RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date:  Thursday, April 18, 1991

INCIDENTS

91-116 - Wrangell-St. Elias (Alaska) - Missing Aircraft/Overdue Climbers

A search for an overdue Cessna 185 operated by Gulkana Air 
Service was begun on the afternoon of the 16th.  The aircraft, 
piloted by K.B., owner of the air service, was scheduled to 
pick up Japanese climbers H.O. and I.M. on Mt. 
Jarvis (13,421') on April 10th.  The climbers have been on the 
mountain since April 4th.  K.B. had been scheduled to pick up 
the climbers on Nabesna Glacier, but was unable to fly in 
because of bad weather.  K.B. is believed to have attempted a 
landing on the glacier at the 9,000-foot elevation on the morning 
of the 16th.  Park and CAP pilots made unsuccessful attempts to 
fly to the glacier that afternoon to locate the missing plane 
and climbers.  No ELT signals have been received by either 
aircraft or by satellite.  Searchers hoped to locate the missing 
plane yesterday, weather permitting, and drop additional fuel 
and food to the climbers, who now are a week overdue.  The NPS 
is cooperating with RCC (Elmendorf), CAP and Alaska state 
troopers in search and rescue operations.  [Jay Wells, CR, WRST, 
via telefax from RAD/ARO, 4/17]

91-117 - Organ Pipe Cactus (Arizona) - Armed Robbery

Just before midnight on the 15th, three men armed with a handgun 
and knives robbed a group of family and friends camped in the 
main park campground of over $200 in cash and assorted jewelry.  
One of the suspects fondled a female in the group and attempted 
to lure her into a tent but failed when her mother grabbed her 
and held her down for protection.  The suspects then fled.  The 
victims immediately reported the incident to park rangers 
residing near the campground.  Rangers responded with air 
support assistance provided by U.S. Customs Blackhawk 
helicopters and began unsuccessful efforts to track the three 
men.  Rangers are now conducting an investigation and working 
with Mexican authorities to gather intelligence.  This is the 
second incident of an armed robbery in the park in the last 30 
days.  [CRO, ORPI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, 
RAD/WRO, 4/17]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) Bill Mott was admitted to a hospital in Oakland, California, 
last Sunday for observations and tests.  He's reported to be in 
good spirits, but will probably be out of his office for the 
next two weeks.  Get well cards and messages can be sent to him 
via the Budget Office in Western Regional Office.

2) The Personnel Division is in the process of making major 
revisions to the seasonal hiring system and has experienced many 
complications during the transition period in the 
design/redesign and debugging of the system.  Other factors 
contributing to the delays include the crashing of the computer 
at the wrong times and reduction of overtime because of budget 
limitations.  Personnel is aiming to have the new system online 
by the end of this year and to use it for the winter season.  
The main goal is to have a system next year wherein parks can 
request a certificate whenever they need one.  The register will 
be updated every time a new application is entered.  By having 
an "open-continuous" register which accepts applications at any 
time and issues certificates whenever they are needed, the 
delays in processing should soon be a thing of the past.  The 
goal is to give parks direct electronic access to registers, 
thereby minimizing paperwork and the need to mail certificates.

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No travel or leave scheduled.

Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Martin on AL (4/15-4/19);
Halainen on detail to House Subcommittee on National Parks and 
Public Lands (3/8-4/26); Henry on SL (indefinite).

Branch of Fire: Hurd, Broyles, Farrel, Norum and Gale 
instructing at training course on fire management for managers,
Marana, AZ (4/14-4/19).

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