NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, January 7, 1998

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

97-775 - Dinosaur NM (CO) - Wildlife Violation Indictments

On December 9th, a federal grand jury in Denver returned indictments against
M.M., 44, and C.C., 51, both of Steamboat Springs,
Colorado, and R.C., 44, of Wichita, Kansas, on federal wildlife
charges related to "Operation Dinosaur" - a series of undercover operations
conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service in coordination with the NPS and 
Colorado Division of Wildlife over the past two years to investigate
commercial poaching and illegal guide activities in the park and the state of
Colorado.  The twelve counts contained in the indictment allege violations of
conspiracy, Lacy Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act and various NPS statutes
stemming from wildlife poaching in the park and on state lands.  No trial
date has been set.  To date, five hunters have pleaded guilty and been
sentenced in connection with the investigation - Ricky Griffin of Tomah, 
Wisconsin, William Tucker and Robert Correl of Statesville, North Carolina, 
Scott Beldon of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Curtis Thurman of Dallas, Texas. 
Each has pled guilty to federal or state charges, been sentenced to various
periods of probation and paid fines and restitution amounting to $55,229.  Of
this amount, $22,500 has been earmarked for the park's resource protection
enforcement program.  The violations in these cases stemmed from the illegal
killing of elk and deer on federal and public lands in which the defendants
had paid a fee to be guided or outfitted.  The defendants forfeited wildlife
parts, ATVs and rifles used in commission of the offenses.  The defendants
also lost hunting privileges in Colorado and the other surrounding eight
compact states.  District ranger Ed Pontbriand was the lead investigator for
the NPS during this operation.  [Dan Moses, CR, DINO, 1/6]

98-04 - Cumberland Gap NHP (KY/VA/TN) - Theft

On Sunday, January 4th, park personnel discovered that someone had entered
the Pinnacle road, which had been closed for several days due to snow, and
had stolen the guardrail from the old Highway 25E overpass bridge. 
Investigation revealed that it had apparently been taken on the night of
January 2nd.  A total of 50 support brackets and 51 rails, each measuring
four inches in diameter by eight-and-a-half feet long, were removed from the
bridge and dumped over the side onto another highway, where they were picked
up and hauled away.  Rangers began an immediate check with aluminum recycling
dealers and located the railings the next day in Morristown, Tennessee, where
it had been sold as scrap.  All the railings were confiscated and returned to
the park.  The identity of the people responsible for the theft has not yet
been determined.  The investigation is continuing.  The U.S. attorney's
office and the FBI are assisting.  The railing is valued at over $19,000. 
[Charlie Chadwell, SPR, CUGA, 1/6] 

98-05 - Gulf Islands NS (FL/MS) - Assist: Arrests for Assault

The Escambia County sheriff's office requested assistance from the park and
other area enforcement agencies in helping their deputies with a large and
unruly crowd at a local bar on Pensacola Beach on January 4th.  Ranger John
Hughes responded.  Upon arrival, he provided medical assistance to a woman
who'd been beaten and was lying in the middle of a highway.  Hughes and a
local officer then pursued and caught two of the suspected assailants and
brought them back to be placed under arrest.  Hughes was next asked to help
deputies locate two more suspects; the two were found and pursued a quarter
mile down the beach before being caught.  During the chase, the deputy
sprained his ankle, so Hughes detained the pair in his patrol vehicle before
returning to assist the deputy.  After returning to the scene, Hughes helped
control two more suspects, one of whom had kicked out the window of a
deputy's patrol vehicle and had to be subdued to keep him from escaping.  All
six were subsequently arrested and transported to the county jail, where they
were booked on a variety of charges.  [CRO, GUIS, 1/5]

98-06 - Big Bend NP (TX) - Search; Fatality

On January 2nd, visitors reported discovering the body of a man in a remote
section of the park near the Smoky Creek drainage.  The body was discovered
on the afternoon of January 1st, but the report could not be made until the
next day due to the distance from the nearest trailhead.  Ranger Curt Dimmick
flew to the area in a Border Patrol helicopter.  Dimmick began an
investigation and secured the scene for the evening.  Dimmick and ranger
David Horner transported the body back to Panther Junction in the Border
Patrol helicopter the following day.  The victim was identified as H.W.,
Jr., of Midland, Texas, who had a permit for an extended backcountry
trip.  H.W. was familiar with the park and had visited on several
occasions.  The cause of death has not been determined and is pending autopsy
results.  The investigation is continuing.  [Bill Wright, CR, BIBE, 1/6]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

CIRS Update - A Lotus Notes version of the CIRS/NIBRS program will begun
undergoing tests this month.  LOTUS of Arlington, Virginia, is currently
developing the program, which should be ready for set up throughout the NPS
by the end of the year.  In the interim, data will be collected through the
current program.  All parks should send their reports to the central computer
in Bob Reid's office; he will be able to prepare the appropriate annual
reports at the end of 1998.  The minimum requirements for the Notes program
will be a 486 computer with 16 mb of RAM - the same configuration required
for Windows 95.  The NPS will have to purchase the Lotus Notes software, but
should be able to acquire it at a reduced cost (about $40 per copy).  If you
have problems with the current CIRS program, you can contact a number of
people for help:

         Bob Reid, SERO             404-562-3111
         Kathy Clark, WRO           415-427-1387
         Barb Brutvan, GRCA         520-638-7804
         Debbie O'Leary, DEWA       717-588-2433
         Boyd McFarland, ACAD       207-288-3360
         Christine Peters, BADL     605-433-5231

They have all attended training with the programmers and can provide parks
with needed support.  Please call the representative in your area first, then
others on the list.  [Bob Reid, RAD/WASO @ SERO]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

EXCHANGE

No entries.

                              *  *  *  *  *

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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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