NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, November 12, 1998

INCIDENTS

97-135 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Follow-up: Felony Theft Arrest

On April 4, 1997, park rangers and the park's criminal investigator followed-
up on a recent theft of government property with the issuance of a search
warrant at the farm of F.W. and his wife, who are local park
neighbors.  They recovered a John Deere combination backhoe and front-end
loader valued at $45,000 which had been stolen from the park.  Also seized
were 20 pounds of processed marijuana (valued at $60,000), 198 marijuana
plants (valued at about $400,000), over 500 marijuana seeds, over 30 weapons
(many assault-type weapons), two stolen vehicles, an operating still with
seven gallons of moonshine, dog and cock fight apparatus and animals, four
stolen chainsaws, numerous pieces of stolen lawn maintenance equipment, and
20 VIN (vehicle identification number) plates.  Two armed individuals with
felony arrest records were also arrested.  The four defendants were brought
to trial this past July; three were found guilty of all charges, and the
fourth received a directed not guilty verdict from the judge.  On October
12th, the case was brought to a close with the sentencing of the three
defendants:

o     M.W. was found guilty of cultivation of the marijuana plants,
      being a felon in possession of a firearm, and theft of the park
      tractor.  He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison and five
      years' probation and ordered to pay the park $1,166 in restitution.
o     F.W. was found guilty of cultivation of the marijuana plants,
      possession with intent to deliver 20 pounds of marijuana, two counts of
      being a felon in possession of a firearm, and theft of the tractor.  He
      was sentenced to five years in prison and nine years' probation and
      ordered to pay the park $1,166 in restitution.
o     D.W. was found guilty of cultivation of the marijuana plants,
      possession with intent to deliver 20 pounds of marijuana, and being a
      felon in possession of a firearm. She was sentenced to five years in
      prison and nine years' probation.

[Chris Schrader, CI, NERI, 10/30]

98-703 - Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs (CA) - Search for Missing Plane

On the evening of Friday, November 6th, the park was notified that a 1969
Cherokee Piper with three men on board had disappeared from air traffic
control radar in the vicinity of Kings Canyon NP.  The last fix occurred just
before 3 p.m. over the Lake Basin/Dumbbell Lakes area - one of the most
remote and inaccessible locations of the park, with peaks ranging from 12,000
to 13,000 feet.  The pilot of the rental plane was L.M., 47, of
Fresno; his passengers were J.A., 80, of Fresno, and D.A., 53, of
Merced.  The Cherokee's emergency transponder did not activate, so the exact
location of the plane could not be determined.  Intermittent bad weather
hampered search efforts over the weekend, but clearing weather on Monday
permitted a more extensive effort.  Five helicopters and two aircraft
searched a 162-square-mile area aound Mount Goddard, which searchers had
determined was the area where the plane would more likely be found.  No sign
of it was detected, however, nor were any signals picked up.  Approximately
25 people are working with park staff on the search, including personnel and
aircraft from Lemoore and China Lake Naval Air Stations, the Air National
Guard, and the Civil Air Patrol.  [Debbie Bird, CR, SEKI, 11/8 and 11/10]

98-704 - Haleakla NP (HI) - Bicycling Fatality

Rangers were summoned to a commercial bike tour accident on October 27th. 
When they arrived, they found that M.M., 54, of Syracuse, New York,
had no pulse and was not breathing.  CPR had been begun by her husband and
tour staff; park paramedics and EMTs took over, began advanced cardiac life
support measures, got some initial response, but were ultimately unable to
revive her.  M.M. had lost control of her bike, gone off the road, and
fallen down a 15-foot embankment.  The autopsy indicated that she could have
died of any of several injuries she suffered, including severe internal
trauma and cervical spine fractures.  Investigation of the incident showed
that the accident occurred in clear weather, on a straight stretch of
roadway, and at a very low speed.  There were no apparent contributing
factors other than the rider's failure to maintain control of her bicycle. 
Although there have been numerous serious bicycling accidents this year, this
is the first bike-related death to occur inside the park since commercial
bike tours began in June, 1983.  There have been a total of 117 bike-related
accidents in the park so far in 1998, and the superintendent has established
a task force to deal with this continuing problem.  Maui County police
officers have expressed an interest in participating, as there have been
other serious accidents, including several fatalities, outside the park. 
[Kerry Buck, EMS Coordinator, HALE, 11/8]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Badlands NP (SD) - Update on Black-Footed Ferret Reintroduction

Substantial gains have been made in the continuing effort to establish a
self-sustaining population of North America's most endangered land mammal. 
The project, which began a decade ago, has been a cooperative effort among
the NPS, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and South Dakota
Department of Game, Fish and Parks.  Reintroduction techniques have improved
from the initial expectations of 10% survivorship to a documented 60% in
1997.  Changes in release methods, pre-conditioning of reintroduction
candidates to their habitat and prey, experience level of personnel, and
release area predator management have contributed to the success of the
program, as well as the availability of more reintroduction candidates from
captive breeding facilities.  Between 1994 and 1997, 232 black-footed ferrets
were put into the wild.  This adult breeding population produced an
unprecedented 23 detected wildborn litters this summer.  Another 91 animals
were released this fall.  The results of this year's 30-day, post-release
census are encouraging, with about half the animals known to have survived so
far.  Detection of a secretive animal that spends most of its life below
ground and is actively hunting for only a few hours a week has resulted in
surprises, such as the recent discovery of two ferrets that had not been seen
since the first night they were released in the fall of 1996.  Barring
setbacks, the park may have the minimum number of animals required for a
self-sustaining population by 2000.  [Bruce Bessken, RMS, BADL]

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

Drunk Driving Impact Program - On October 15th, Joshua Tree NP rangers and
emergency service personnel from seven other agencies participated in a
simulated live action melodrama (SLAM) program at a local high school which
graphically depicted the consequences of a teenage drunk-driving accident
with fatalities.  The program, adapted from one given by the California
Highway Patrol, had a powerful impact and has already prodcued positive
results.  If you're interested in sponsoring a similar program, please
contact either Jeff Ohlfs or Tom Patterson at the park at 760-367-5550.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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