NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, January 21, 1999

INCIDENTS

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

On Thursday, January 14th, attorney general Janet Reno announced that the
U.S. attorney's office will seek the death penalty for J.L., who
is charged with the murder of ranger Joe Kolodski.  The trail begins next
Tuesday and will be held in Bryson City, North Carolina.  [John Mattox, CI,
GRSM, 1/14]

98-788 - Joshua Tree NP (CA) - Fee Theft Conviction

Two Belgian visitors arriving at Grand Canyon NP last July each showed a
Golden Eagle pass to gain admittance.  When advised that they only needed one
per vehicle, they reported that they'd been told differently at Joshua Tree
NP, where they'd purchased the passes.  A month-long investigation by ranger
Jeff Ohlfs and criminal investigator Todd Swain revealed that seasonal fee
collector C.B. had sold ten Golden Eagle passes without remitting the
funds and that she had falsified the associated shift reports.  On December
4th, C.B. plead guilty to misdemeanor theft and was sentenced to a year's
probation and restitution.  The park terminated her in August and had her
name removed from a permanent employment cert.  [Judy Bartzatt, CR, JOTR,
1/10]

99-16 - Jean Lafitte NHP&P (LA) - Homicide

A Jefferson Parish sheriff's officer found the body of L.J., 24, in
the middle of the Twin Canals parking lot in the park's Barataria Unit just
before 11 p.m. on January 14th.  He had been shot four times in the head. 
Park rangers were notified and also responded.  Evidence indicates that
L.J. was killed at the scene; the autopsy revealed that he was shot at
close range by a .38 caliber weapon.  L.J. had an extensive criminal
record for burglaries and armed robberies.  Two days later, a ranger found
four .38 caliber casings along the side of the road about a mile from the
scene of the homicide.  The investigation continues.  [Jim Carson, Unit
Manager, Barataria Preserve, JELA, 1/20]

99-17 - Martin Luther King, Jr. NHS (GA) - Special Events

The Martin Luther King, Jr.. Center for Nonviolent Social Change conducted a
series of events celebrating the 13th annual celebration of the national
holiday and the 70th birthday of Dr. King.  The park hosted a special film
screening of "Our Friend Martin," and the United States Naval Gospel Chorus
and the Philadance Dance Company gave performances.  Participants at the
events included Mrs. Coretta Scott King, international leaders, and local,
state and national politicians.  The annual commemorative service and
national march and rally were held on January 15th, attracting over 15,000
visitors.  Rangers joined city and county officers in providing security
during the events.  The park estimates that over 30,000 people visited the
site during the King Week celebration.  [Clark Moore, CR, MALU, 1/16]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Yellowstone NP (WY) - Update: Wolf Collaring

Park biologists successfully captured and radio-collared 12 wolves from five
packs in and near the park during the first phase of this year's project. 
The goal this year is to capture and radio-collar approximately 25 to 30
free-ranging wolves from 11 different wolf packs in the greater Yellowstone
area.  The capture and radio-collaring project is a part of the monitoring
and recovery plan approved in 1995 and underway since then.  During the
operation in the Slough Creek area, a female pup (one of a litter of ten)
from the Rose Creek pack was injured and later had to be euthanized.  In a
fluke accident, the dart hit the animal in the hind leg directly on the leg
bone, causing a compound fracture to the tibia.  Before the decision was made
to euthanize the animal, it was examined by two veterinarians who felt the
injury was very severe.  Since wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone in
1995, 57 animals have been captured and radio-collared without any injuries. 
The capture and radio-collaring project will continue in another week.  All
capture attempts will be accomplished by helicopter dart gunning in a safe
and humane manner.  Processing will include radio collaring, blood
extraction, weighing, sex determination, and condition evaluation.  Collared
animals will be released at point of capture.  The goal is to capture 30 to
50 percent of the pups in each pack and replace or install collars on the two
lead adults in each pack.  [PIO, YELL, 1/18]

PARK DISPATCHES

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

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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