NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, September 18, 1996

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

                        *** SPECIAL NOTICE ***

All flags are to lowered to half staff today, Wednesday, September 18, 1996,
in tribute to former vice president Spiro Agnew.  Flags will return to full
staff on the day of interment.  We will advise you when we learn when that
will be.

INCIDENTS

96-146 - George Washington Parkway (Virginia) - Update on MVA with Fatalities

On Tuesday, September 17th, a federal jury in Alexandria, Virginia, convicted
N.T. of involuntary manslaughter for his part in the April 17th
accident on the parkway that claimed three lives.  The jury took just two
hours to decide that N.T. had acted recklessly by racing along the parkway
at speeds up to 80 mph, apparently dueling for position with the driver of
another northbound vehicle.  The two cars struck each other, then crossed the
highway into the southbound lane, striking two more vehicles.  The other
three drivers were killed.  N.T. faces up to 13 years in prison.  [Bill
Lynch, LES, NCSO]

96-251 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Follow-up on Double Homicide

The NPS and FBI are still investigating the murders of J.W. and
L.W., whose bodies were discovered in the park on June 1st. 
W.'s family has scheduled a news conference today at Skyland Lodge, near
the scene of the murders.  They have obtained additional reward money from
Fingerhut, bringing the total reward for information leading to a conviction
to $50,000.  There are some indications that the family is attempting to
bring the incident back to the forefront of media attention.  [Greg Stiles,
SHEN]

96-511 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Follow-up on Hurricane Fran

The entire length of Skyline Drive in the Central District - from Thornton
Gap at U.S. 211 south to Swift Run Gap at U.S. 33 - has reopened, as have all
facilities in the district except Lewis Mountain cabins, which are still
without power.  There are still about 300 trees down on Skyline Drive in the
South District, and another 600 trees down in the Loft Mountain campground. 
Because of the priority nature of the park's problems, Gettysburg has
contributed some of its storm damage money to help out, and the park will
probably order out-of-area resources to get the drive and campground open
prior to the busy fall foliage season.  The entire North District from Front
Royal to Thornton Gap will likely open by this weekend.  Potomac Appalachian
Trail Club volunteers are clearing as many trails as they can, including the
AT.  It is probable, however, that most trails will remain closed until next
summer.  [Greg Stiles, SHEN]

96-518 - Shenandoah (Virginia) - Follow-up on Search

Searchers are still looking for State Department employee J.S.,
who has been missing since August 30th.  No clues whatsoever have yet been
found.  The search was therefore scaled back to a limited, on-going operation
on Monday, with employees and volunteers actively looking for clues as they
go about their regular activities.  The investigation will remain active. 
J.S.'s family is satisfied with efforts and decisions made to date. 
[Greg Stiles, SHEN]

96-533 - Crater Lake (Oregon) - Search; Concession Employee Fatality

On the evening of September 9th, two Crater Lake Company employees were
climbing Mt. Thielson just north of the park when one of them - K.G.,
20 - fell about 50 feet.  Her companion ran down the mountain and
called for help, reporting that K.G. had suffered severe head injuries but
was alive.  The county SAR team requested technical and support assistance
from the park around 10 p.m.  A unified command was established; the NPS
provided most of the technical support.  Searchers found K.G.'s body on
very steep, rocky and loose terrain around 3 a.m.  It's believed that she
died nearly instantly.  Her body was removed from the mountain by helicopter
long line the next day.  Twelve NPS employees spent 18 grueling hours on the
operation.  A critical incident debriefing was held on September 14th. 
[George Buckingham, CR, CRLA]

96-534 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Sexual Assault Conviction

A 17-year-old woman and a female companion were vacationing in the Gatlinburg
area in early September, 1995.  On the evening of September 2, 1995, they
accepted a ride from a local bar to their motel from a stranger.  The man
drove them a short distance, then stopped at another nearby motel so that he
and the juvenile's companion could use the bathroom.  The 17-year-old, who
was intoxicated, remained in the car.  When the woman came out of the
bathroom, she found that the man and her friend were gone.  The juvenile was
driven to a remote parking area in the park and forcibly raped.  She
attempted to resist and was able to run from the vehicle, but the man caught
her and forced her back to the car.  The man then headed back with her to
Gatlinburg.  At the first stop sign, his victim jumped from the vehicle, ran
to a nearby motel, reported the rape, and provided a description of the
suspect and his car.  Gatlinburg police stopped the vehicle 20 minutes later. 
The driver, 41-year-old J.H., matched the description of the woman's
assailant.  Due to poor lighting and the victim's intoxication, she was not
able to positively identify J.H. as her assailant, and he was released. 
The vehicle was located the next day and processed for evidence.  A criminal
complaint for aggravated sexual assault (18 USC 2241(a)) and an arrest
warrant were issued on February 8, 1996.  J.H. had already fled the area,
however, and was a fugitive.  He went to work for a land company in West
Virginia, and stole a 1988 Lincoln and $30,000 from his employer this past
May 2nd.  Warrants for grand theft were issued.  On July 31st, J.H. was
picked up in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and was subsequently indicted by a
federal grand jury for aggravated sexual assault and kidnapping.  Trial is
set for October 17th.  A search warrant for blood and hair samples has been
served on J.H., who is currently being held in jail in Knox county; the
samples are currently being analyzed by the FBI for DNA profiling and other
information.  Criminal investigator Bill Acree is the case agent.  [Jason
Houck, CR, GRSM]

96-535 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Overdose Fatality

On the afternoon of September 11th, T.C., 24, of Maryville,
Tennessee, and a female companion were inhaling paint fumes to get high in
the Middle Prong of Little River.  T.C., who had also taken a prescription
pain killer, apparently overdosed and collapsed.  T.C.'s companion flagged
down a motorist, who helped drag him from the water.  When ranger John
Stobinski arrived, a rescue squad volunteer and the motorist were performing
CPR.  An ambulance crew arrived, began undertaking other life support
measures, and transported him to a hospital, where he expired in the
intensive care unit.  [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM]

96-536 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Special Event

On September 2nd, candidates Bob Dole and Jack Kemp held a campaign rally on
the Arch grounds which drew about 20,000 people to the park.  Set-up for the
event required erection of fencing, bleachers and stages and took an entire
day; clean-up and removal took another full day.  The campaign covered all
costs.  About 300 media representatives attended the event.  Demonstrators
were removed from a secured motorcade area without incident.  Several heat-
related medical incidents occurred during the event.  The event required the
support from the NPS from a dozen law enforcement rangers, two EMTs, five
maintenance personnel and a public affairs officer.  [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF]

96-537 - Jefferson National Expansion (Missouri) - Labor Day Weekend Events

Over the three-day Labor Day weekend, a blues festival near the park and
professional football and baseball games led to a significant increase in
visitation to the area and quite numerous law enforcement problems -
particularly from the blues festival.  Eight arrests were made, including
four for drunkenness and one for an assault on a ranger.  The latter involved
a head-butt to the ranger's face and led to a nose injury.  The assailant has
an extensive record for assaults and disorderly conduct.  Felony assault
charges are being pursued.  [Deryl Stone, CR, JEFF]

96-538 - President's Park (D.C.) - Demonstration; Arrests

On September 13th, a California-based group of demonstrators assembled on the
White House sidewalk to protest the administration's recent decisions on gay
and lesbian rights.  The size of the group exceeded the maximum limits
permitted by regulation for assembling without a permit.  Park Police
officers warned them and ordered them to disperse, but they refused.  Nine
people were arrested for demonstrating without a permit.  [Bill Lynch, LES,
NCSO]

96-539 - Prince William Forest (Virginia) - Drug Arrests

On Sunday, September 15th, rangers George Liffert and Ron Jackson responded
to a complaint from a park concessioner that a group of campers at a travel
trailer park had failed to pay the required fee.  Upon arrival at the camp
site, the rangers observed a quantity of drug paraphernalia in plain view. 
The paraphernalia was seized, the area secured, and a search warrant obtained
for the recreational vehicle.  Rangers subsequently found and seized 60 grams
of psilocybin, packaging materials and electronic scales.  The occupants of
RV - S.H. and C.V., of no fixed address - were arrested and
charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. 
[George Liffert, SPR, PRWI]

FIRE ACTIVITY

NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS LEVEL - Level II

LARGE FIRE/INCIDENT SUMMARY 

                                                    Mon      Tues   %   Est
State      Unit              Fire/Incident   IMT    9/16     9/17  Con  Con

OR   Umpqua NF               Spring           T2  16,005   16,005  100  CND 

AK   Statewide               8 fires          -- 154,568  154,568   --  LPS

Heading Notes

     Unit --    Agency = BIA area; NF = national forest; RU = CA state resource
                or ranger unit; RD = state ranger district; District = BLM
                district; NWR = USFWS wildlife refuge
     Fire --    * = newly reported fire (on this report); Cx = complex; LSS =
                limited suppression strategy; CSS = containment suppression
                strategy
     IMT --     T1 = Type 1; T2 = Type II; ST = State Team
     % Con --   Percent of fire contained
     Est Con -- Estimated containment date; NEC = no estimated date of
                containment; CND = fully contained; NR = no report; LPS = limited
                protection status

NUMBER OF NEW FIRES (FIVE DAY TREND) 

                    NPS    BIA      BLM     FWS    States   USFS     Total

Friday, 9/13         0     12        22       0       62    187       283
Saturday, 9/14       1      2         7       0       69     49       128
Sunday, 9/15         1     11         3       0       24     12        51
Monday, 9/16         0      4         3       0       37     10        54
Tuesday, 9/17        0      3         0       1       31     11        46

TOTAL COMMITTED RESOURCES (FIVE DAY TREND) 

                  Crews     Engines    Helicopters    Airtankers   Overhead


Friday, 9/13       146        196          76             1         1,133
Saturday, 9/14      77         96          47             0           629
Sunday, 9/15        83         88          40             0           680
Monday, 9/16        44         45          34             0           475
Tuesday, 9/17       40         32          21             0           300

CURRENT SITUATION

There was no significant fire activity yesterday.

NATIONAL OUTLOOK

Cold and wet conditions are expected to persist through today.

[NICC Incident Management Situation Report]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Servicewide Maintenance Advisory Committee (SMAC) - The committee, which
serves as an extension of the WASO Park Facility Management Division,
providing advice and staff assistance to Washington, field area, and cluster
managers on Servicewide maintenance issues, held its most recent meeting in
Alexandria, Virginia, in August.  During the meeting, SMAC reviewed and
guided work by its smaller task groups for communications, environmental
leadership, risk management, federal lands highways program, maintenance
management, strategic planning, and housing.  The group also received updates
on the line item construction process, the status of the GPRA (Government
Performance Review Act) task force, Washington budget office news, and
maintenance careers.  For more information about SMAC, please contact group
chair Kevin Cann or co-chair Terry Gess; both can be reached on cc:Mail.  The
next SMAC meeting is scheduled for the week of February 10, 1997.  [Kevin
Cann, CM, YOSE]

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

EXCHANGE

No submissions.

Distribution of the Morning Report is through a mailing list managed by park,
office and/or field area cc:Mail hub coordinators.  Please address requests
for the Morning Report to your servicing hub coordinator.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

                                  --- ### ---