NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Thursday, March 18, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-57 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Follow-up: Search in Progress

The search for C.S. and J.S. and family friend S.P.
continues.  On Monday, the FBI asked park staff to conduct another search in
Yosemite, since the weather has warmed up and a significant amount of snow
has melted since the last major search (February 24th to the 26th).  An
initial effort on Tuesday was scratched due to heavy fog, but good weather
yesterday permitted resumption of the search.  A contract helicopter crew
worked with about ten SAR team members to comb the Highway 120 and Highway 41
corridors and target specific areas where a car could have gone off the road. 
They found nothing.  The ground search will be expanded to two teams today,
one on each of the highway corridors.  Although the FBI is focusing on the
possibility of a violent crime, an accident on a park or nearby road has not
been ruled out.  Media interest in the search remains high.  A park spokesman
appeared with an FBI agent and family members on the Larry King show on
Tuesday; a segment on the search is tentatively scheduled to air on Saturday
night on "America's Most Wanted."  [Scott Gediman, PIO, YOSE, 3/17]

99-64 - Booker T. Washington NM (VA) - Follow-up: Death of Employee's Husband

Ranger B.H., wife of M.H., 33, who died on March 1st, has
asked that her thanks be extended to the many people who supported her during
this difficult period.  Your cards, letters and phone calls have meant a
great deal to her.  [BOWA, 3/17]

99-91 - Padre Island NS (TX) - Drug Interdiction

Ranger Gary Carroll discovered a brown bag near the tide line while on an
island patrol on March 6th.  The bag, a sugar sack turned inside out, was
similar to others found in the past which contained drugs.  It contained two
compacted bricks of marijuana wrapped in newspaper, plastic and aluminum foil
and sealed with shipping tape.  The bricks weighed a total of 52 pounds. 
Markings on the bag and the newspaper wrappings revealed that the drugs had
come from Mexico.  The marijuana was turned over to Customs agents for
further investigation.  [Dan Moses, PAIS, 3/17]

99-92 - Mojave NP (CA) - Assist: Resource Violations

On the morning of March 7th, NPS rangers assisted BLM rangers in the arrest
of two Mexican nationals and the seizure of 60 barrel cactus plants that had
been harvested illegally in a BLM wilderness area.  The two men had stopped
to repair a flat tire on their pickup when they were spotted by a BLM ranger
who was on patrol in the Mesquite wilderness area, which is adjacent to the
park.  Upon sighting the BLM vehicle, the two men fled into the desert,
leaving behind the truck's keys, their personal belongings, food and
beverages, and the cacti, which were in the truck.  An aerial search of the
area was conducted with the assistance of a helicopter from the county
sheriff's office.  No sign of the men was found.  They were apprehended the
following morning as they were walking along a county road, headed back to
Interstate 15 and a public phone.  The investigation continues.  [ACR, MOJA,
3/17]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Gulf Islands NS (MS/FL) - Initiation of Prescribed Fire Program

The park conducted its first-ever prescribed fire on February 11th.  Three
more areas were burned over the next nine days.  Members of the Great Smoky
fire use module were called in to conduct the fires in the pine woods at
Naval Live Oaks, located in the Florida District.  Park staff assisted in the
operations, and a team from the Florida Interagency Prescribed Fire Training
Center aided on one of the burns.  Thirty-three acres were burned to reduce
hazardous fuels near urban areas; an interior, 30-acre site was burned to
restore the area as a long leaf pine community.  Fuel levels were elevated in
these areas, because no fires had occurred there in over 50 years.  Initial
post-burn monitoring indicated that the fires burned in a mosaic pattern in
some areas, but that almost all fine fuels were burned in other areas.  Staff
from Eglin AFB joined in the monitoring effort.  Smoke management was a
significant concern due to the many nearby homes, but the overall feedback
from the public was very positive.  More burns are planned for the same time
next year.  [Mark Nicholas, GUIS, 3/17]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No entries.

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

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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