NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, December 3, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-724 - Lake Mead NRA (NV/AZ) - Death of Employee

Criminal investigator Malcolm DeMunbrun, 56, died of complications
associated with a long illness on Sunday, November 30th.  Malcolm was a
second generation NPS employee; both his father and uncle worked at
Mammoth Cave NP when Malcolm joined the service as a park technician at
Everglades NP in 1970.  He worked there in the Flamingo District for
three years, then transferred to Blue Ridge Parkway.  Malcolm was
accepted as part of the park ranger intake trainee class in 1976 and
moved to Lake Mead the next year. Over the years, Malcolm made many
friends for the NPS through his dedication, professionalism, and kind
and caring demeanor.  He received numerous outstanding performance and
special achievement awards throughout his career. Malcolm is survived by
his daughter, L., his grand-daughter, A., and his former wife, S.C., all
of Boulder City, and by his mother and sister, both of Port Angeles,
Washington.  Condolences may be sent to his family.  The family asks
that donations in lieu of flowers be made to the FOP Ranger Assistance
Fund, PO Box 151, Fancy Gap, Virginia 24328.   A memorial service will
be held at 5 p.m. tomorrow at Palm Mortuary at 800 South Boulder Highway
in Henderson. [Karen Whitney, LAME, 12/2]

97-725 - Great Smoky Mountains NP (NC/TN) - Airplane Crash with Fatality

A Cessna 182 crashed approximately a half mile east of the Russell Field
trail shelter and 200 yards south of the Appalachian Trail near Cades Cove
around 7 p.m. on December 1st.  The pilot and sole occupant was killed. 
Civil Air Patrol volunteers attempted without success to pinpoint the
emergency locator beacon during the night.  A CAP aircraft spotted the
wreckage shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday, and ranger Al Voner reached the
crash site by 11 a.m.  A Knox County Sheriff's Office helicopter evacuated
the body yesterday afternoon.  FAA and NTSB investigators will arrive in the
area today to conduct an investigation.  Skies were clear on Monday night and
flying conditions were favorable.  Identification of the victim is being
withheld pending family notification.  [Jason Houck, CR, GRSM, 12/2]

97-726 - Acadia NP (Maine) - Snowmobile Accident with Fatality
     
On the evening of December 1st, S.L., 20, of Hancock, Maine, was killed
when the snowmobile he was operating left the road and struck a tree near the
Hulls Cove visitor center.  S.L., an experienced snowmobiler, was wearing a
helmet, but was driving a new, high-powered sled that he had recently
purchased and which he was operating for only the third time.  Weather
conditions were poor at the time of the accident; poor visibility along with
excessive speed are believed to be the causes of the accident.  It's been
determined that alcohol was not a factor.  Rangers Jim Grover and Rich
Rechholtz are leading a joint investigation with Maine fish and game wardens. 
This is the first snowmobile fatality ever recorded at Acadia and the first
such accident in Maine this year.  [Norm Dodge, CR, ACAD, 12/2]   

97-727 - Scotts Bluff NM (NE) - Rockslide

A major rockslide on November 11th covered two portions of the Saddle Rock
trail.  The upper portion is covered along a narrow ledge 700 feet above the
plain and completely blocked by several tons of material, including room-size
boulders.  This location is inaccessible to large equipment and will have to
be cleared by manual labor.  The lower portion, about 200 feet below, is
blocked by smaller rocks.  The Saddle Rock trail is one of the most heavily
used trails in the park and is the only one to the summit of the bluff. 
Consultants from Denver Service Center, Midwest Regional Office, and a local
fire department met with the park's staff to discuss a work plan which would
avoid use of blasting, as there are serious concerns about additional slides. 
A device called a "boulder buster," which works under propellant technology,
was borrowed from Bighorn Canyon NRA.  The "buster" is currently being used
to break up the large boulders with a minimum impact to surroundings. 
Workers are tied off on safety lines along the narrow ledge and steep drop-
off.  Work is expected to continue for at least a week.  [CRO, SCBL, 12/2]

97-728 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Assault 

On the evening of November 17th, rangers and criminal investigators responded
to a knife and fist fight between two intoxicated men in the Boystown
concession housing area.  One suspect was armed with an illegal butterfly
knife and the other with a large kitchen knife.  One of the men suffered
lacerations and punctures to his neck, shoulder and foot; the other received
a broken nose and blunt head trauma.  One attempted to flee the scene and was
arrested after a brief search; the other was arrested in his residence.  The
knives used in the assault were recovered.  The two men were treated at the
Yosemite clinic, then booked into the Yosemite Jail.  A third intoxicated
employee who attempted to interfere during efforts to preserve the crime
scene was also arrested.  [Brian Smith, Valley Shift Supervisor, YOSE, 12/2) 

97-729 - Yosemite NP (CA) - MVA with Multiple Serious Injuries

Wawona District rangers were dispatched to a two vehicle accident with
injuries on the Wawona Highway at 10:45 a.m. on November 16th.  A BMW with
four occupants had spun out of control and crossed into the opposite lane
where it was struck by an oncoming Pontiac with two occupants.  The impact
knocked the BMW off the road, ejecting two of the passengers, neither of whom
as wearing a seatbelt.  Extrication was required to remove the passenger in
the Pontiac.  Two victims were flown from the scene by a medical helicopter. 
Four were transported by ground ambulance to the Yosemite Medical Clinic,
where one was found to have a broken back.  She was subsequently flown out of
the park by helicopter.  Four ambulances, two fire trucks, a helicopter, and
personnel from three districts responded to the accident.  The accident was
cleared and the road re-opened two and a half hours later.  [Todd Brindle,
DR, Wawona District, YOSE, 12/2]

97-730 - Delaware Water Gap NRA (NJ/PA) - Poaching/Lacey Act Arrests

On the evening of November 16th, ranger Don Philpot investigated a report of
a suspicious blood trail that appeared to lead onto park land.  Tracking was
made easy by a recent snow fall and clear foot prints.  Philpot followed the
blood trail to a large bait pile on private property adjacent to the park. 
Tracks and sign at the end of the trail revealed that a deer had been removed
by vehicle.  Philpot contacted the Pennsylvania Game Commission and a joint 
investigation was undertaken.  That investigation revealed that two men had
killed three deer out of season, at night, with a light, and over a baited
field.  Evidence was collected and surveillance of the area begun.  On
November 24th, the opening day of bear season, the suspects' vehicle was
discovered within the park.  Field interviews were conducted and written
statements taken from the two men.  They admitted to killing the three deer -
one from within the park, two outside the park over the illegal bait.  All
three were transported through park lands.  Philpot issued two misdemeanor
Lacey Act violation notices; game commission wardens are attempting to
suspend the men's licenses for the next five years.  During the
investigation, it was determined that rangers had contacted the same two men
on November 8th and charged them for shooting a decoy pheasant from a vehicle
on a park road.  [Don Philpot, PR, DEWA, 11/26]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.


OPERATIONAL NOTES

CIRS Update - The latest and last version of the CIRS DOS program has been
released with instructions and a subsequent fix.  The Service is now moving
toward redeveloping the current CIRS program in a Lotus Notes format.  A test
program will be available for field testing by early next year.  In the
meanwhile, please continue to load and use the current version and forward
your reports to Bob Reid at NP-SERO when you can.  This will help test your
link to the receiving computer.  The DOS program will probably have to be run
side-by-side with the Lotus program through next year to ensure a smooth
transition, as it will take time to get software in place in the parks.  If
you haven't yet received the version 1.02 update, please contact either Bob
Reid or Kathy Clark at NP-WRO.  [Bob Reid, RAD/WASO @ SERO]

Unsolicited BASE Jumping Messages - A number of parks and offices have
received unsolicited e-mail messages through the Internet from a BASE jumping
organization which can be found at baseboard@websolution.com.  Please note
that there is a note at the end of the message which provides an address
where you can send a message and have your address removed from their
distribution list.  [Bill Halainen, DEWA; Dwayne Collier, SOAR]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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
pertaining to receipt of 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.

                                  --- ### ---