NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                            MORNING REPORT
     
     
     To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
     
     From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
     
     Day/Date:   Thursday, November 18, 1999
     
     INCIDENTS
     
     99-59 - Mammoth Cave NP (KY) - Follow-up: Assault on Ranger
     
     On November 10th, M.L. appeared in federal district court 
     for sentencing on charges of assaulting a federal officer and wanton 
     endangerment.  M.L. earlier pled guilty to assaulting ranger John 
     Logsdon last February 27th when he attempted to run over Logsdon at a 
     roadblock.  M.L. had been the subject of a high-speed pursuit by 
     county deputies that had passed through the park.  He intentionally 
     rammed a pursuing police vehicle before his assault on Logsdon.  
     M.L. was sentenced to 77 months in prison and three years' 
     supervised probation; he was also ordered to pay $1,500 in 
     restitution.  Park special agent Brad McDougal led the investigation 
     and served as case agent for the prosecution.  [CRO, MACA, 11/16]
     
     99-676 - Mount Rainier NP (WA) - Follow-up: Searchers Injured
     
     The three searchers reported injured in the search at the park were 
     seasonal park ranger Asha Anderson and RMI guides Art Rausch and 
     Ashley Garman.  Anderson suffered cuts, bruises and two broken ankles; 
     Garman suffered head lacerations and a broken back; Rausch had only 
     minor injuries and was treated and released.  [Alisa Lynch, PIO, MORA, 
     11/17]
     
     99-677 - Caribbean Areas - Follow-up: Hurricane Lenny
     
     Christiansted NHS on St. Croix Island was struck hard by the hurricane 
     yesterday.  Staff reported sustained winds of 120 mph with gusts of 
     150 mph late yesterday afternoon.  No damage was yet evident, but 
     anecdotal reports from relatives of employees living elsewhere on  the 
     island suggest that it will be significant.  Power was out, but phones 
     were still working.  Virgin Islands NP on St. Thomas and St. John 
     Islands reported gale force winds and rain.  Both parks were planning 
     damage assessments for this morning, but they have been postponed 
     because the hurricane has essentially stalled over the area.  San Juan 
     NHP in Puerto Rico reopened this morning except for upper sections of 
     fort walls, which remain hazardous to visitors due to continuing high 
     winds.  Most employees have returned to work.  No damage is reported.  
     [Ken Garvin, SERO, 11/18]
     
     99-678 - Natchez Trace Parkway (MS/AL/TN) - Homicide
     
     On November 12th, C.J. of McCool, Mississippi, reported 
     that he and his wife had been shot by two men while parked at a 
     wayside exhibit on the parkway.  T.J., 31, had been fatally 
     shot in the head; C.J. had suffered a gunshot wound in one 
     of his hands.  C.J. said that he and his wife had pulled into the 
     Hurricane Creek parking area when two men in a white Chevrolet Malibu 
     pulled in behind them, assaulted them, then drove off.  Rangers, FBI 
     agents and Mississippi Highway Patrol criminal investigators found 
     discrepancies in C.J.'s story while investigating the case.  C.J. 
     subsequently admitted to shooting his wife while arguing with her.  
     [Tim Francis, Deputy CR, NATR, 11/15]
     
     99-679 - C&O Canal NHP (DC/MD) - Arson Fire
     
     Ranger Ryan Peabody, Clear Springs VFD firefighters and state fire 
     marshals responded to a structural fire along Dam #5 Road at 1:30 a.m. 
     on November 14th.  They found the 1850's Shank House totally engulfed 
     in flames.  The fire has been classified as an arson.  The structure 
     was on the LCS, but was not occupied.  This is the second historic 
     structure in that area to be set on fire in the past year.  The Clear 
     Springs VFD also responded to another suspicious fire on the same day, 
     this one outside the park.  A joint investigation is being conducted 
     by park staff and state fire marshals.  [Tom Nash, CHOH, 11/17]
     
     RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION
     
     Submission pending.
     
     OPERATIONAL NOTES
     
     Submission pending.
     
     MEMORANDA
     
     Submission pending.
     
     INTERCHANGE
     
     No entries.
     
     PARKS AND PEOPLE
     
     Organ Pipe Cactus NM - The park has an announcement out for a 
     GS-025-12 chief ranger.  The announcement opened on November 6th and 
     closes on December 4th.  It's listed on USAJOBS.  The chief ranger is 
     responsible for natural and cultural resource protection, visitor 
     safety, wilderness management, interagency coordination, and 
     international programs with protected areas and park neighbors in 
     Mexico.  Divisional functions include law enforcement, wilderness 
     management, structural and wildland fire suppression, search and 
     rescue, drug interdiction, fee collection and safety management.  
     [Karl Pearson, ORPI]
     
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     the web at http://www.nps.gov/morningreport
     
     Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the 
     cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.
     
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