RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
CC: RAD Information Net
Day/date: Friday, October 4, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-538 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Drug Arrest
On October 3rd, ranger Chris Cessna observed a half-smoked
marijuana joint in plain view inside a parked car in the public
parking lot. Cessna and ranger Todd Roeder waited for the owner
to return, then stopped him when he entered the vehicle and
started to leave. A search of the vehicle incident to the
driver's arrest led to the discovery of a fully loaded 9 mm
semi-automatic handgun within reach of the driver and substantial
amounts of cash and cocaine. Rangers subsequently met with
representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office and members of
the multi-agency drug task force in the subject's home town and
agreed not to press charges in return for the subject's full
cooperation with the task force, including provision of in-depth
information on drug activities for the next six months. The
weapon was seized and will become the property of the government.
The drugs will be destroyed. [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF, via
CompuServe message from Rich Murphy, LES, RAD/MWRO, 10/3]
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Theodore Roosevelt (North Dakota) - Wild Horse Reduction
On October 1st and 2nd, a wild horse roundup was conducted in
the park's South Unit. Two helicopters and twelve riders
rounded up 93 of the park's 114 wild horses. Of these, 53 will
be sold at auction; the remainder were released back into the
park. This reduction, the first since 1986, has received
widespread publicity due to claims that the park horses are a
separate breed that descended from Sitting Bull's ponies, a
premise disputed by area ranchers. A bill to make the so called
"Mokota horse" found in the park the state horse failed in the
North Dakota legislature last year. Attempts to halt the
roundup through the state's Congressional delegation and the
governor's office were not successful. Due to the controversy,
representatives from both the Humane Societies of North Dakota
and the U.S. were present for the entire roundup. Two horses
were lost due to injury. The park took blood from 77 animals
for genetic typing at the University of Kentucky. The culling
process eliminated animals introduced in recent years with the
goal of preserving traditional bloodlines. [Telefax from Sara
Koenig, RMS, THRO, 10/3]
Alaska Regional Office (Anchorage) - Urban Grizzly
Although this incident did not occur within the jurisdiction of
the NPS, ARO sent it along as an item of interest. On October
1st, morning traffic reports on the radio began with warnings of
a freeroaming, thousandpound grizzly in midtown Anchorage.
Despite hours of intensive pursuit by city police past school
yards, through residential streets and down bike paths, the bear
was able to elude his wouldbe capturers and at last report was
only blocks from the regional office building. The bear was
reportedly heading north at the time, and sirens could be heard
as the pursuit continued. Only in Alaska....
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady at California state ranger conference,
Sacramento, CA (10/2-10/4).
Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Kreis at reservation
system postaward conference, Reston, VA (10/2-10/3).
Branch of Fire & Aviation: Broyles at NPS regional safety
officer meeting, Omaha, NE (9/29-10/3); Norum chairing
interagency task group on prescribed fire complexity, Denver, CO
(10/1-10/5).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: All Offices FTS 2684874/6039 or 2022084874/6039
Telefax: Branch of R&VP FTS 2686756 or 2022086756
Branch of Fire FTS 2685977 or 2022085977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP WASORANGER
Branch of Fire WASOFIREWO
SEAdog: All Offices 1/650