RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Thursday, January 3, 1991

INCIDENTS

90-463 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Structural Fire

A fire originating in the maintenance office of the park's 
headquarters building was discovered at 8:00 p.m. on New Year's 
Eve.  Quick work by the fire brigade isolated the fire and 
limited major damage to that room; smoke and heat damage, 
however, extended to other parts of the building.  Losses are 
estimated at between $5,000 and $30,000 at this time.  (Doug 
Morris, CR, SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, 
RAD/WRO, 1/2).

90-464 - Valley Forge (Pennsylvania) - Armed Robbery

At about 8:45 a.m. on December 29th, a man entered the 
Kennedy-Suplee Mansion, an historic building owned by the Service 
but leased as a restaurant.  He produced a handgun and ordered 
the manager to open the restaurant safe, then fled the scene 
with approximately $1,500.  Police from Upper Merion Township 
are leading the investigation.  (Jack Fewlass, CR, VAFO, via 
CompuServe message from Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO, 1/2).

90-465 - Valley Forge (Pennsylvania) - Apparent Suicide

Visitors walking across the Betzwood Bridge over the Schuylkill 
River early on the afternoon of December 29th discovered a body 
on the ground near the bridge's southwest embankment.  They 
reported their findings to the visitor center and rangers 
responded.  The victim, A.B., 23, of Royersford, 
Pennsylvania, was found on the ground with a piece of cotton 
rope around his neck.  Another piece of broken cotton rope hung 
from a pipe attached to the bridge.  Investigation disclosed 
that A.B. had been despondent and had said that he was going 
to shoot himself with a shotgun.  Relatives reported him missing 
on Friday.  (Jack Fewlass, CR, VAFO, via CompuServe message from 
Ginny Paci, RAD/MARO, 1/2).

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Bison Management

Only a few Yellowstone bison were reported to be near or outside 
the park's boundary at year's end.  One bull was on private land 
outside the western boundary above Lake Hebgen.  A large herd 
was located along the Madison River ten to twelve miles inside 
the boundary near Rainbow Bend, and another group of 
approximately ten bulls was on the Yellowstone River six to 
eight-miles inside the northern boundary.  The state has 
completed the public involvement process in the development of 
its operating plan and has drafted a final plan that is somewhat 
different from the interim management plan agreed to several 
weeks ago.  The major change to the plan involves the taking of 
bulls, which will be left alone unless they present a direct 
threat to private property or cattle.  Another change would give 
the state the option of calling on rangers to shoot the bison 
rather than Montana hunters if the latter's presence would 
provide a forum for anti-hunting activists.  Meanwhile, the court 
has told the Fund for Animals that their suit must enjoin the 
Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks and be 
resubmitted, which will delay their lawsuit for an indefinite 
time.  The state has been ordered to appear in court on January 
10th.  (CompuServe message from Wildlife and Vegetation Division, 
WASO, 1/2; Associated Press report, 1/3).

OFFICE NOTES

1) Effective February 1st, the Servicewide reservation system's 
900 telephone reservation service number will be replaced with 
an 800 number.  The new number will be 1-800-452-1111.  This number 
may be used to make camping reservations at all reservation 
parks, including Yosemite.  A $4 convenience fee will be charged 
for each separate transaction made via the 800 number. (Wes 
Kreis, RAD/WASO)

THIS DAY IN NPS HISTORY...

Four Army National Guard helicopter crewmen were killed while 
responding to a commuter plane crash in the Great Smokies in 
1978.  Two rangers who were on board were seriously injured.  
(Butch Farabee, RAD/WASO)

[Got a historical note?  Send it on to us for entry in the 
morning report].

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Dabney at resource management planning meeting 
in Cowpens, South Carolina (1/2-1/4).

Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Marriott on annual 
leave (1/2-1/4); Coffey at range issues working group meeting (1/3).

Branch of Fire: Broyles on AL (1/2-1/4).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog:     1/650