NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Monday, December 15, 1997

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-747 - War in the Pacific NHP (Guam) - Super Typhoon Paka

All units and facilities in the park were closed yesterday afternoon (local
time) in preparation for the arrival of super typhoon Paka.  The forecast
called for the eye of the typhoon to pass over Guam on the evening of
December 16th (local time) with maximum sustained winds of 160 mph and gusts
to 190 mph.  All employees have been released to secure their homes.  This is
the fourth super typhoon to affect the park this year.  [Ed Wood,
Superintendent, WAPA, 12/15]

97-748 - Coronado NM (AZ) - Drug Seizure

On December 12th, ranger Scott Sticha attempted to stop a vehicle which was
traveling through the park at a high rate of speed.  The driver attempted to
ram him, then sped away.  The vehicle eventually became disabled with a flat
tire, causing the driver to flee the area and abandon almost 400 pounds of
marijuana.  A second vehicle believed to have been involved in the incident
was detained by Border Patrol agents.  A drug dog alerted on a blanket inside
the vehicle and on the fuel tank.  The vehicle was inspected further, but no
contraband was discovered.  Smuggling activity in the area continues to be
high.  Last week, rangers assisted the Forest Service in the seizure of 145
pounds of marijuana at a location a mile west of the park.  [Scott Sticha,
Acting Superintendent, CORO, 12/13]

97-749 - Grand Canyon NP (AZ) - Attempted Suicide

On the evening of December 6th, park dispatch received a 911 call from a
South Rim concession employee reporting that his housemate was threatening to
kill himself.  Responding rangers determined that R.O., 42, was
under the influence of a combination of illegal drugs and alcohol and that he
was despondent over family problems.  They found fresh tracks in the snow on
the Bright Angel trail leading into the canyon and shortly thereafter made
voice contact with R.O..  Ranger Ivan Kassovic and a county deputy walked
out on an icy ledge off the edge of the trail and found R.O. perched in a
tree overhanging a sheer drop-off.  They were able to talk R.O. down, then
subdue him and remove him from the ledge.  R.O. was arrested and charged
with disorderly conduct, possession of controlled substances, and possession
of drug paraphernalia.  He repeatedly told rangers that he was planning on
killing himself and that he would do so when released from jail.  R.O. is
currently detained in a psychiatric facility with prosecution pending. 
[David Brennan, DR, South Rim, GRCA, 12/14]

97-750 - Martin Luther King NHS (GA) - Suicide

The body of C.H., 48, was found in park housing on December 12th. 
Indications are that she committed suicide with a semi-automatic weapon. 
Three letters were left to family members.  The investigation continues. 
[Clark Moore, Acting CR, MALU, 12/12]

                   [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Mesa Verde NP (CO) - Emu Captured

Since early December, rangers have been piecing together the story of emu
sightings in and near the park.  An emu is a large, flightless, terrestrial
bird which is found in the South Pacific.  The birds, weighing up to 140
pounds, were imported to the United States for their meat and eggs.  Sometime
in late November, about 40 emu were released or possibly escaped near the
park.  It is possible that the recent decline in the emu industry may have
caused someone to release the birds to avoid economic hardship.  The park is
concerned that the emu may introduce avian salmonella into the park's native
grouse and turkey population.  On December 10th, an emu was spotted at the
Montezuma Valley overlook.  Rangers spent the afternoon tracking the bird in
an effort to capture and hold it until the owner or suitable care could be
found.  The bird was discovered along a cliff edge, captured with techniques
suggested by the Emu Producers Cooperative, and carried to the road.  The
bird died shortly thereafter, possibly from stress.  It's unlikely that any
of the emu will survive the severe winter weather at Mesa Verde.  The park
continues to search for the owners of the birds with the objective of getting
them to assist with the removal of this exotic species.  If the owners are
not found, any other emus discovered within the park will be destroyed. 
[Charlie Peterson, CR, MEVE, 12/12]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Draft NPS-9 Released (Second Notice) - A draft revised version of NPS-9, the
Service's law enforcement guideline, has been transmitted to the regional
directors and is also available for field review and comment.  In order to
obtain a copy, send a cc:Mail message to Rick Gale and type "NPS-9" (no
quotes) in the subject line.  You do not need to send any message; a zipped
version of the document will automatically be sent to you.  You will need
software to unzip it after you receive it.  Consolidated regional comments
are due in WASO Ranger Activities no later than February 10th.  [Rick Gale,
RAD/WASO]

Correction - Friday's Morning Report inadvertently placed Big Cypress NP in
Texas.  The park has advised that they have not relocated and have no plans
to move from Florida to Texas in the immediate future.  We regret the error. 
[Editor]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

TRAINING AND WORKSHOP CALENDAR

Two calendars alternate in the Morning Report on Mondays - this one, which
contains training courses and workshops, and a second, which contains
meetings, conferences and events.  If you know of a conference, meeting,
workshop or training session with Servicewide interest and implications,
please send the information along.  Entries are listed no earlier than FOUR
months before the event, EXCEPT in instances in which registration dates
close much earlier.  Asterisks indicate new entries; brackets at end of entry
indicate source of information.  Brevity is appreciated.

1/x-3/x -- Cultural Resource Management Program, University of Victoria, BC:
     1/21-30, Exhibit Design and Installation.
     2/23-28, Museum Revenue Development and Management
     3/4-13, Fabric of Heritage Buildings
     -- contact: Joy Davis, University of Victoria, 604-721-8462,
joydavis@uvcs.uvic.ca, www.uvcs.uvic.ca/crmp.  [Diane Vogt
O'Connor, DCA/WASO]

1/7 -- Assessing the Archeological Significance of Historical Sites,
Atlanta, GA.  $165.  Graduate credit is available.  Contact:
University of Nevada, 1-800-233-8928 or 702-784-4046, or
www.dce.unr.edu/hrm.  [Diane Vogt O'Connor, DCA/WASO]

1/14-4/14 -- Basic Land Management Training Program (LMTP-803), FLETC, Glynco,
GA.  Contact your park training officer or regional employee
development officer for a copy of the announcement, which closes
on November 10th.  [Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]

1/9-13* -- Archeological Resources Protection Training (XP-ARPTP-804),
Boulder City, NV.  The program focuses on a team approach to
archeological resource crime scene investigation.  Contact your
park training officer or regional employee development officer
for a copy of the announcement, which closes on January 14th.
[Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC] 

1/21-3/25 -- Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP-802), FLETC, Glynco,
GA.  Subjects include human behavior, modern investigative
technology, cultural sensitivity, law, skills training in
firearms, physical techniques and driving.  Contact your park
training officer or regional employee development officer for a
copy of the announcement. [Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]

1/25-30 -- Managerial Grid: Phase I and Instructor Preparation Seminars,
Tucson, AZ.  Phase I is a prerequisite for attending the IP
seminar.  Sponsored by ANPR.  Cost: $600 for members, $700 for
non-members.  Deadline for applications (purchase order, SF-181,
personal check or money order, etc.) is December 19th; they
should be sent to ANPR, c/o Bill Wade, 5625 N. Wilmot Road,
Tucson, AZ, 520-615-9417, 520-615-9474 (fax).  [Bill Wade]

2/9-13 -- DOI Radio Workshop, Denver Sheraton West Hotel, Lakewood, CO. 
The workshop will focus on training radio personnel on narrowband
radio technologies - specifically P-25 narrowband digital radio
systems - and federal radio frequency spectrum management
processes.  An executive session is planned to provide managers
an overview of the narrowband initiative.  Two special sessions
will be held concurrently, one for law enforcement and the other
for fire suppression and disaster response.  All technicians and
field personnel with responsibility for radio systems and/or
equipment should attend.  An agenda will be distributed in
December.  Contact: Please RSVP as soon as possible with Frank
Weed at NP-DEN3 (provide your name, duty station and phone
number; reservations can be made by calling 1-800-987-2000
directly and specifying that your reservation is to be made in
the block of rooms held for the DOI radio conference (don't call
through ITT Sheraton's central reservation line).  [Frank Weed,
FOTSC]

2/19-21* -- Medical Diving, Dive Rescue International, Fort Collins, CO.  The
course includes preventive and on-site emergency care for injured
Scuba divers.  Contact: Dive Rescue International, 201 North Link
Lane, Fort Collins, CO 80524, 1-800-248-3483.  [Kinsey Shilling,
CURE]

2/23-25* -- Ice Diving Operations, Dive Rescue International, Fort Collins,
CO.  The course covers planning for and diving underneath ice and
includes hands-on training.  Contact: Dive Rescue International,
201 North Link Lane, Fort Collins, CO 80524, 1-800-248-3483. 
[Kinsey Shilling, CURE]

2/25-28* -- Ice Rescue, Dive Rescue International, Fort Collins, CO.  The
course includes certification for teaching ice rescue.  Contact:
Dive Rescue International, 201 North Link Lane, Fort Collins, CO
80524, 1-800-248-3483.  [Kinsey Shilling, CURE]

3/8-13* -- Managerial Grid: Phase I and Instructor Preparation Seminars,
Lowell, MA.  Phase I is a prerequisite for attending the IP
seminar.  Sponsored by ANPR.  Cost: $600 for members, $700 for
non-members.  Deadline for applications (purchase order, SF-181,
personal check or money order, etc.) is January 30th; they should
be sent to ANPR, c/o Bill Wade, 5625 N. Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ,
520-615-9417, 520-615-9474 (fax).  [Bill Wade]

3/16-20* -- Visitor Use Management for Managers, Shepherdstown, WV.  This
management level course is designed to provide the participants
with an understanding of legal responsibilities, administrative
aspects, and management applications of outdoor recreation
planning, wilderness management, emergency operations, land
policy, and fee management.  Contact: Learning Place bulletin
board, or Charles Anibal, 304-535-6215.  [Joyce Howe, STMA]

3/16-20* -- Archeological Resources Protection Training (XP-ARPTP-805),
Lincoln, NE.  The program focuses on a team approach to
archeological resource crime scene investigation.  Contact your
park training officer or regional employee development officer
for a copy of the announcement, which closes on February 17th. 
[Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC] 

3/17-26* -- Cultural Resources for Managers, Harpers Ferry, WV.  This is a
core course for superintendents and program managers who have
major cultural resource management responsibilities.  Contact:
Tony Knapp, 304-535-6178.  [Joyce Howe, STMA]

3/23-27* -- Law Enforcement for Managers (LEM-801), FLETC, Glynco, GA.  The
course provides an orientation to federal law, NPS authority and
jurisdiction and other issues to upper level managers.  Contact
your park training officer or regional employee development
officer for a copy of the announcement, which closes on February
10th.  [Wiley Golden, NPS/FLETC]

4/6-10* -- Concession Contract Development, Salt Lake City, UT.  The
registration deadline is January 15th.  Contact: Dee Highnote,
Concessions, WASO, 202-565-1217.  [Concessions, WASO]

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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