NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                               MORNING REPORT

To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:   Tuesday, April 20, 1999

INCIDENTS

98-735 - Indiana Dunes NL (IN) - Follow-up: Burglary 

On November 6, 1998, J.H., 18, of Michigan City, was arrested for a
series of break-ins into NPS-owned houses which are currently occupied by
private citizens under leases or special use permits.  He was subsequently
indicted on eight counts - five counts of burglary and one each of malicious
destruction of property, making false statements to investigators, and theft. 
J.H. plead guilty to all eight counts.  On April 14th, he was sentenced to 27
months in prison followed by three years' supervised probation, ordered to
pay an $800 special assessment, and required to pay $13,217.56 in restitution
to the victims.  J.H.'s attorney tried to argue that the sentencing guideline
for trespass should be used instead of the guideline for burglary, which
would have resulted in less prison time.  The district court judge rejected
the argument that J.H. broke into the homes for shelter and had no intent to
commit the further crimes of vandalism and theft.  [R. Littlefield, CR, INDU,
4/16]  

99-128 - Yosemite NP (CA) - MVA with Employee Injuries

There was a car accident in the park involving two park trail crew employees
and an employee of the Pacific West Region on the evening of April 15th.
C.R., a member of the trail crew, and M.L., the regional human resources
officer, sustained serious injuries; A.C., the other trail crew member,
received less serious injuries.  Cards can be sent to M.L.  She asks
that people send donations to their favorite charity in lieu of flowers.
 Cards to C.R. should be sent in care of his parents.  [Scott Gediman,
PIO, YOSE, 4/19]

99-129 - New River Gorge NR (WV) - Assist: Plane Crash, Rescue

On the afternoon of April 17th, a corporate jet skidded off the runway while
landing at Raleigh County Airport near Beckley, West Virginia, and came to
rest at the bottom of a 150-foot cliff.  There were seven people aboard the
aircraft at the time of the landing, including the pilot and co-pilot.  There
was no leakage of fuel and no fire from the crash, and two passengers were
able to open one of the plane's doors.  One person was able to walk away on
his own, and first responders were able to help two moderately injured
passengers out of the wreckage.  Rangers assisted the local volunteer
fire/rescue squad and EMS services in the technical rescue and evacuation of
four passengers - two in serious and two in critical condition.  All patients
were evacuated using a belayed litter technique up the steep 70% slope.  The
pilot and co-pilot were the most seriously injured, both with multiple
fractures and internal injuries.  The pilot remains in critical condition;
the co-pilot is in guarded condition.  Ten rangers from the park team were
involved in the incident. [Rick Brown, Protection Operations Leader, NERI, 
4/17]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION

No entries.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

Yount Award - Dale Antonich, chief ranger at Lake Mead NRA, is this year's
recipient of the Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award for excellence in
"rangering."  President Clinton will present the national award to Antonich
on Earth Day, April 22nd, which occurs in the midst of National Park Week,
which runs from April 19th to the 25th.  Director Stanton had this to say: 
"The recipient of the Yount Award is considered to be the epitome of what it
is to be a National Park Service ranger.  Receiving this award is a true
testament to an employee's commitment, dedication, and devotion to the
stewardship of the special and sacred places that make up the National Park
System."  The award is named after Harry Yount, who is generally recognized
as the first NPS ranger.  It is made possible by a gift from The Eureka
Company to the National Park Foundation, the official non-profit partner of
the National Park Service.  The award seeks to recognize and honor
outstanding rangers, encourage high standards of performance, foster
especially responsive attitudes toward public service, enhance the public's
appreciation of the park ranger profession, and further the art and science
of "rangering."  Antonich began his career in 1972 as a seasonal ranger at
Grand Canyon.  After several seasons at Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Lake
Mead, he achieved permanent status in 1977 at Golden Gate.  Later assignments
included Santa Monica Mountains and Grand Teton.  In 1986, he was selected as
the chief ranger at Death Valley.  Antonich assumed his current position in
1991.  He has received numerous awards for performance and outstanding
achievements throughout his career, and received the Department of the
Interior's Valor Award in 1991 for his participation as a team member in a
rescue in Death Valley.

Crystal Owl Award - The new Crystal Owl Awards for Training and Development
Excellence were presented to at a evening event during this year's concession
evaluation and pricing training program.  The first individual award was
presented to Ann Baugh (retired) for all her years of outstanding service in
the training community.  The first team award was presented to Bruce
Wadlington, Ginger Bice and Virginia (Robbie) Brockwehl in recognition of
their outstanding performance as training instructors for the concession
evaluation and pricing training program since 1989. 

MEMORANDA

No entries.

INTERCHANGE

No entries.

PARKS AND PEOPLE

Redwood N&SP - California Department of Parks and Recreation chief ranger Dan
Scott, 55, passed away on the evening of April 14th from an apparent heart
attack.  Dan had been a supervisory ranger in the California State Park's
Redwood Coast District since 1981.  Prior to 1981, Dan served in various
other state parks in field and supervisory ranger positions.  He was the
quintessential outdoorsman and was active in educating the youth of the
region, particularly through Ducks Unlimited's Green Wings program.  Dan also
served as the vice president of the Law Enforcement Administrators of Del
Norte County.  The park has sent this note: "Dan will be deeply missed by
national and state park employees, as he was actively involved in
interpretive, protection, visitor service and resource management programs in
the four parks which compose Redwood National and State Parks."   Memorial
services will be held for the family on April 26th in Redding; memorial
services for friends and co-workers will be May 15th at his home in historic
Camp Lincoln in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park near Crescent City.  
Details for the May 15th services are not yet firm. Further information can
be obtained  by calling Bob Martin at 707-464-6101, extension 5050.  Dan's
family asks that donations be made to The Dan Scott Memorial Fund at Save the
Redwoods League, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104.

                                *  *  *  *  *

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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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