RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Thursday, April 25, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-127 - Rocky Mountain (Colorado) - Search in Progress
On April 22nd, rangers found a parked vehicle belonging to J.M.
of Boulder, Colorado, and learned that J.M. had
headed out for a two-day solo climb on Long's Peak early on
Saturday, April 20th. Few people in town knew J.M., so
little other information was available regarding his exact plans.
A hasty search of his approach route was conducted on Monday,
and a full search employing search teams, dog teams and two
helicopters was started the following day. J.M.'s camp was
found yesterday; searchers also found someone who had seen him
on Saturday and identified several climbing routes that J.M.
was considering for his ascent. About 60 percent of the search
area has been covered so far. Attempts were being made
yesterday to cover as much ground as possible, as weather
conditions are expected to deteriorate today and remain bad
through the weekend. Two local television stations are in the
park covering the incident. [Dave Essex, CR, ROMO, via telefax
reports from Jim Reilly, RAD/RMRO, 4/23 and 4/24]
91-128 - Glen Canyon (Arizona/Utah) - Larceny/Assault
On the afternoon of April 19th, employees of the Hite Store saw
O.K., 73, of Dove Creek, Colorado, place a piece of
frozen meat under his coveralls. When confronted by marina
manager Joe Swank outside the store, O.K. pulled the frozen
meat from inside his clothing and struck Swank on the head with
it. O.K. then attempted to strike Swank and another employee
with his fists while shouting threats and profanities. Swank
left the store area for his camper trailer parked in the local
NPS campground. Two rangers from Bullfrog drove 76 miles to the
scene, a third ranger was flown to the area by the park plane,
and two San Juan County deputy sheriffs drove 180 miles from
Monticello, Utah. O.K. was approached by the team just before
dark. While being interviewed, he swung at a deputy but missed
him. O.K. was arrested and is being charged with two counts of
assault and one count of larceny. Alcohol was involved.
[CompuServe message from Larry Clark, CR, GLCA, 4/22]
91-129 - Lake Mead (Nevada/California) - Fatality
The body of an unidentified adult female was found in Las Vegas
Wash on April 19th. Numerous "tracks" and bruises from
injections were found on her arms and legs. An investigation is
underway. [Terry Green, LAME, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/22]
91-130 - C & O Canal (D.C./Maryland) - Rape Conviction
In July of 1989, Park Police detectives began an investigation
into a rape which occurred in the park. A suspect was
identified who had a prior conviction for rape, but had been
released on parole several months earlier. The victim of that
rape had been beaten badly with a railroad spike. The suspect
was located and questioned, and information placing him at the
scene of the assault was obtained. He was arrested and tried in
superior court in the District of Columbia in January. The
suspect was found guilty and was sentenced to six years in
prison (the balance of his prior sentence) and to two life
sentences. All sentences are to run consecutively. [Report
from Maj. Jack Schamp, LES, RAD/WASO, 4/22]
91-131 - Alaska Region (Alaska) - Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Settlement
Following 30 days of consideration during which he reviewed
sentencing memoranda and public comments, Federal District Judge
Russell Holland rejected the $1 billion plea agreement offered
by Exxon, Inc., and Exxon Shipping stemming from the Exxon
Valdez oil spill in March of 1989. Judge Holland felt that the
$100 million criminal penalty provision of the settlement was
not severe enough to deter oil companies from spilling oil in
the future. Exxon has been given time to reconsider their
guilty pleas and enter into a new agreement. The new deadline
is May 24, 1991. [CompuServe message from RAD/ARO, 4/24]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) Patrick Ward, the son of Western Regional Chief Ranger Phil
Ward, died unexpectedly last weekend. Phil asks that anyone
wishing to make donations in his memory send them to the E&AA
scholarship fund.
2) Park and regional resource managers with responsibility for
endangered species should get on the mailing list for the Fish
and Wildlife Service's "Endangered Species Technical Bulletin",
a free monthly newsletter giving information on the latest
listings, proposals, progress on recovery plans, and so forth.
The newsletter also contains an update for each region. Request
it from Michael Rees, Assistant Editor, "Technical Bulletin",
Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior,
Washington, D.C. 20240 (703-358-2166). [Margaret Osborne,
Wildlife and Vegetation, WASO]
3) The annual DOI Honors Award Convocation will be held in
Washington on May 8th. A number of NPS employees will be
receiving awards. Recipients should wear their full Class A
winter dress uniforms, including coat, tie and felt hat.
Payment of travel costs for recipients is authorized, as is
payment of travel for an individual of the award recipient's
choosing. This person should normally be an individual related
by blood or affinity whose close association with the employee
is the equivalent of a family relationship. Payment of travel
costs for more than one individual may be considered for
recipients who are handicapped. See FPM Letter 4517, July 25,
1990. [Dick Martin, RAD/WASO]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Dabney to Rocky Mountain Region superintendents'
conference (4/22-4/26) and Canyonlands (4/29-5/3).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Halainen on detail to
House Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands (3/8-4/26);
Henry on SL (indefinite).
Branch of Fire: Gale on NPS18 review in WASO (4/23-4/25).
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