RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Wednesday, November 20, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-625 - Buffalo (Arkansas) - Poaching
On the afternoon of November 17th, rangers received a report of a dead elk
in the Erbie area and investigated along with an officer from the Arkansas
Game and Fish Commission. The carcass of a bull elk was found and a bullet
was retrieved from the remains. Following an investigation by the two
agencies, a 21-year-old resident of Harrison, Arkansas, was arrested at his
work place and charged with illegally taking the elk. He is currently
being held in a county jail on a $5,000 bond. The elk was part of a herd
of Rocky Mountain elk introduced into the area outside the park between
1981 and 1985. Arkansas' native species, the Eastern elk, was extirpated
from the state by the 1840's and is now considered extinct. The current
Rocky Mountain elk population in Arkansas is estimated at between 150 and
200 animals, almost all of them ranging within the upper and middle
portions of the park. [John Apel, Acting CR, BUFF, via CompuServe message
from Lori Serrano, RAD/SWRO, 11/19]
91-626 - Great Smokies (Tennessee/North Carolina) - Employee Suicide
G.W., 48, the secretary for the assistant chief ranger in
Tennessee, committed suicide at her home on the afternoon of November 18th.
Williamson was separated from her husband, had attempted suicide on three
prior occasions, and was under psychiatric care at the time of her death.
She leaves three children and a grandchild. G.W. had worked for the
park for about four years. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning in
Newport, Tennessee. [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, via telefax from Steve Alscher,
LES, RAD/SERO, 11/19]
91-627 - San Juan (Puerto Rico) - Assault on Visitor
J.D.-H. was assaulted by an unidentified 18 to 20-year-old male
as he was driving out of the El Morro parking lot exit near Santa Elena
Road on the morning of November 16th. The assailant tried to open the
vehicle's door, but was initially unable to do so because of J.D.-H.'
resistance. The assailant then struck him in the face through
the car's open window, opened the door, and attempted to drag him from the
vehicle while pulling what appeared to be a pipe from his pocket. J.D.-H.
accelerated and pulled away from his assailant, who ran down
Santa Elena Road and disappeared. Rangers Culkin, Matos and Weltzin
provided first aid until an ambulance arrived at the scene. J.D.-H.
was taken to a local hospital, where he was treated for hematomas and
bruises to his face and stomach, then released. An investigation is
underway. [Telefax from Bill Springer, RAD/SERO, 11/19]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: Brady on annual leave (11/18-11/22).
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Martin instructing at safety for
line managers course, Beckley, WV (11/18-11/20); Kreis at regional fee
coordinator meeting, WASO (11/19-11/22).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Norum at meeting of prescribed fire and fire
effects working team, Charleston, WV (11/17-11/22); Gale serving as
incident commander for 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Arizona
Memorial, HI (11/25-12/9); Botti at Western Region FMO meeting, Yosemite,
CA (11/18-11/22); Broyles at training working team meeting, White River, AZ
(11/7-11/22).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: All Offices - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-6756 or 202-208-6756
Branch of F&A (WASO) - FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: Branch of R&VP - WASO-RANGER
Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO-FIRE-WO
SEAdog: Branch of R&VP - 1/650
Branch of F&A (WASO) - 1/655