RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
MORNING REPORT
Attention: Directorate
Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
Ranger Activities Division Information Network
Day/Date: Tuesday, December 3, 1991
INCIDENTS
91-638 - USS Arizona (Hawaii) - 50th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor
Preparations for the formal commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the
attack on Pearl Harbor, which begins today and continues until December 8th,
are well underway. Planning for the 23 programs which will occur during
the week has been going on for more than a year. The entire event is being
managed under the incident command system, and the Service's Type I all-
risk management team (under incident commander Rick Gale) is assisting the
park staff. A total of 105 NPS employees and 250 volunteers will be
staffing and managing the week's activities. As of yesterday, 1,300
journalists had notified the consolidated media center that they would be
on site. Sound and lighting systems, a covered stage and seating for 3,500
attendees have been installed. Planned programs include:
- a recognition of the survivors of the attack on the U.S.S. Arizona;
- a governor's program to be attended by a delegation of Congressmen;
- a program entitled "Reflections of Pearl Harbor" which will be hosted
by Director Ridenour and will feature James Michener as the speaker;
- a solemn commemoration by President Bush on the Arizona memorial 50
years to the minute after the attack on the ship;
- the premier of a symphony which was written for the occasion by the
Honolulu Symphony;
- a dedication of the new "Remembrance Exhibit"; and
- programs for the U.S.S. Arizona Reunion Association.
Media inquiries should be directed to the consolidated media center at 808-
471-3327. [Telefax from Bill Gabbert, USAR, 12/2]
91-639 - Yosemite (California) - Park Closure
High winds began blowing in Yosemite Valley late on the morning of November
29th, and the park was notified at 3:00 that afternoon that winds of up to
70 mph could be expected later in the day. Since winds of this speed met
criteria for evacuation in the park's emergency plan, park staff began
evacuating Valley campgrounds and concession facilities at 5:30 p.m. The
entire operation was completed just before midnight. The closure was
lifted the following morning. No injuries or major damage were reported.
[Bob Johnson, YOSE, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/2]
91-640 - Crater Lake (Oregon) - Two Employee Deaths
On the afternoon of November 9th, equipment operator Burnie Riddle died at
his residence in Chiloquin, Oregon. The cause of death is reported to have
been an acute myocardial infarction. He was 44 years old. On November
18th, personnel specialist Anne Dickenson, 52, died of an undetermined
illness while attending a training session in Western Regional Office in
San Francisco. The park is waiting for a coroner's report regarding the
cause of death. The park is providing all necessary support to their
families. [SEAdog message from Mark Forbes, RAD/PNRO, 11/26; received 12/3]
91-641 - Canyon de Chelly (Arizona) - Serious Visitor Injury
On November 21st, J.H. of Novato, California, and two friends
allegedly conducted a BASE jump in the park. During the jump, J.H.
broke his back. His companions subsequently fled the area. Rangers found
J.H. the following day and took him to a medical facility in Chinle,
where he was stabilized. J.H. was then transported to the Farmington
Medical Center in New Mexico. The trio was traveling to a BASE jump in
Florida at the time of the incident. Evidence found in J.H.'s personal
effects indicate that he had BASE jumped in Canyon de Chelly on a prior
occasion. J.H. has been cited for illegal entry and BASE jumping. He
has so far refused to cooperate in efforts to locate his companions. [Doug
Roe, CACH, via telefax from Cliff Chetwin, RAD/SWRO, 11/25]
91-642 - Lake Meredith (Texas) - Body Recovery
The body of an male homicide victim was recovered in the Rosita area on
November 28th. The homicide took place in Amarillo, and a person claiming
to have killed the man turned himself in to that city's police department.
It's believed that the victim was killed in his home and that the body was
then wrapped in blankets and dropped into the lake. The FBI has been
notified, but the Amarillo police department special crimes unit is
conducting the investigation. [Telefax from Jim Radney, RLES, RAD/SWRO,
11/29]
91-643 - Joshua Tree (California) - Rescue
At 2:00 p.m. on November 23rd, a park visitor reported that A.J., 13,
of Santa Fe Springs, California, had fallen and injured her leg while rock
scrambling in Sneak Eye Canyon southwest of Indian Cove campground.
Rangers responded and began a difficult and dangerous rescue in the canyon,
which cuts through the most rugged and inaccessible area of the park.
Ranger Karl Pearson reached A.J. at 2:45 p.m.; after completing a medical
assessment and evaluating the difficulties that the terrain would impose
for a rescue team, Pearson called for a California Highway Patrol
helicopter to evacuate her. While Pearson provided medical support,
rangers Swain, Patterson, Burnell, Baker, Bertrand and Johnson hoisted the
litter and victim to a slender rock pinnacle where the hovering helicopter
conducted a one-skid pickup. A.J. was flown to the trauma center at Desert
Hospital in Palm Springs for treatment. The entire operation was concluded
within one hour. [Art Webster, JOTR, via CompuServe message from Herb
Gercke, RAD/WRO, 12/2]
91-644 - Scotts Bluff (Nebraska) - Suicide
Just after dusk on November 23rd, R.B., 36, jumped from the top of
Scotts Bluff and fell 800 feet to her death. R.B. had attempted to
drive off the top of the monument in August, but trees in the vicinity of
the parking area blocked her and she received only minor injuries. R.B.
was subsequently hospitalized for emotional problems and placed on
medication after she was released. Earlier on the 23rd, R.B.'s mother
advised police that she had not taken her medicine and had left their
residence. County deputies arrived at the monument about five minutes
after she jumped. [Palma Wilson, CR, SCBL, via telefax from Rich Murphy,
RLES, RAD/MWRO, 11/27]
91-645 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana) - Threats Against Ranger
On November 29th, ranger William Tadych and an Indiana conservation officer
responded to a report that two men, later identified as S.C. and
T.B., both 19, had pointed a rifle at two fishermen in the
park. When the pair saw the officers approaching, they fled on foot and
attempted to hide in the woods. While searching for the two men, the
conservation officer saw them hiding behind a tree. Each was pointing a
scoped .22 caliber rifle at Tadych, who was unaware of their proximity.
The conservation officer disarmed them, then arrested them with Tadych's
assistance. S.C. and T.B. were booked in the Porter County jail
on charges of criminal recklessness and possession of loaded firearms.
Their vehicle and rifles were impounded. The U.S. attorney will be
consulted on the possibility of filing charges of assault on a federal
officer. [Telefax from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 11/29]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
1) The notice on the proposed revision to OMB Circular A-45, "Policy
Governing Charges for Rental Quarters and Related Facilities", was
published in the Federal Register on Friday, November 22, 1991. The notice
states that there will be a 30-day comment period, but this has been
extended to 60 days and now ends on January 21, 1992. All employees
occupying park housing may send comments to their regional housing office
or comment directly to OMB, Office of Federal Procurement Policy, Room 9025,
New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20503.
If you need a copy of the proposed revised circular, please call the WASO
Housing Office at FTS 343-1335 or 202-343-1335. [Donna Compton, Housing,
WASO]
STAFF STATUS
Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.
Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Marriott on AL (12/2); entire
staff at planning meeting, Mather EDC, Harpers Ferry, WV (12/5-12/6).
Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale serving as incident commander for 50th
anniversary of Pearl Harbor, U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, HI (11/25-12/9);
Broyles at smoke health hazard conference, Missoula, MT (12/3-12/5).
Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities
Telephone: Branch of R&VP - FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Branch of F&A (WAS0) - FTS 268-5572/5573 or 202-208-5572/5573
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