NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Thursday, March 13, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-93 - Big South Fork NRRA (Kentucky/Tennessee) - Drug Arrests
     
While on patrol of the Oil Well Branch Road area of the park, ranger Mike
King came upon a truck parked beside the road.  In the truck's bed were
cardboard boxes containing soil residue.  King tracked the occupants of the
vehicle to a marijuana patch and kept them under surveillance until ranger
Tim Grooms could arrive and provide backup.  King and Grooms then contacted
H.M. and C.S., who were found to be cultivating a total
of 275 marijuana plants.  Both were arrested and charged with cultivation of
marijuana, conspiracy to cultivate marijuana, destruction of natural
resources, and possession of archeological resources.  Search warrants were
executed on both of their residences, but no additional marijuana was
located. [F. Graham, CR, BISO, 3/10]

97-94 - Obed WSR (Tennessee) - Assist; Search for Victim

On Monday, March 3rd, the park was asked to assist Tennessee state park
rangers in a search for a 29-year-old man who fell off a dam in Creel Falls
State Park into Cane Creek, was caught in the backwash, then floated free in
a face-down position into Class II whitewater just above an 80-foot-high
waterfall.  Searchers were unable to locate him.  NPS ranger Rob Turan and a
state ranger boated the section of the creek above the falls and the eddy
lines at the base of the falls, probing the water as much as possible.  When
their efforts proved fruitless, they called in a group of volunteers who
routinely boated the most difficult runs in the Obed system and had
previously negotiated the dangerous Class V section of Cane Creek below the
falls.  They, too, were unsuccessful.  The search is continuing under the
incident command system used by the state.  Much of the overall effort has
been focused on supervising the numerous family members and friends of the
victim, who have participated in searching the creeks banks but do not
appreciate the danger associated with walking alongside this stretch of
treacherous water.  [Rob Turan, OBED, 3/10]

                   [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No submissions.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Report pending.

MEMORANDA

"Recreation Fee Demonstration Program", signed on March 12th by Deputy
Director Galvin and transmitted to all associate directors, regional
directors and superintendents.  The memorandum restates the intent of the
recreation fee demonstration program and transmits:

o the criteria and procedures for the distribution and use of the
additional funds received from fee demonstration projects;
o an explanation of how the increased costs of collection will be
handled; and an explanation of how projects might be funded before
additional funds are accumulated in a park's fee receipt account.

The full text and attachments, which are too long for inclusion, are being
disseminated through normal channels.

EXCHANGE

No submissions.

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

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