NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:   All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From: Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date: Friday, December 4, 1998

INCIDENTS

98-309 - Great Smoky Mountains (NC/TN) - Follow-up: Murder of Ranger

J.L., who has been charged with the murder of ranger Joe Kolodski,
appeared in U.S. District Court on December 3rd for a competency hearing. 
J.L. has been undergoing mental evaluation for the past two months.  The
details of the evaluation remain sealed, but the report did indicate that
J.L. was competent to stand trial.  The defense team accepted the
evaluation without argument.  The trial has been set for January 19th.  No
formal decision has been announced as to whether or not the government will
seek the death penalty.  [John Mattox, CI, GRSM, 12/3]

98-725 - Redwood N&SP (CA) - Follow-up: Storm Impacts

Rain and high winds continued to hamper efforts to assess and repair damages
inflicted by a series of recent storms.  A slide and associated debris have
been removed from the Newton Drury Parkway and repairs have been completed to
the Tall Trees access road.  Both are now open, but problems persist
elsewhere.  A bridge and gauging station in the Little Lost Man Creek
drainage have been destroyed; the bridge was only a few months old, having
been installed this summer after its predecessor was lost in last year's
storms.  The Fern Canyon access road has been closed by a large slide.  The
Davidson Ranch/Gold Bluff Beach road was closed on Wednesday after Prairie
Creek rose over its banks.  Huge chunks of asphalt have been stripped from
the roadway.  Coastal Drive will remain closed indefinitely due to the loss
of a major section of the road's surface, which fell into the Pacific Ocean. 
Assessment of damage to trails has been hampered by continued high winds. 
[Bob Martin, CR, REDW, 12/3]

98-739 - Mojave NP (CA) - Employee Injury

While entering a concession building during a visit to Lake Mead NRA on
November 28th, Mojave NP superintendent Mary Martin slipped and fell on a
rain-slick ramp.  Martin was taken to an emergency room in Las Vegas, where
she underwent x-rays and treatment.  She suffered a severe broken upper arm
and many bumps and bruises.  It's estimated that she will be out of work for
four to six weeks.  Cards and notes can be sent to her at 28485 Windy Pass
Road, Barstow, CA 92311.  [Shauna Dyas, MOJA, 11/30]

98-740 - Jefferson National Expansion NM (MO) - Drug and Weapons Arrests

While on patrol in the Arch parking garage around 2:30 a.m. on November 18th,
ranger Chris Jussila came upon a vehicle with a couple of open containers of
alcohol and what appeared to be marijuana.  When the occupants returned to
the vehicle, Jussila contacted them and learned that there was also a weapon
in the car's unlocked glove box.  The pair were arrested; during the
associated search, Jussila confiscated a semi-automatic pistol with two
fully-charged magazines, eight ounces of methamphetamine, marijuana, and
paraphernalia.  A check also revealed an outstanding misdemeanor warrant
against one of the two.  Both were released under a $15,000 secured bond and
will appear in court this month.  [JL Weddle, CI, JEFF, 11/23]

98-741 - Washita Battlefield NHS (OK) - Special Event

The park held a symposium to honor the first anniversary of its dedication as
a unit of the system from November 12th to the 14th.  Over 100 people
attended the events held during the three-day period, which included an off
site to Fort Supply, drumming, singing and dancing by members of the Cheyenne
tribe, and an all-day symposium on November 14th.  The latter featured
speakers from the NPS, the state, and several universities and tribes.  The
event went well and was without incident.  [Steve Black, WASH, 11/19]

                       [Additional reports pending...]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Correction - Yesterday's report on the release of DO 18, the revised wildland
fire management directive, provided a web address where you could obtain a
copy of the guideline.  That address was incorrect.  The proper address is
http://fire.nifc.nps.gov/fire/.  Once you get there, select the fire
management button, then the standards and policy link.  [Bruce Keene, FMPC]

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

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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