NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Wednesday, March 24, 1999

INCIDENTS

99-57 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Follow-up: Search, Investigation 

At a press conference on Monday afternoon, the FBI and Tuolumne County
Sheriff's Office announced that one of the bodies found in the truck of the
burned rental car is that of C.S.  The FBI did not release the
identity of the other victim, pending DNA testing.  The focus of
investigative efforts continues to be the area northwest of the park in the
Stanislaus National Forest.  Park staff are not currently involved in the
investigative efforts.  Some media reports are inaccurately indicating that
the deaths occurred in the park.  The location and circumstances of the
murders are not yet known.  [Scott Gediman, PIO, YOSE, 3/23]

99-98 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Drug Arrests

A multi-agency task force began an investigation last June into the sales of
crack cocaine in a park headquarters parking area.  Suspects and modes of
operation were identified during an initial surveillance effort through the
use of long-range photography and 24-hour video surveillance.  The first buys
were made last August; over the next several months, 16 grams of crack were
purchased and another four grams were seized in a related traffic stop.  On
March 8th, the investigation came to a head with the execution of one federal
and five state arrest warrants in and around the Glen Jean area.  Rangers,
DEA agents, and officers from three jurisdictions arrested five of the six
suspects without incident.  All those arrested on state charges were placed
on $25,000 bonds; none of them made bail.  The following were charged with
sales and delivery of crack cocaine - P.M., 50, R.B., 49,
C.M., 47, T.R., 34, and F.G., 26.  Further arrests
are pending.  [Chris Schrader, LES, NERI, 3/22]

99-99 - San Antonio Missions NHP (TX) - Attempted Burglary

The intrusion alarm at Mission San Juan was activated around midnight on
March 19th.  Responding police officers discovered that one of the historic
doors on the visitor contact station had been ripped off its hinges in an
attempt to get into the interior.  A second locked foyer prevented access to
the office and museum areas.  Damage to the door was significant.  Police and
park staff are conducting a joint investigation.  [Dan Steed, CRM&VP, SAAN,
3/22]

99-100 - Minute Man NHP (MA) - Suicide

While opening the Wayside parking lot on the morning of March 22nd, ranger
Eric Barron noticed a Jeep Grand Wagoneer parked in the lot's southwest
corner and found a woman in the Jeep who was unresponsive.  Emergency medical
personnel from the town of Concord were summoned.  They determined that the
victim - L.L., 27, of Allston, Massachusetts - had been dead for
about an hour.  Three bottles of prescription drugs, alcohol and two cutting
instruments were found in the car.  The victim's companion said that she'd
been missing for more than a day.  Barron and chief ranger Dan Dattilio
assisted police in securing the area.  State police are investigating.  [Dan
Dattilio, CR, MIMA, 3/22]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

Cape Cod NS (MA) - Dolphin Stranding

On March 19th and 20th, about 50 Atlantic white-sided dolphins became
stranded in Wellfleet Harbor as a result of high tides and accompanying high
winds.  Rangers and park fire personnel assisted members of the Cape Cod
Stranding Network and staff from the New England Aquarium with rescue and
recovery efforts.  Three dolphins were rescued, transported to Herring Cove
in Provincetown, and released; the remaining dolphins died from stress or
were euthanized.  [Bill Hooper, CACO, 3/23]

Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Deer Population Survey

Results from the park's recently completed annual deer spotlight survey were
released at the first meeting of the Dunes Region Deer Study Committee.  The
Indiana Department of Natural Resources formed the 16-member committee after
the outcry over last fall's first-ever deer hunt at Indiana Dunes State Park,
which is surrounded by Indiana Dunes NL.  The spotlight survey results do not
show a statistically significant change in the lakeshore's deer population
level from 1998 to 1999.  Since this one research method is not precise
enough to be used by itself to make deer management decisions, the lakeshore
has established three deer exclosures to study the impact that deer feeding
has on park plants.  A complementary study focusing on rare plants will begin
this summer.  Lakeshore managers have decided to investigate additional
methods for gathering supplemental deer population information, such as
aerial infrared surveys.  Cooperative efforts with other agencies and local
communities are also under consideration.  [Al Nash, INDU, 3/19]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Amtrak Derailment - A number of people have contacted Jim Miculka, the
Service's Amtrak partnership coordinator, to ask if any of the NPS Trails and
Rails volunteers were present on the "City of New Orleans," the Amtrak train
that derailed in Illinois on March 15th.  Jim advises that none of the
volunteers were on board, but that some of the crew members who have worked
with the program were injured.  As of Monday, all but one were back home in
New Orleans.  Thanks to all those from the NPS who sent messages of concern
and support.  These were passed on to the train's crew.  Anyone else wanting
to send messages of support should send them to: Mr. Dave White, Product Line
Director, "City of New Orleans," Amtrak, 1001 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA
70113.

Albright Training Center Exhibits - Albright TC is seeking help in completing
its new exhibits.  Up to 50 color images of park resources and people will be
used in a new permanent exhibit, and the center is seeking contributions from
the field.  They're looking for color photos, negatives, 35 mm slides or
larger transparencies of good quality which can be reproduced.  Each should
be clearly marked with a name, park unit or office and mailing address. 
Submissions will be returned no later than next September.  Send them to
Albright Training Center, Exhibit Project, PO Box 477, Number 1 Albright
Avenue, Grand Canyon, AZ 86023.  For additional info, contact Cindy Nielsen
at NP-HOAL.

Phone Number Change - The CIRS (Criminal Incident Reporting System) office
has moved from SERO to FLETC.  Bob Reid, the CIRS program manager, can be
reached by phone, at a new number: 912-261-3758. 

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Lake Mead NRA - Safety specialist Bob Belden will retire on March 31st after
29 years with the NPS.  He worked in fire control at Lassen Volcanic NP
(1970-72); as a park ranger at Lake Mead NRA (1973-74), Big Bend NP (1974-
75), Buffalo NR (1975-78), and Bandelier NM (1978-87); and as Lake Mead's
first safety specialist (1987-99).  He'll remain in Boulder City and run a
property management corporation.

Katmai NP&P/Lake Clark NP&P/Aniakchak NM&P/Alagnak WR - Deb Liggett has been
named the general superintendent of these four park units in southwest
Alaska.  She is currently a management assistant in the regional office in
Anchorage.  Prior to that assignment, she was superintendent at Devils Tower
NM.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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