next few days as temperatures climb to above freezing. [CRO, MACA, 1/19]
Additional reports have been received from the two Southeastern parks most affected by recent snow and cold: * Mammoth Cave - When tours resumed in the historic section of the cave yesterday, a significant rock fall was discovered in the Rotunda, about 500 feet inside the historic entrance to the cave. A layer of limestone about eight inches thick and 60 feet long by 20 feet wide fell about 30 feet from the ceiling. The apparent trigger was the extremely cold air which entered the cave and caused the rock to contract. The remains of saltpeter mining structures (ca. 1812), which are on the National Register, were damaged. Some of the wooden timbers were crushed and the wooden pump barrel was broken and displaced. A preliminary assessment of the damage to cultural resources and to electrical wiring and handrails will be completed today. Tours were continued after the area was examined by park staff, including a geologist. All primary roads in the park are open and electrical service has been almost entirely restored. [CRO, MACA; CRO, GRSM; 1/20]
A winter storm which struck the park and surrounding area on Tuesday, March 8th, led to closures and damage to park facilities. A tree fell on an employee house, causing damage to the roof; that home, other residences and the park maintenance area are without power. The Great Onyx Job Corps Center and other areas of the park also lost power, but had it restored on Thursday. Because of the outages, lantern light tours are being given. Several buildings have received cumulative damage from this and two prior storms. The roofs of the visitor center, administration building and Chaumont administrative facility have severe leaks. Restrooms have been closed at the visitor center and have been replaced with chemical toilets. There is extensive damage to carpet in all three buildings. Many trees are down throughout the park. All roads were closed on Wednesday evening; the main roads were reopened yesterday. Both park ferries remain closed due to high water and downed trees. The Green River is not expected to crest until this afternoon. [Karen Brown, Acting Superintendent, MACA, 3/10]
Power to most of the park was restored on Friday and Saturday, and the occupants of eight park residences were scheduled to return to their homes on Sunday. Generators had been used through much of the week to provide power to the main sewage treatment plant, the park's radio repeater, and other facilities. The headquarters campground and picnic area reopened on Friday; cave tour operations were to return to a normal schedule on Saturday. All roads are now open, but the ferries remain closed because of high water. As of Friday, the water was about 38 feet above normal and six feet over the parking lot at the Green River ferry. The river was expected to crest at 40 feet above normal on Saturday. The process of clearing downed trees from cemeteries, roadsides and trails will begin this week. [Karren Brown, Acting Superintendent, MACA, 3/11]
On June 30th, rangers found and destroyed 93 marijuana plants that had been discovered in two separate plots in the northern district of the park. Evidence indicates that the plants were grown from seed and that the plots had not been tended for some time. Despite competition from other vegetation, the plants were healthy and ranged in size from two and a half to eight feet in height. The plots were found near the spot where two park visitors were stalked by a suspected marijuana grower last year. The street value of the marijuana has been estimated at $184,000. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 7/1]
On July 24th, rangers found and destroyed 26 marijuana plants located in six separate plots in the park's northern district. The plants ranged from two to eleven feet tall and included four identified as sinsemilla. Evidence found at the plots indicates that an aggressive fertilization program was in place aimed at the production of as many sinsemilla plants as possible. Cultivation activity in the northern district has been increasing steadily for the last two years. [CRO, MACA, 8/2]
On November 14th, ranger Conley Armour arrested a 17-year old student at a Great Onyx Job Corps Center dormitory for disorderly conduct and interfering with agency functions. The student was combative and had threatened staff members, and Armour was forced to employ OC-10 after four staff members were unable to restrain the individual and after repeated warnings from Armour. The student was easily controlled after that, and was treated along with a staff member in accordance with established decontamination procedures. Both recovered quickly. The juvenile student appeared in court on November 15th, was released with time served. An investigation into the incident is under way. [Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 11/16]
On January 21st, rangers arrested T.G., 18, a Great Onyx Job Corps, for attempted theft of a government vehicle and malicious mischief. T.G. had broken the window of a government van and attempted to steal it to drive to his home in Georgia. Although T.G. was able to break the steering column housing and start the van, he was unable to disable is steering wheel lock, so drove the vehicle only a short distance before abandoning it and walking back tot he center. Rangers were able to identify T.G. by the distinctive footprints he left at the scene, and he subsequently confessed to the crime. [CRO, MACA, 1/23]
Rangers James Blanton and David Alexander were conducting drug eradication and off-road vehicle use investigations in a backcountry area of the park on the afternoon of May 14th when they heard a vehicle approaching. Blanton stepped into the path of the approaching three-wheel ATV, which was being driven by a white male in his early 20s, then identified himself and ordered the driver to stop. The driver reacted by accelerating and heading the ATV toward Blanton, screaming incoherently and waving a big stick as he came. Blanton drew his weapon and repeatedly ordered the driver to stop. Although there was sufficient space for him to stop or swerve to the side, the driver continued to head directly for Blanton. Blanton leaped out of the way. Alexander then attempted to stop the driver, but also had to move when the driver attempted to run him down. Blanton and Alexander chased the ATV on foot, but were not able to keep up. Further efforts to find the driver proved fruitless. Sketches of the driver have been prepared and distributed to local agencies, and the investigation is continuing in cooperation with local authorities, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 5/15]
A series of severe thunderstorms which passed through Kentucky on May 18th forced the closure of several areas due to high water and knocked out power to the park for most of the day. Lightning also struck the generator at the park's sewage lift station and put it out of commission. The lack of power and extreme infiltration from rain (a total of three inches fell during the day) led to effluent overflow, so a tanker truck was utilized to transfer sewage to gravity lines downstream of the lift station. The problem was resolved when power came back on. Samples were taken of the overflowing effluent and from a nearby stream to compare to background water chemistry associated with the storm. The sewer plant operator estimated that the total flow for the 24-hour period exceeded 330,000 gallons and consisted primarily of storm water. Completion of the rehab of the park's sewer system and connection to a local system in the near future should alleviate long-standing problems with sewage disposal in the park. Work has also begun on burial of power lines in the park, which should minimize power outages. The heavy rainfall also led to the cresting of the Green River at a level almost 40 feet above normal and the closure of both park ferries, two campgrounds and a motor nature trail. All were to be reopened as soon as the river receded. [Henry Holman, Acting CR, MACA, 5/22]
On June 8th, a researcher reported finding a hole under the Crystal Cave gave. Park staff subsequently determined that the cave had been illegally entered and that gypsum and travertine cave formations and two sculpted clay heads had been stolen. The latter were carved out of damp clay sediments in the cave by F.C. and his brother around 1920; the heads are life-sized and reputedly carved in the likeness of the two men, who were working to create trails in order to open Crystal Cave to commercial tours when it was still in private hands. Investigators identified four possible suspects. Three have been interviewed, and all have confessed to varying amounts of involvement. It appears that there were at least five separate entries between mid-April and the end of May, but that not all suspects were present each time. Over 300 pounds of formations have been recovered from three gift shop operators in the Cave City area who paid about a dollar a pound for them. The clay heads were sold to a fourth gift shop operator for $300, and have also been recovered. One vehicle was seized following service of a search warrant. it contained particles of cave formations, cave soils, tools and notes pertaining to the sale of the formations. Tools found inside the cave have been sent to the FBI lab for analysis for latent fingerprints. Investigators also found a large pile of gypsum and travertine in the cave which had been stockpiled for later removal by the suspects. The park is working with experts in geology to place a value on the damage to these irreplaceable formations. An assistant U.S. attorney was to visit the park late last week to review the case, and it's expected that indictments will be sought on multiple felony counts. The fourth suspect is being sought along with additional formations known to have been stolen from the cave. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 6/26]
On August 7th, rangers removed 51 marijuana plants from nine separate plots that were scattered over an area covering about 640 acres in the northeastern section of the park. Some of the plants were 12 feet tall. The plots were located in small openings, some created by ice storms and some by growers. The total value for plants destroyed in the park this year has been placed at $182,000. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA]
On the evening of October 4th, a fire was reported in the Shirley Dorm at Great Onyx Job Corps Center. Rangers and local volunteer firefighters responded and confined the fire to a storage area in the dorm. The building, which is undergoing remodeling, was occupied by about 20 students at the time. There were no injuries. Students were taken to a local motel for the night. The fire apparently started in a sofa and mattress next to a vent. Damage has been estimated at about $10,000. Rangers are continuing their investigation; arson is not suspected. [CRO, MACA]
In June, 1995, park staff discovered that Crystal Cave had been illegally entered and that gypsum and travertine cave formations and two sculpted clay heads had been stolen (the latter were carved out of damp cave clay in 1920 by F.C. and his brother, who created trails in the cave for tourists when it was still in private hands). Investigators determined that three men had stolen the formations and had sold them to local rock shops. Anthony Stinson, Leon Reynolds and Anthony Hawkins were subsequently arrested and pled guilty in federal court to these and other thefts from park caves. Reynolds and Stinson were each sentenced to 21 months in prison and three years' supervised probation upon release; Hawkins was sentenced to 33 months and three years' probation. In rendering the sentences, judge Thomas Russell said that the defendants had "stolen yesterday's time" by destroying the fragile cave formations. Park rangers, scientists and resource managers worked with U.S. attorneys and the staff of DSC's Geologic Resources Division in preparing the case. [CRO, MACA]
W.H., 21, was arrested by rangers David Alexander and Henry Holman on July 10th after they watched and videotaped him cultivating 11 marijuana plants for a period of about ten minutes. W.H. used an entrenching tool to dig around the plants, sprayed a pesticide on them, then sprinkled a powdered animal repellant around the site. When confronted in the patch, W.H. ran, but was apprehended after a short chase. R.H., 51, who had been waiting in a vehicle for his son, fled the area, but was stopped and arrested by ranger James Blanton about two miles from the scene. The marijuana patch had been detected in May, shortly after it was planted. W.H. had been videotaped by a camera triggered by an electronic sensor on an afternoon in June. Another 22 plants were removed from another location about 400 yards south of the first patch; additional searches are planned to look for more marijuana. The arrests came about after a lengthy investigation and surveillance operation which benefitted greatly from support received from the state police and county sheriff's department. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA]
On January 24th, rangers were notified by Kentucky state police that a local fisherman had retrieved strands of human hair from a snag while fishing in the Green River within the park. A lab test confirmed that the hair was compatible with that of A.B., 61, of Edmonson County, who has been missing since April 12, 1996. A joint body recovery operation was initiated under the management of the park, the state police and the FBI. Initial efforts were hampered by weather conditions. The Corps of Engineers suspended water discharges from two area dams in order to lower water levels at the search site. Searches were conducted by a county dive rescue team earlier this week, but had to be suspended due to heavy rains, which caused hazardous river conditions. The search will resume when weather conditions ameliorate and the river level stabilizes. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 2/6]
The search for the body of A.B., 61, missing since April 12, 1996, was resumed on February 17th. The Corps of Engineers again suspended water discharges from two area dams in order to lower water levels at the search site within the park. The county dive rescue team conducted a thorough search of the area. On February 18th, rangers and representatives from the state water patrol conducted a water search of 16 miles of the Green River; a search of the Echo River Springs was conducted with the aid of an underwater high intensity light the following day. No additional evidence was found in any of these searches. The FBI and state police are continuing to investigate. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 2/26]
During the first three days of March, the park received a total of nine inches of rain. The Green River rose to a height of 50 feet above normal, or 20 feet above flood stage. The river was expected to crest on Wednesday morning. Two campgrounds and associated structures were underwater at the time of the report early on Wednesday, and several roads were closed due to high water or erosion. Both the Green River and Houchins ferries had to be disconnected from their cable systems to prevent them from being washed away. The suspended ferry cables and A frames may require extensive repair and/or replacement before the ferries can be returned to safe operation. Localized flash flooding occurred in many areas of the park, causing extensive damage to trails and roads and severely eroding ditches. It won't be possible to determine the extent of the damage until waters recede. The preliminary estimate is a minimum of $100,000. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 3/5]
W.H. and R.H. pled guilty to growing marijuana in the park in federal court on February 20th and were sentenced to two year's probation and fined $1,000 each. The H.s were arrested last July after rangers observed and videotaped W.H. tending a marijuana plot. His father was an accomplice. This was the first drug-related conviction for each man. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 3/5]
A violent thunderstorm struck the headquarters area early on the afternoon of June 21st, bringing heavy rainfall, pea-sized hail and strong winds. Numerous large trees were blown down, knocking out power to the headquarters campground, residential area, maintenance compound and ranger station. Several roads in the area were blocked, several campsites were closed and all scheduled cave tours were held back as visitors sought shelter in the visitor center. ICS was implemented to manage the incident. Park maintenance employees worked with utility crews to restore power; efforts were complicated by downed trees and by the severance of electrical service from one park residence. Employees from all park divisions formed saw crews to open roads. Power was restored around 6:30 p.m. No injuries occurred, and only minor property damage was reported by campers. ICS remains in effect. A multi-divisional crew will continue working through the week on elimination of hazardous conditions and restoration of basic services. About a dozen campsites at the headquarters campground remain closed became of hazardous trees and branches. [CRO, MACA, 6/24]
On July 31st, the director of the Earthwatch group conducting artifact cataloguing along the Lantern Tour route in Mammoth Cave reported an artifact missing from their work site. The artifact was identified as a hammer stone used by prehistoric Indians to fashion tools for gypsum mining operations. Information received from other Earthwatch members led to the recovery of the hammer stone the next day and the identification of an Earthwatch volunteer as a suspect. Although she denied any knowledge or involvement in the theft, a consent search of her personal effects led to the recovery of a pre- historic cane torch fragment and evidence linking her to the hammer stone theft. She was immediately discharged from the program. The case has been presented to the U.S. attorney's office for prosecution. [CRO, MACA, 8/11]
A vehicle traveling south on Cedar Sink Road on August 18th left the road, struck several trees, and overturned. The driver, 17-year-old T.P., received minor injuries, but the passenger, his 14-year-old brother G.P., was killed. Rangers responded along with local EMS and rescue units. Neither occupant was wearing a seatbelt. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 8/19]
G.H., 74, chairman and CEO of National Park Concessions, Inc. (NPCI), died of heart failure on April 1st. G.H. spent his entire life dedicated to national parks, particularly Mammoth Cave, as he was born there before it became a park and lived on its boundary. NPCI operates concessions at Mammoth Cave NP, Blue Ridge Parkway, Isle Royale NP, Olympic NP, and Big Bend NP; it also has temporarily served the public in Everglades NP, Denali NP, Lassen Volcanic NP, Death Valley NP (Scotty's Castle), and Roosevelt- Vanderbilt NHS. He's survived by his wife, J., and daughter, J.G. Visitation will take place this evening, Saturday (10 a.m. to 9 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) at the Patton Funeral Home in Park City, Kentucky. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Sunday at the Park City Baptist Church. Interment will follow at the Locust Grove Cemetery within Mammoth Cave NP. The family is asking that a contribution in lieu of flowers be made to the G.B.H. Memorial Scholarship Fund, PO Box 27, Mammoth Cave, KY 42259. Notes of condolence may be sent to the family. [Vickie Carson, MACA, 4/2]
Late on the evening of May 30th, two members of a group of four campers decided to take their boat out onto the Green River. Both of the men - J.S., 33, and D.F., 35 - fell into the water when their small boat capsized. D.F. was able to get to shore, but J.S. disappeared. Rangers were advised at 10 a.m. the following morning. A search was immediately begun which was supported by local SAR organizations and included both dog and dive teams. Efforts were temporarily halted on Sunday evening because of electrical storms in the area. The search was still underway yesterday, and was being paralleled by an investigation in conjunction with the FBI. [Bob Piontek, Acting CR, MACA, 6/1]
Rangers recovered the body of an unidentified man from the Green River on June 3rd. The victim matched the description of J.S., 33, who has been missing since last Sunday; personal effects also correspond, but positive identification will be determined by the state medical examiner. The search for J.S. was abetted by the Corps of Engineers, which held back releases from the upstream Green River Reservoir. It's been determined that Dallas Fultz, 35, who was operating the boat when it overturned, was impaired by alcohol and drugs at the time. The park continues to work with the FBI in the continuing investigation. [Henry Holman, Acting CR, MACA, 6/13]
Rangers recovered the body of an unidentified woman from the rain-swollen Green River on June 2nd. The victim has been identified as D.M., who disappeared during a flood which occurred about 75 miles upstream from the park on May 31st. The state medical examiner has ruled the death as accidental. [Henry Holman, Acting CR, MACA, 6/3]
On the evening of October 1st, rangers received a report that K.S., 35, was missing after becoming separated from his group in the Big Woods area of the park. K.S. was hiking in the area with his sister and brother-in-law, but went on ahead of them because he was a faster hiker. They returned to the car and found he was not there; when he failed to appear by sunset, they called for help. Rangers and local rescue squad members searched for K.S. until midnight. The search was suspended at that time, then resumed early the next morning. At 10:30 a.m., K.S. was found on an island in the Green River approximately ten miles from the point where he'd last been seen. He said that he'd become disoriented shortly after leaving the group. He tried to back track and find them, but was unsuccessful. As night approached, K.S. decided to go downhill toward the Green River. His plan was to follow the river to the Green River ferry, which was about eight miles from the point where he reached the river. He had difficulty walking on the steep river banks, so found a log and used it to float downstream. He floated until becoming tired and cold (temperatures that night dropped to the mid-40s), then went to shore and waited until daylight. He continued floating downriver in the morning, stopping on an island only two miles from the ferry to try and find something to eat. Just as he was preparing to eat a raw mussel that he'd cracked open, he was spotted by a park employee in a boat on the river. K.S. was cold, tired and hungry, but otherwise in good shape. [Bob Piontek, Acting CR, MACA, 10/3]
On the evening of February 27th, the Edmonson County sheriff's department advised ranger John Logdson of a pursuit heading toward the park and asked for his assistance. The vehicle, driven by 24-year-old M.L., entered the park's west entrance, where Logdson picked it up. M.L. passed through the park, continued for another three-quarters of a mile after exiting, then reversed direction and headed back toward the park boundary. Logdson and a county officer blocked the road to stop M.L. before he could reenter the park. M.L. slowed as he approached the roadblock, stopped, then suddenly reversed direction and rammed the sheriff's vehicle that was pursuing him. Logdson drew his weapon and approached M.L.'s vehicle, now stationary. M.L. accelerated rapidly and headed straight toward Logdson, who fired one round at the driver and ran toward a nearby ditch. As the vehicle swerved toward him, Logdson jumped into the ditch. The county sheriff, who thought Logdson had been struck, fired three rounds at M.L.'s vehicle, which continued on into the park. The pursuit continued for another ten miles, at which point officers found the vehicle abandoned. The occupants had not been hit by any of the shots that had been fired. State and local authorities apprehended M.L. the next morning. He appeared in court yesterday, where his bond was set at $100,000 cash. The U.S. attorney will seek an indictment on charges of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 3/1]
On June 7th, ranger Bob Piontek observed a suspicious vehicle parked at the Maple Springs trailhead. The vehicle, which was occupied by two females and two young children, matched the description of a vehicle reported to be involved in dropping off ginseng diggers in the park. Its engine was running. Piontek and ranger Derek Curtis set up surveillance of the area. Twenty minutes later, Curtis saw the vehicle pass his location, this time with two male occupants, and stopped it. Both men had dirty hands, arms, and clothing. One of them was identified as C.R.S., 19, who was caught in the park in 1998 with 43 pounds of yellow root and under a pound of ginseng in his possession. The other was identified as J.K., 24. C.R.S. consented to a search of the vehicle. Two packs were found in the trunk which contained 13.5 pounds of yellow root and less than two pounds of ginseng. C.R.S. and J.K. were charged with possession of plants and parts of plants (36 CFR 2.1(a)(1)(ii)). Court appearances will be set at a later date. [Phil Veluzat, CR, MACA, 6/24]
On November 10th, M.L. appeared in federal district court for sentencing on charges of assaulting a federal officer and wanton endangerment. M.L. earlier pled guilty to assaulting ranger John Logsdon last February 27th when he attempted to run over Logsdon at a roadblock. M.L. had been the subject of a high-speed pursuit by county deputies that had passed through the park. He intentionally rammed a pursuing police vehicle before his assault on Logsdon. M.L. was sentenced to 77 months in prison and three years' supervised probation; he was also ordered to pay $1,500 in restitution. Park special agent Brad McDougal led the investigation and served as case agent for the prosecution. [CRO, MACA, 11/16]
On July 8th, rangers Eddie Wells and Bob Kirch apprehended five men who had harvested 20 ginseng roots and over a thousand goldenseal plants from the park. Three of them were cited for possession of plant parts; information against the other two men was filed with the U.S. Attorney's Office. Staff from the science and resource management division replanted both the goldenseal and ginseng. On the afternoon of August 12th, ranger David Alexander came upon an unoccupied 1984 Datsun pickup with an expired registration at the Cedar Sink trailhead. Alexander became suspicious of their reason for being there and headed down the trail. He soon came upon three men who were about 75 yards from the trail, moving along the edge of a large sinkhole and talking about collecting "roots." Ranger Dave Gibbins joined Alexander, and the two rangers contacted the men and questioned them about their activity. They admitted to digging for ginseng roots. A total of 222 roots were confiscated from the trio and mandatory appearance citations were issued for possession of plant parts. Citations were also issued to the truck's owner for improper registration and lack of valid proof of vehicle insurance. Ranger Eddie Wells assisted with the investigation. Preparations are underway for replanting the roots. [Brad McDougal, Acting CR, MACA, 8/17]
Last week, R.S., 55, of Baltimore, Maryland, traveled to Fort Knox with his daughter to see his son-in-law graduate from boot camp. On Thursday, October 19th, he told his daughter that he was going to take a cave tour in the park and do some hiking on Friday and that he'd be back later the same day. When he failed to return that evening, his daughter reported him missing. Rangers were notified by military police at Fort Knox and found R.S.'s vehicle in the visitor center parking lot. They determined that he'd purchased a ticket for an 11 a.m. Grand Avenue cave tour and that he should have been out of the cave by 3 p.m. After confirming that he was not staying at the campground or hotel, rangers began searching all the trails in the headquarters area and a portion of the Green River. No sign of him was found. Soon after the arrival of a search dog team, R.S. was found in the cave by members of the Saturday Grand Avenue tour group. He said that he'd fallen behind his tour group the day before while taking pictures; before he could catch up with them, the lights went out. Since he had no flashlight or other light source, he decided to remain at that location and wait for the next tour to come through. R.S. spent the next 24 hours in total blackness by himself, since only one Grand Avenue tour is scheduled each day. He said that the 54 degree cave temperature was not a problem because he had warm clothing on, but that he sang every song he knew in order to cope with the darkness and isolation. [Bob Piontek, Acting CR, MACA, 10/25]
On December 8th, ranger David Gibbins stopped D.C. of Brownsville, Kentucky, for speeding on the Mammoth Cave Parkway. When asked for his operator's license, D.C. was only able to produce an Ohio personal identification card. He said that his driver's license was at his residence, but a check revealed that it had been suspended due to four prior DUI convictions. Gibbins asked D.C. to step out of his vehicle, but he refused and suddenly accelerated away. Gibbins pursued. Speeds approached 100 mph as D.C. swerved into oncoming traffic lanes and passed other vehicles in blind curves and no passing zones. Edmonson County deputies and Kentucky State Police officers were advised of the chase and told that it was nearing the park's boundary. D.C. forced a state police cruiser off the road as he headed toward nearby Brownsville. Gibbins turned the pursuit over to county and state units shortly after D.C. left the park, but proceeded toward Brownsville to assist if necessary. Pursuing units lost sight of D.C.'s vehicle, only to discover that D.C. had crashed while attempting to hide it behind a nearby apartment building. He fled the scene on foot. An NCIC inquiry on D.C.'s DOB and SSN revealed that his real name was L.R.C., that he was currently wanted by Ohio authorities for a parole violation, and that he had an extensive criminal history, including burglary, breaking and entering, and escape. An investigation by the NPS and the sheriff's department led officers to a local residence. Park special agent Brad McDougal and Edmonton County deputies arrested D.C. on December 11th. He is currently facing charges of wanton endangerment, interfering with agency functions, and an assortment of state charges. (CRO, MACA, 12/12)
On the afternoon of January 31st, park hydrologist Joe Meiman advised rangers that Dr. C.G., a professor from Western Kentucky University, had been injured in Sides Cave, located on the park's eastern boundary. Meiman, C.G., park employee Brice Leech and a WKU graduate student had been retrieving dye-trace collectors from the cave when the accident occurred. C.G. was attempting to go around a pit on a rock ledge when the ledge broke free and he plunged about 30 feet into the pit, which contained about two-and-a-half feet of water. Meiman was able to reach C.G. and pull him from the water. Leech stayed with C.G. while Meiman then sought help. The accident site was at the end of a 1,450-foot "wet crawl" through a low, narrow passage with two to ten inches of water in the bottom. More than 100 rescuers from Mammoth Cave, TRACERS (The Rock and Cave Emergency Rescue Squad, based in Kentucky), and the National Cave Rescue Commission (based in Indiana) conducted the rescue; acting chief ranger Brad McDougal was IC. The rescue proved extremely difficult because of the long and narrow passage and the length of time the rescuers had to work in the water. Because of the threat of hypothermia, teams of four relieved each other throughout the night and were shuttled to the Cave Research Foundation's nearby Hamilton Valley Center to warm themselves and obtain food and dry clothing. There were usually four teams in the cave at a time working with C.G.. The 14-hour rescue ended successfully the next morning at 3:35 a.m. C.G. was alert and responsive. He was taken to Cave City, then flown to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he was treated for four broken ribs, a broken collar bone, a punctured lung, cuts, contusions and bruises. [CRO, MACA, 2/2]
Just before midnight on August 10th, a staff member at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center reported that an alleged sexual assault had occurred that evening outside the center's gymnasium. Responding rangers Bob Kirch and Larry Johnson determined that a 17-year-old female student had been punched, kicked, and verbally threatened by a 22-year-old female student into performing oral sex with as many as twelve male students. Kirch and Johnson worked into the early morning hours and tentatively identified the majority of the offenders. Special agent Brad McDougal continued the investigation and arrested the 22-year-old female assailant and two of the male students the next day. Under the direction of the U. S. Attorney's Office, five rangers, two Kentucky state troopers and two U. S. marshals arrested another nine suspects in one coordinated tactical operation on August 14th. All of the suspects are being charged under 18 USC 2241 (a) (1), felony aggravated sexual abuse. As a result of these apprehensions, additional suspects may be identified and more arrests are possible. [Wayne Elliott, CR, MACA]
Rangers were paged by staff at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center at 11
p.m. on July 19th and asked to investigate an alleged arson fire.
Rangers Eddie Wells and Brian Sacia investigated the incident, which
occurred in the center's cafeteria building. The Lincoln Volunteer Fire
Department responded and extinguished the fire. The rear of the building
was damaged in the blaze. The rangers interviewed several Job Corps
students who were present in the area at the time of the fire and were
subsequently able to positively identify two suspects - N.F.
and a juvenile male. During interviews, both admitted to setting
fire to the building. They apparently planned to gain access to the
secured building through a rear plexiglass window by burning the window
frame with a butane cigarette lighter. Both were arrested and face
felony arson charges under 18 USC 81. On July 23rd, they appeared in
federal court in Bowling Green for their initial appearance and were
released on $25,000 unsecured bond.
On August 4th, L.F., 39, of Beaver Dam, Kentucky, and
D.F., 40, of Centerville, Kentucky, pled guilty in U.S. District
Court to charges of theft of government property and destruction of
natural resources. L.F. and D.F. were apprehended on September 20,
2002, after rangers received an anonymous tip that the two men were
digging ginseng in the park. A surveillance operation involving all the
park's law enforcement rangers was begun. L.F. was caught with over 600
ginseng roots in his possession. One root was determined to be 40 years
old by park botanist Michele Webber. The plants were later returned to
the park. D.F. served as the driver dropping L.F. off in the park and
then later picking him up. L.F. was sentenced to two years supervised
probation; D.F. was sentenced to a year of supervised probation. Each
was fined a total of $1,625, with $1,000 of the fine being made in
restitution to the park. This case marks the first felony plant poaching
conviction in the park's history. Ranger Larry Johnson was the
investigating ranger and served as the case agent.
On July 16th, rangers received information regarding a possible
sexual abuse incident that had occurred in the park. Investigation
revealed that R.F. of Cave City, Kentucky, had camped with a
female companion and a 12 year-old child at Houchins Ferry campground in
late May or early June. While staying there, R.F. attempted to fondle
the child and also tried to coerce him into having sex with his female
companion. The child's parents became aware of the incident when they
noticed the child making sexual advances toward a younger sibling. When
asked about his behavior, the child - who suffers from severe ADHD
(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) - told his parents that
he had learned it on the camping trip. The female companion who was
present was identified and corroborated the child's story. The case was
presented to a grand jury, which returned a sealed indictment against
R.F. on August 6th. Law enforcement specialist Brad McDougal and
ranger Miranda Cook arrested R.F. in nearby Glasgow, Kentucky, the
following day. At the time of his arrest, R.F. was dressed in the
cowboy costume he wore as part of his duties as a performer at a local
theme park that caters to families with children. Ranger David Alexander
is the case agent.
J.W. and E.L. came to the Headquarters Ranger Station
for treatment of a burn injury to J.W.'s hand on July 27th.
Investigation by rangers Bob Kirch and Melody Morrison revealed that
J.W. and E.L. were part of a group that had been camping in the
backcountry the previous few days. In an attempt to celebrate the end of
their camping trip, J.W. and another member of the group, Scott Willis,
had constructed a homemade bomb out of gunpowder and other items that
they had brought with them on the trip. While trying to ignite the
device, it detonated prematurely. J.W. sustained second and third degree
burns to his right hand. During questioning, Willis admitted to Morrison
that he had brought along a "recipe" for the bomb and that the group had
videotaped the entire procedure, including the explosion. Morrison was
able to get the original video tape that showed J.W. making the bomb and
also showed the device exploding. A second individual in the group, Kyle
Horseman, was also videotaped destroying plants in the backcountry. J.W.
and Willis were cited for possessing and using explosives; Horseman was
cited for destruction of natural resources.
On May 17th, ranger Ken Kern investigated a report of a motor vehicle
accident that had occurred on the Dennison Ferry Road. There was no one
at the scene when Kern arrived, but there was evidence that alcohol
might have been a contributing factor. A short time later, one of the
vehicle's occupants, A.C., returned to the scene. She admitted
to Kern that her husband, S.C., Jr., had been driving the
vehicle and that he was intoxicated. She said that he had gone to get
help in getting the vehicle back on the roadway. A few minutes later, a
pickup truck occupied by two men drove up to the scene. One of them got
out of the truck and walked to the car. Kern saw that he was carrying a
pistol in his waistband, so he ordered the man up against the truck and
retrieved the weapon. At that point, he turned around and assumed a
fighting stance. Kern drew his pepper spray and the man fled into the
woods. Questioning of the other occupant and evidence at the scene
confirmed that S.C. was the man who'd fled. Efforts to locate him
proved fruitless. On May 18th, ranger Larry Johnson was patrolling in
the area where S.C. was last seen and saw a vehicle heading out of
the park. The man in the rear seat matched S.C.'s description.
Mammoth Cave rangers and Cave City Police Department officers stopped
the vehicle and C. was arrested. During the arrest, S.C. made
repeated threats against the rangers and also made threats regarding the
rangers' family members. On September 17th, S.C. appeared in U.S.
District Court on a wide array of charges, including public
intoxication, interfering with agency functions, and disorderly conduct.
He pled guilty to all charges and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a
fine of $2,500. S.C. was also placed on three years probation. During
that time, he's banned from the park and prohibited from making any
contact with rangers and/or their families.
On August 10, 2002, rangers investigated a report that a 17-year-old
girl had been forced into performing oral sex on numerous male students
at the Great Onyx Job Corps Center, which is located within the park. A
total of twelve suspects were identified and arrested. On September
22nd, the last defendants were sentenced in this case. In return for
testifying against their co-defendants and to spare the victim the
trauma of recounting the incident at trial, all defendants pled guilty
to various related charges. The four juvenile males were sentenced to
three months incarceration each in a juvenile detention facility and
placed on probation until they are 18 years of age. T.L.,
J.S. (aka "R."), and E.Y. ( aka "E.") received
sentences of 27 months in jail. H.S. (aka "N.O.") was
sentenced to 30 months in prison, and H.A., the primary
suspect in the incident, was sentenced to 41 months incarceration.
Charges against two other students were dismissed when the investigation
revealed they were not involved. C.H. (aka "H.") violated
his probation prior to trial and fled the state to avoid prosecution. He
is believed to be in California and a warrant has been issued for his
arrest. The coordinated efforts by Mammoth Cave rangers, the U.S.
Attorney's Office, and the staff of the Great Onyx Job Corps were
instrumental in the successful prosecutions in this case. Law
enforcement specialist Brad McDougal was the lead investigator and case
agent.
On October 16th, park hydrologist Joe Meiman and intern Nathan Talley
saw a silver U.S. government sedan parked in the middle of the Good
Springs - Maple Springs Road. When the driver got out, he had a
long neck beer bottle in his hand. Meiman and Talley reported the
incident to rangers, who determined that the vehicle had been assigned
to the Great Onyx Job Corps Center and that the operator was D.D.,
the center's contract driver education instructor. Rangers
contacted D.D. and the two minor Job Corps students who were with him.
All three had been consuming alcohol, as evidenced by observation and
portable breathalyzer testing. The minors provided a detailed statement
of events, which was corroborated by the co-owner of the liquor store
where the alcohol was purchased. The alcohol was purchased on government
time and the store's co-owner identified both D.D. and the government
vehicle he was driving. After purchasing the alcohol, D.D. and the
students returned to the park, where D.D. gave the beverages to
students. D.D. was charged with a sale/gift of alcoholic beverages to
minors under 21 (mandatory appearance) and is under suspension without
pay. The minors were cited for underage possession of alcoholic
beverages (mandatory appearance). Additional charges are pending against
D.D. The case ranger is Eddie Wells, who was assisted by chief ranger
Wayne Elliott and rangers Rich Caldwell and David Alexander.
Rangers arrested R.S.F. of Cave City, Kentucky, last
August 7th on charges that he had attempted to fondle a child while on a
camping trip to Houchins Ferry campground. R.S.F. was also accused of
trying to coerce the child into having sex with an adult female
companion. On December 13th, R.S.F. pled guilty in U.S. District Court.
Pursuant to the terms of a plea agreement, R.S.F. was sentenced to two
years incarceration and three years of supervised probation and will be
required to register as a sex offender upon his release. Charges are
pending on the adult female involved in the incident. Law enforcement
specialist Brad McDougal and rangers David Alexander and Miranda Cook
investigated the case.
The staff at Mammoth Cave National Park is mourning the deaths of two employees over the weekend. Joe McGown, 53, chief of fee management for the park, died Sunday afternoon in a Washington, D.C., hospital from complications brought on by a severe infection. And Russell M. (Rusty) Drake, 40, a heavy equipment mechanic, died Saturday at home from cancer. "Needless to say, this was a hard blow to the staff here and it will be a while before everyone has adjusted to these losses," said park Superintendent Ron Switzer. McGown, a native of the Mammoth Cave area, became ill over a week ago while on a business trip to Washington. Doctors said he might have gotten a bacterial infection from eating oysters while on vacation the week before he traveled to the nation's capital. McGown worked for the Park Service for 35 years. He began his career as a seasonal laborer at the park. Except for a short detail to help establish the Mojave National Preserve in California, McGown spent all of his career at Mammoth Cave, where he served as a park ranger, chief guide and, for a time, acting director of the Great Onyx Job Corps Center. He is survived by his wife, B., and daughter, C. Funeral arrangements are pending. Condolences may be sent to his home. Drake was a newcomer to the Park Service and to Mammoth Cave.
He joined the Mammoth Cave staff in April, 2002, after working for the
U.S. Air Force in the Washington, D.C., area. He is survived by
his wife, B.J., a son, A., two brothers and one sister.
Condolences may be sent to his home. Drake's final arrangements
also are pending.
The park lost another employee last Friday in a four fatality
accident on U.S. Highway 31E north of Glasgow, Kentucky. S."J.R."C.
Jr., of Cave City, 53, a long-term maintenance worker, was among
the victims. Also killed in the accident were S.C.'s brother E.C., 47,
J.B., and D.J. J.B. was driving a car when
he attempted to pass several cars and struck E.S., 49, head-on.
E.S. was hospitalized in Louisville. S.C. and E.C. are survived by a
brother, J.J.C., also a maintenance worker at Mammoth Cave, and
by other family members. Superintendent Ron Switzer adds this note:
"This is the third employee we have lost in the last few weeks and the
grief among our staff is considerable. We are all just trying to cope
with things right now."
The park continues its efforts to recover from massive storm damage
inflicted when a severe thunderstorm with hurricane-force winds passed
through the park on the evening of Tuesday, July 13th. The park was
without power until mid-day on Thursday, July 15th. Numerous trees were
uprooted and limbs and debris scattered throughout the park, forcing the
closure of park roads and trails. Several buildings were damaged by
downed trees. Due to the widespread impacts of the storm in much of
Kentucky and Tennessee, the park is having difficulty obtaining the
services of a tree contractor to assist with the cleanup effort.
As of Monday, July 19th, all major roads had been reopened. The removal
of debris from roadways and trails will begin as soon as a tree
contractor can be located. A survey of the 80 miles of backcountry
trails revealed that there are approximately 250 to 300 trees down
across trails. The Green River Bluffs frontcountry trail will be closed
for the foreseeable future due to the massive number of uprooted and
downed trees in that area of the park. The elevator that is used to
transport handicapped visitors on cave tours and freight to the Snowball
Dining Room was damaged by lightning and repair may take several weeks.
Two transformers were destroyed that supply electricity to restrooms and
lights on the historic cave tour. Temporary repairs will be made to
restore power to this section of cave sometime this week. Cleanup and
repairs will be ongoing within the coming weeks. Damage from this storm
in larger communities including Louisville, Kentucky, was widely
reported by the national news media.
Ranger Matt Roland was patrolling the South Houchens Ferry Road on August 13th when he came upon a motor vehicle accident that had just occurred. The vehicle was fully engulfed in flames and there were two victims lying in the roadway. Roland called for EMS and fire assistance and for additional rangers. One of the victims, G.A., 22, of Worthington, Ohio, was pronounced dead at the scene. The second, M.K. of Cincinnati, was flown to the University of Louisville Hospital. Before being evacuated, M.K. told rangers that there was another person in the car. Rescue personnel subsequently found the remains of J.B., 22, also of Cincinnati. The three men were on their way to meet with some friends who were camping at the Houchens Ferry campground. Roland and law enforcement specialist Brad McDougal are investigating the accident. Other agencies responding to the incident were Edmonson County EMS, Brownsville VFD, Chalybeate VFD, Brownsville PD, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office and the Kentucky State Police [Submitted by Wayne Elliott, Chief Ranger]
On January 19th, a 24-year-old Cincinnati man entered a plea of guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in federal court. The maximum potential penalties are 12 years imprisonment, a $500,000 fine, and 3 years supervised probation after release from prison. The man admitted that on August 13, 2004, he caused the deaths of his two passengers by driving his motor vehicle in a grossly negligent manner near Houchins Ferry in Mammoth Cave National Park, where he struck a tree. The accident resulted in his passengers' near instantaneous deaths, one of whose body burned in the fiery wreck. Although the man said that he suffers from amnesia and does not recall the wreck which caused the deaths, he nevertheless told the court that he believed the government could prove that he was driving the car. Kathman also agreed that he was legally drunk at the time. Sentencing is schedule for April 5th. [Vickie Carson, Public Affairs Officer]
A 16-year-old Great Onyx Job Corps student was reported missing just before 7 p.m. on April 23rd. Ranger learned that she'd hiked into the forest around the center with nine other students earlier that afternoon. The students split into two groups, and each thought that the girl was with the other group. When they returned to the center, they found she was missing and notified the park. Rangers interviewed the students that evening, but a search was not begun that night due to darkness and the rugged terrain. On Monday morning, center staff, students, rangers and members of two Great Onyx fire crews searched ridge tops and river bottomland surrounding the center, retracing the girl's steps. A ranger also patrolled the Nolin River by boat both up and downstream from the center. SAR teams and search dogs were brought in that afternoon, and two Air National Guard helicopters joined in the effort. The search was suspended for the night and resumed at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. The girl was found at 10:40 a.m. that morning at a spot about a quarter mile from the point where she'd last been seen. Searchers were walking and calling for her when they heard her answer from a point off trail. She was able to walk to a nearby access road, where rangers picked her up and took her to a waiting county ambulance. She was taken to T.J. Samson Hospital for assessment. A total of about 50 people were involved in the search at its peak. The center released this statement on Tuesday: "We are pleased to announce that a student at Great Onyx Job Corps Center, reported missing on Sunday evening, has been found alive and well within the park as of this morning. This wonderful news is the result of a dedicated and exhaustive search effort by the Mammoth Cave National Park staff and the staff of the Great Onyx Job Corps Center. We are happy to report that the student is resting after having received precautionary treatment at a local hospital. Thanks to everyone who lent a hand during the search and to the many more who kept the student and the Great Onyx Job Corps family in their thoughts over the past two days." [Vickie Carson, Public Affairs Officer]
Around 7 a.m. on December 16th, rangers received a report of a motor vehicle accident that had occurred on the Brownsville Road section of the park. Upon arrival, they found that H.M., 65 of Brownsville, Kentucky, had been traveling east on the road when he drifted across the roadway and sideswiped another vehicle operated by Arnold King of Somerset, Kentucky. H.M.'s vehicle then left the roadway and struck a tree in the nearby woods. H.M. was taken by Edmonson County EMS to the Bowling Green Medical Center, where he later died of his injuries. King was transported to a local hospital, then treated and released. Preliminary investigation indicates that H.M. may have fallen asleep prior to the accident. The Kentucky State Police, Edmonson County EMS and the Edmonson County "jaws of life" extrication unit also assisted in the incident. H.M. was a rural mail carrier who had delivered mail to the park for over 25 years and his death was a shock to park staff and the local community. Ranger Matt Roland is investigating the accident. [Brad McDougal, Acting Chief Ranger]
Ranger Matt Roland was on patrol on the evening of June 28th when he came upon an accident on the Brownsville Road. D.C., 32, of Jamestown, Tennessee, was driving east when he fell asleep and his vehicle went off the road and hit a tree. He and his brother, B.C., 18, were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Bowling Green. A second passenger, T.C., 19, of Monterey, Tennessee, was trapped in the car and had to be extricated by the Edmonson County Jaws of Life rescue unit. He was flown to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville, where he remains in critical condition. The third passenger, R.H., 41, of Byrdstown, Tennessee, was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident investigation is continuing. Agencies providing assistance included Edmonson County EMS and its Jaws of Life rescue unit, the Chalybeate Volunteer Fire Department, the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office and the Kentucky State Police. Roland is the investigating ranger. [Brad McDougal, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Park maintenance employee Kenneth G. Adams, 51, died while on-duty in the park on Tuesday, August 5th, of an apparent heart attack. Adams was last seen walking back towards the ferry operator's building at Houchins Ferry by a fellow employee at approximately 6 p.m. on Tuesday. He was found deceased later that evening in the same building after he failed to return home at the end of his work shift. Adams had a total of 29 years of federal government service, including 17 years with the National Park Service. Adams began his Park Service career at Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve in 1990 as a maintenance worker, then moved to Padre Island National Seashore in 1991 as a motor vehicle operator. Adams had been employed at Mammoth Cave National Park as a ferryman and small craft operator since 1994 and was a respected member of the Mammoth Cave "family". Survivors include his wife D.A., and four sons - B., Cu., and Co., all of Horse Cave, Kentucky, and K., Jr., of Cleveland, Ohio. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Winn Funeral Home in Horse Cave. Visitation will be on Friday, August 8th, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CDT and on Saturday after 9:00 a.m. until the funeral at 2:00 p.m. at the funeral home, with a private burial. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to his wife, D.A., and their sons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Kentucky Chapter; 2908 Brownsboro Road, Suite 100; Louisville, KY 40206-3506. [David Alexander, Park Ranger]
On September 15th, an Edmonson County deputy sheriff requested back up from Mammoth Cave rangers in dealing with an armed man who'd been involved in a domestic dispute. Deputy Shane Doyle responded to the call and encountered 24-year-old C.N., who'd assaulted his grandmother. C.N. was intoxicated and was waving a knife around. Doyle drew his gun and ordered C.N. to drop the knife, but C.N. refused and continued to walk around, waving it in the air. Ranger Peter Zahrt then arrived at the scene and told C.N. to drop the knife or he would receive a taser shock. C.N. continued to disobey commands to drop the knife, so Zahrt fired the taser at him. C.N. immediately fell to the ground and Doyle moved in to secure the knife and handcuff him. C.N. was transported to a nearby medical facility for treatment of self-inflicted knife wounds, then taken to the Grayson County Correctional Center. Doyle later said that he would have used deadly force to stop C.N. if Zahrt hadn't used his taser. [Brad McDougal, Supervisory Park Ranger]
A severe winter ice storm hit Mammoth Cave National Park on Tuesday, January 27th, shutting down all park operations for three days. The park received nearly four inches of rain in two days. Freezing temperatures caused trees and power lines to be coated with as much as a half inch of ice. On Wednesday morning, the precipitation turned to heavy, blowing snow. Under the weight of the ice and snow, trees and power lines fell and blocked roadways, with more falling later in the week. At one point, park workers suspended cleanup operations due to freezing temperatures and falling debris. The Green River rose 30 feet, so the park's two ferryboats were closely monitored. On Wednesday night, a private residence on Park Ridge Road burned, and county firefighters had to cut through downed trees to reach it. The road borders the park and maintenance is shared with Barren County. On Thursday, crews "busted" a single lane through the park's main road to allow for emergency traffic. By Friday, park workers had rough-cleared three of the seven roadways that enter the park. Cave tours, limited to the historic section, resumed on Saturday. Staff will begin to assess the park's 85 miles of trails and outlying facilities this week. Recovery operations are being managed under ICS. [Vicki Carson, Public Affairs Officer]
The park continues its efforts to recover from last week's major ice storm. Operations are being managed under ICS. Most of the park remains closed - the visitor center and Mammoth Cave Hotel are open, however, and limited tours of the historic section of the cave are being offered. Safety is the park's first priority for both visitors and staff. Last week's ice storm left hazards in the woods -- broken trees and branches still hang overhead. "We are asking visitors and area residents to heed the closures signs in the park," said superintendent Patrick Reed. "We are dealing with the results of the storm and will open other areas of the park as soon as it is safe. There are many hazards in the woods at this time." Some park roads are open for traffic, including Mammoth Cave Parkway, Brownsville Road (Highway 70), Cedar Sink Road (Highway 422), and Park Ridge Road. All other park roads and trails are closed. Saw crews from all over the southeast - Cumberland Gap NHP, Big South Fork NRA, Great Smoky Mountains NP and the Eastern Cherokee Nation - are in the park removing trees. The park was able to resume some operations south of Green River by last Saturday, when the hotel and cave tours reopened, but damage from the storm was much more severe north of Green River. It took park crews three days to open a single lane through the northern portion of the Green River Ferry Road, but the road remains closed as crews clean up hazardous logs and debris on the road and shoulder. This week park staff will begin to assess other park roads, trails, cemeteries, and backcountry resources. [Vickie Carson, Public Information Officer]
Although most of the park is still closed following last week's ice storm, some additional services have returned. Tours were expanded yesterday to include the "Historic," "Frozen Niagara," and "New Entrance" tours, and the "Wild Cave" tour will resume sometime this coming weekend. Mammoth Cave Parkway, Brownsville Road (Highway 70), Cedar Sink Road (Highway 422) and Park Ridge Road are open, but crews continue to work on reopening other park roads, in particular the Green River Road and the Cave City Road. Increased winds yesterday posed a problem for crews working along wooded roadways and assessing backcountry trails and cemeteries. "Throughout this incident we have kept safety as our number one priority for park staff and visitors," said superintendent Pat Reed. "All personnel in the field are required to wear hardhats and reflective vests, and they must work in teams. We are making progress, but it will take some time before we can open the rest of the park." [Vickie Carson, Public Information Officer]
The three parks most affected by last month's big ice storm - Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHS, Buffalo NR and Mammoth Cave NP - have all made substantial progress in efforts to return to normal operations, but all report continuing closures and ongoing recovery operations. Here's how things currently stand: Mammoth Cave - Recovery operations continue. Cave City Road reopened to the public on Friday afternoon along with Mammoth Cave Parkway, Brownsville Road, and Cedar Sink Road. All regularly scheduled cave tours are again available, and all services have been restored to Mammoth Cave Hotel. Crews were to shift their focus to Green River Ferry Road-North this weekend, with the goal of opening it within next few days. [Jeff West, Buffalo; Vickie Carson, Mammoth Cave; Keith Pruitt, Abraham Lincoln Birthplace]
Acting upon information from Mammoth Cave Hotel employees regarding suspicious activity in one of their hotel rooms, supervisory park ranger Brad McDougal and ranger David Alexander went to the aforementioned room on March 19th tocontact its occupants. The rangers knocked on the door and it was opened by a woman subsequently identified at C.B. of Horse Cave, Kentucky. The rangers identified themselves as law enforcement officers and asked C.B. if they could speak with her inside the hotel room. She agreed and stepped back to let rangers enter the room. The rangers saw G.T. of Munfordville, Kentucky, sitting at a table with equipment and materials that are used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, and instantly recognized these items and the potential hazards they posed. C.B. and G.T. were arrested. Officers from the Barren-Edmonson County drug task force were called in to assist in processing the scene. C.B. and G.T. were lodged in the Warren County regional jail and appeared before a U.S. magistrate judge the next day, where both were ordered to be remanded for the time being. The U. S. Attorney's Office in Louisville is in charge of the prosecution. Ranger David Alexander is the case agent. [Brad McDougal, Supervisory Park Ranger]
On April 18th, interpretive rangers reported that five visitors on a guided cave tour had repeatedly left the designated cave trails, had touched and/or removed cave features, and were acting disorderly. Ranger Josh Clemons and FTEP trainee Jake Olson contacted them and found that two had cave rocks in their possession. All five were detained and escorted to their vehicle, which was in the visitor center parking lot. The rangers saw drug paraphernalia and a rifle barrel sticking out of a backpack in plain view in the bed of the truck. A search of the truck led to the recovery of an ounce of marijuana, two vials containing a white/yellow powder that tested positive for cocaine, more drug paraphernalia, two handguns (one with a suppressor), and two assault rifles. All the firearms were loaded and ready to fire. The owner of the truck was identified as N.J. of Mississippi. He was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a person who is an unlawful user or addicted to a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a violation of the CFR regulation on preservation of natural resources. C.W., who rangers were unable to identify at the scene, was also arrested and charged with the latter. The three other members of the group were identified and released after the field investigation. On April 21st, N.J. and C.W. appeared in federal district court. C.W. testified that he was a habitual user of marijuana and that he possessed/used marijuana and cocaine just prior to his arrest and also possessed a loaded firearm. The judge entered a $25,000 bond on C.W. N.J. was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond pending trial. [Brian Sacia, Park Ranger]
Waters from the past week's flood have receded, allowing park staff to reopen some affected roads and services: Green River Ferry is now open during daylight hours, from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. Normal operating hours will resume when electrical systems at the ferry site are restored. Houchin Ferry suffered a cable break and will remain out of service until Wednesday at the earliest and perhaps as late as Friday. Persons wishing to learn the status of the ferries can call the park's Ferry Hotline at 270-758-2166. Houchin Ferry Road on the south side of the river remains closed. Houchin Ferry Campground, which lies in the floodplain, is closed until further notice while post-flood cleanup is undertaken. Dennison Ferry Day Use Area remains closed. Green River Ferry Road is now open, both north and south of the river, although the Joppa Ridge Road remains closed. Ugly Creek/Little Jordan Road suffered washout damage and remains closed until further notice. Park staff are still evaluating the park's trail systems now that flood waters have allowed access to affected areas. Although no trails have been closed at this time, visitors are urged to use extra caution in places where trails may be blocked or eroded. [Vickie Carson, Public Affairs Officer]
Park staff continue to assess damages and make repairs, where possible, following the flood that hit the park on the first two days of May. The canoe launch and picnic area are now open at Dennison Ferry day use area, Joppa Ridge Road has reopened, and all cave tours are operating on their normal schedule and along traditional routes. Houchin Ferry remains closed. Houchin Ferry Road South is open, but only for access to the river. The pavilion picnic tables floated away and the campground is in disrepair. Houchin Ferry campground still needs a significant amount of work. Though park trails on both sides of Green River were impacted by the flood, Cedar Sink is the only trail in the park that is closed. Ugly Creek/Little Jordan Road suffered washout damage and is closed between Wilkerson Cemetery and Little Jordan Cemetery. [Vickie Carson, Public Affairs Officer]
On the afternoon of April 27th, rangers received a report of an accident that had taken place at the new visitor center construction site. A truck that had been pumping concrete at the site using a retractable boom had shifted to one side when one of its outrigger stabilizers broke through a support beam and the boom suddenly dropped down and struck two workers who were busy spreading the concrete. Rangers Jonathon Bledsoe and Kelly Brownson responded to the call and began initial treatment of the victims, scene size-up, and evacuation plans. Additional assistance was provided by many members of the park's interpretive staff who helped in treating the injured workers and transporting them out of the accident scene. One was transported by ambulance by Edmonson County EMS; the other appeared to have suffered more serious injuries and was flown to Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville by an Air Evac helicopter. The worksite was immediately shutdown and secured until an investigation into the accident could be completed. Both workers were released from the hospital the next day with assorted cuts and bruises but no serious injuries. [Brad McDougal, Acting Chief Ranger]
Late on the morning of October 8th, rangers saw a vehicle leave the park that they believed to be associated with a marijuana cultivation operation. They followed it and noted that it had an inoperative brake light and that a strong odor of unprocessed marijuana was emanating from within. Rangers David Alexander, Jonathon Bledsoe, and Kelly Brownson stopped it at one of the park's overlooks and found more than three pounds of fresh marijuana buds in a black trash bag, plus fertilizer, shears, coated wire, other cultivation devices, two cell phones and a GPS unit. The two men inside - R.W., 25, and R.P., 20, both of Bowling Green, Kentucky - waived their Miranda rights. During questioning, R.P. admitted he had several cultivation sites inside the park and also admitted that he had been visiting those sites since the early spring. R.W. admitted that he had been dropping R.P. off in the park and picking him up for the past three weeks. He also admitted to transporting harvested marijuana back to their apartment in Bowling Green. Based on these statements, the Kentucky State Police Special Investigations Division was able to obtain a search warrant for the apartment and visited it that same day. During the search, approximately two pounds of processed marijuana, 34 grams of processed mushrooms, two indoor mushroom growing operations, and two indoor marijuana growing operations with ten plants were confiscated. A large amount of drug paraphernalia and distribution evidence was also seized. A field search conducted by rangers the next day yielded ten un-harvested marijuana plants and evidence of a total of 31 cultivated plants in five plots. R.P. had nearly 50 waypoints on his GPS located within the park which have yet to be checked. The arrests brought to a culmination an investigation by rangers which began this past May. Both men are currently in jail and face numerous federal and state charges. [David Alexander, Park Ranger]
A visitor touring Mammoth Cave died while on a cave tour on Wednesday afternoon. W.M., 67, of Bronson, Florida, was on the 11 a.m. historic cave tour when he became ill in River Hall, about a mile and a half into the two-mile tour. The tour guides telephoned their supervisor on the surface for assistance and immediately began CPR. Rangers administered CPR and applied an AED, but without success. Park personnel and Edmonson County EMS personnel assisted in the incident. [Vickie T. Carson, Public Information Officer]
On June 26th, rangers received a report of a car clout (auto break-in) which had taken place earlier that day at the Dennison Ferry day use area. The value of the property taken and the damage to the vehicle were together estimated at more than $9,000. Investigating ranger Zeb Whitaker identified two suspects, J.D. and K.L. Whitaker obtained video surveillance tapes of the pair using an ATM card that was stolen from the clouted vehicle. On September 12th, rangers and officers from the Kentucky State Police, Barren-Edmonson County Drug Task Force, and Hart County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant on J.D.'s and K.L.'s residence and vehicles. Numerous items taken during the June 26th car clout were recovered from the residence and from one of the vehicles. Four firearms, drug paraphernalia, and various controlled substances were also found in the residence, and ten marijuana plants were discovered growing in back of the house. Both J.D. and K.L. admitted to their involvement in the car clout. They were arrested on several state charges and are facing federal grand jury indictments related to the Dennison Ferry theft. [Brad McDougal, Chief Ranger]
On Friday, May 17th, FTEP ranger Christian Breen, FTR David Alexander and volunteer Austin Jones responded to an EMS call on a backcountry horse trail in the park. They found that a woman had fallen from her horse and that the horse had then landed on top of her, complicating her injuries. She complained of extreme pain in her pelvis and ribs. The woman was treated, packaged and transferred to the care of Edmonson County EMS. She was then taken to the medical center in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where she was treated for her injuries. The subsequent investigation revealed that alcohol consumption was likely a contributing factor. [Brian Sacia, Park Ranger]
FTEP ranger Christian Breen and FTL ranger Brian Sacia contacted two people at a backcountry trailhead on Thursday, May 16th. Breen detected the smell of marijuana as he approached the pair, resulting in a search of their vehicle. A large quantity of marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms and various drug paraphernalia were found and seized. Breen also located a secondary stash of marijuana concealed in a modified "Rave" brand hairspray can. This type of concealment method was the second of its type found in the last two years. On Friday, May 17th, Breen responded to back up another ranger who had made a traffic stop and assisted in conducting a field interview. A consent search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of another controlled substance violation. All of the above mentioned suspects were cited and released. [Brian Sacia, Park Ranger]
A park employee reported a single car collision on Flint Ridge Road on the morning of October 2nd. When rangers arrived, they found that the driver was unconscious and began providing medical care. While doing so, dispatch advised them that the vehicle was associated with an abduction that had occurred earlier that morning and that the driver should be considered armed and dangerous. The man had kidnapped his wife at gunpoint in Louisville, 90 minutes from the park, but the wife had escaped in Elizabethtown. The man was flown to a hospital in Louisville. An FTEP trainee assisted Louisville Metro detectives in processing the evidence from the crime scene located in the vehicle. [Lora Peppers, Chief Ranger]
As rangers were clearing from the above-noted vehicle accident on October 2nd, they received a report of a Waste Concessions Management garbage truck on fire in the park. The truck was found to be fully engulfed when responders arrived on scene. The Cave City Road and Mammoth Cave Parkway were temporarily closed. A small grass fire was also ignited by the truck. The park's structural fire engine and crew responded along with the Park City Fire Department and put out the blaze. [Lora Peppers, Chief Ranger]
On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 3rd, a van boarding the Green River Ferry from the south side of the river went off the far end of the ferry and into the river. The van drifted downstream about 100 feet and quickly submerged in 16 feet of water. Flood conditions, including drifting debris, existed at the time of the incident. The air temperature was 57 degrees; water temperature was 45 degrees. The van was located a couple of hours later and was pulled from the river. The bodies of the two occupants, both from Munfordville, Kentucky, were recovered from inside the van. The ferry is a cable-guided, three-passenger craft that is licensed through the US Coast Guard. An investigation is underway. The US Coast Guard is also conducting a parallel investigation. Sixteen responding agencies from three surrounding counties and the state assisted in the incident. [Vickie Carson, Public Affairs Officer]
Rangers are investigating an incident that occurred this past Sunday in which a visitor fired one gunshot after reportedly seeing a Bigfoot (it's not clear stylistically whether one refers to a Bigfoot singularly or as one of a race of Bigfeet). Rangers responded to a report of a person with a firearm at one of the park's backcountry campsites around 2 a.m. Sunday morning. Although no additional information has yet been released on what occurred, a man camping there with his girlfriend provided the following report to a local news station. The camper said that the two of them went to sleep around 11 p.m. and woke up around 1 a.m. to people shining flashlights on their tent. The couple exited their tent to find a man and his young son approaching. The man said that something had destroyed his campsite and that he kept hearing strange sounds, so he was going to investigate because this was "Bigfoot Country." The man reportedly showed the couple his gun and told them if they heard gunshots, they should run. The pair returned to their tent; five or ten minutes later, they heard at least one gunshot. The man and his son returned to the couple's tent and said that Bigfoot had emerged from the woods, and approached them, so he had fired his weapon. Due to the bizarre circumstances, the man and his girlfriend immediately packed up and left the campsite. The incident remains under investigation. Source: Josh Breslow, Clarksvillenow.com.
A former park fee program employee has been sentenced to two years in prison for stealing from the park. L.L., 61, a former 30-year employee at Mammoth Cave, was charged by a grand jury last January with one count of theft of public money. L.L. pleaded guilty to the charge, admitting that she had stolen more than $1,000 from the park. She was sentenced to two years imprisonment and three years of supervised release following the sentence; she must also pay restitution of $169,322 for theft of public money. L.L. was employed to supervise, track, reconcile, and safeguard recreational fees to the park. According to a victim impact statement from the park, she repeatedly used her position to steal publicly collected funds. She also manipulated the fee collection system and the employees she supervised. In a five-year period, examined by investigators, it was determined that L.L. stole nearly $170,000. L.L. confessed to using several means to steal from the park, including cutting and pasting to create false deposit documents, filling out false deposit reports, and utilizing a duplicate check scheme, allowing her to take cash for a check amount that didn't exist. Source: Ashley Smith, KFVS News.
A summary of recent openings, closures and other changes in the status of parks and their facilities, Mammoth Cave NP — The park has suspended tours to two or its most popular attractions while it rehabilitates two miles of cave trails. The Grand Avenue tour will remain closed for the entirety of the project, which is expected to run through at least the spring of 2021. The Wild Cave tour will be closed for the first 12 months of the project, and the Domes and Dripstones and Frozen Niagara tours will be closed for the remaining duration of the work. Source: Caroline Eggers, Bowling Green Daily News. September 7, 2022 On September 5, a helicopter crash occurred just inside the park's southern boundary. The 69-year-old pilot had been flying alone from St. Louis, Missouri to Knoxville, Tennessee before contact was lost with the aircraft. NPS staff, along with Barren and Glasgow County Emergency Management, Edmonson County Emergency Management, and Kentucky State Police conducted a search, utilizing eyewitness reports and the last known location. A search helicopter was able to locate the downed helicopter, and after arriving on scene, the pilot was found deceased. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the NPS and National Traffic Safety Board. Source: Mammoth Cave National Park
On March 5, the park closed the visitor center, cave tours, Green River Ferry, Mammoth Cave Campground, and all secondary roads due to storm damage. There were many downed trees in the park, as well as widespread power and internet outages. On March 7, the park reopened the visitor center, cave tours, and the Green River Ferry. The campground also reopened, though there is no power in the restrooms. Flint Ridge, Joppa Ridge, North Houchins, Ugly Creek, and Dennison Ferry Road remain closed, as of March 7. Park trails remain open, though visitors are advised to use caution because they have not been cleared. Source: WCLU, Mammoth Cave National Park
The historic Joppa Missionary Baptist Church was marred by "repeated acts of vandalism" between July 5 and August 4. Vandalism included broken windows, kicked-in doors, and painted graffiti on church walls. The NPS has released two photos of a group of suspects and a vehicle, and the park is looking for any information the public can provide. Source: Mammoth Cave National Park
At around 1 a.m. on September 10, an individual with a child approached a tent with two occupants in a backcountry campsite, saying that their own campsite had been destroyed and they "kept hearing strange sounds." The individual said that they were going to investigate because they were in "Bigfoot Country," and the individual showed the other party a firearm. Five to ten minutes later, the party of two in the tent heard "at least one gunshot." The individual with the child returned to the tent and said Bigfoot had emerged and approached them, and they had fired in defense. The two in the tent decided to pack up and leave the area. The incident is under investigation by the NPS. Source: WRBL
On May 1, a 39-year-old was observed and charged with committing domestic assault within the park. The individual had two prior convictions of assault in the fourth degree against a spouse or intimate partner. The individual was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 11. The case is being investigated by the NPS and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Bowling Green Branch Office. Source: U.S. Attorney's Office: Western District of Kentucky
On May 1, 2023, a 40-year-old committed a domestic assault in the park. The individual had two prior convictions of assault in the fourth degree in 2020 and 2022. On October 1, they were sentenced to 37 months in prison and three years of supervised release for "committing a domestic assault as a habitual offender." Source: U.S. Attorney's Office: Western District of Kentucky | |