NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Friday, September 27, 1996

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

96-562 - Northwest Areas (Alaska) - Rescues

Ranger/pilot Richard Kemp and BLM ranger Mike Billbe were on a joint air
patrol on September 24th when an emergency flare was fired toward their
aircraft.  They investigated and found that the flare had been fired by three
hunters, who had also spelled out "HELP" in the snow with spruce boughs near
their camp.  The hunters packed down an airstrip in the foot of snow at the
site, enabling the rangers to land their wheeled Super Cub.  The hunters said
that they hadn't seen their guide for four days.  The rangers checked by
radio, and found that the guide had flipped his plane while landing at one of
several spike camps associated with the main camp four days previously.  The
pilot was uninjured.  The rangers were unable to land there because of
hazardous snow conditions, but were able to dispatch another guide with a
ski-equipped aircraft to the site.  The rangers then flew to check the other
spike camps.  Two stranded hunters at one camp had spelled out "SOS" in the
snow with the tracks of their ATV.  The rangers dropped food and fuel to them
and dropped messages directing them to safety.  Kemp and Billbe next came
upon three more hunters at another spike camp who had stamped out "P11" in
the snow.  Assuming that they meant "911", they dropped a message asking that
one of them lie down if they needed help.  One of the hunters immediately did
so.  Kemp contacted the ski-equipped plane and asked the pilot to check this
site out.  Then, having exhausted their message drop markers, the rangers
employed a segment of white toilet paper to write and drop a message advising
the hunters that help was on the way.  When last seen, the hunters were
climbing the tree to recover the toilet paper streamer.  Billbe and Kemp then
continued on an otherwise uneventful patrol, noting the presence of several
thousand caribou in the immediate area around the hunters.  All the hunters
returned safely from their trips.  [Jon Peterson, CR, NWAK]

96-563 - Lake Mead (Nevada/Arizona) - Methamphetamine Laboratory

Rangers investigating a report of possible vandalism to a navigational aid on
Lake Mead ended up discovering a methamphetamine lab on the afternoon of
September 24th.  A visitor had called the park and reported that someone on
board a personal watercraft had vandalized one of the navigational aids on
Middle Point Island in the upper portion of the Virgin Basin.  Rangers Bill
Collup and Matt Bates were given a description of the watercraft and its
direction of travel, and soon located the watercraft near a houseboat that
was underway.  They contacted the operator and boarded the houseboat to
investigate the reported vandalism.  While on board, Collup and Bates
observed chemicals, laboratory equipment, scales and other narcotics
paraphernalia.  The eight individuals on board were placed in custody and
assistance was summoned.  DEA agents soon arrived on scene and confirmed that
the chemicals were all precursors for the production of methamphetamines.  A
DEA contract environmental cleanup crew from Los Angeles was called in to
remove the chemicals and related equipment and to decontaminate the
houseboat.  A hand gun and a shotgun were also found and seized.  DEA agents
interviewed and released the eight suspects, all from Barstow.  A joint
investigation by the DEA and NPS is underway, and the case will be presented
to the U.S. attorney for prosecution.  DEA agents estimate that the chemicals
seized could produce about ten pounds of methamphetamines with a street value
of $300,000.  [Bud Inman, CR, LAME]

96-564 - Roosevelt-Vanderbilt (New York) - Special Event

The park hosted MIA/POW Recognition Day ceremonies last week - an event to
honor and remember MIAs and POWs from all wars in which the United States has
participated.  Representatives Gerald Solomon and Sue Kelly and brigadier
general Fletcher Lamkin from West Point spoke, and there was a "missing man"
flyover of Marine KC-130T aircraft.  The event, which drew over 800 veterans
and family members, was held on the grounds of FDR's home.  [Christopher
Jefferson, CR, ROVA]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Point Reyes (California) - Burned Area Recovery

The park has received a $98,000 grant from the Marin Community Foundation to
conduct research, resource management and public stewardship education within
the 12,000-acre area burned last October by the Vision fire.  The funds will
augment a $24,000 grant received from the National Park Foundation to perform
fire stewardship educational programs.  The MCF grant was submitted as a
partnership program with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory.  The grants have
two major goals in common - to involve the public in efforts to restore the
burned area and to conduct a broad-based educational effort to generate
support for prescribed burning.  [Don Neubacher, PORE]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Ticks and Disease - Dr. Jerry Johnson of the Public Health Service has
prepared several short reports on tick-borne diseases which will appear in
the Morning Report over the next few days.  The first deals with human
ehrlichioses, two fairly recently identified tick-borne diseases affecting
humans.  Human monocytic ehrlichiosis is transmitted primarily by the Lone
Star tick.  Most cases have occurred in the southeast and south central
United States, but cases have also been confirmed in Washington and
Massachusetts.  Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis is transmitted to humans by
the deer tick.  Most cases have occurred in the upper midwest, principally
Minnesota and Wisconsin; a few additional cases have occurred in New York,
Connecticut, Maryland and California.  Both diseases are clinically similar
to Lyme disease in their flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache,
fatigue and muscle pain.  They differ from Lyme disease in the rapid onset of
those symptoms, especially elevated fever accompanied by very severe
headache.  Human ehrlichioses also differ from Lyme disease in the absence of
the characteristic rash around the tick bite.  Infection usually produces
mild to moderately severe illness, but may occasionally be life-threatening
or even fatal.  The incubation period is usually one to three weeks after
exposure to an infected tick; not every exposure results in infection,
though.  It is important to seek medical attention if you suspect that you
have been bitten by a tick, particularly if you are experiencing any of these
symptoms.  Timely treatment is essential.  In some areas, ticks saved in a
sealed contained can be submitted to the local health department for
identification.  If you have any questions regarding tick-borne diseases,
please contact the field area public health consultant for your park.

MEMORANDA

No submissions.

EXCHANGE

Windows Program for Case Incident Records - Lisa Lawrence at Ulysses S. Grant
is interested in hearing from anyone who can provide background on the new
"in and out forms" program for Windows for case incident records before
procuring same.  She's interested in your insights on its word processing
capabilities, ease of use, print quality, tracking and database functions and
value.  Contact Lisa Lawrence at NP--MWR.

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.

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