NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                              MORNING REPORT
     
     
     To:         All National Park Service Areas and Offices
     
     From:       Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office
     
     Day/Date:   Monday, November 29, 1999
     
     INCIDENTS
     
     97-353 - Saguaro NP (AZ) - Follow-up: Homicide
     
     Last week, K.P., 20, of Tucson pled guilty in Pima County 
     Superior Court to second degree murder just moments before her trial 
     was to begin for first-degree murder in the execution of R.B. 
     in a pullout area near the visitor center in the Tucson 
     Mountain District on July 18, 1997. K.P. admitted that she was with 
     Antonio Wilbert when they confronted R.B. during a drug deal, 
     shot her at point blank range, then fled the scene. Wilbert originally 
     pled guilty to second-degree murder in a plea agreement with 
     prosecutors to testify against K.P.; if it is determined that Wilbert 
     was lying, this agreement may be revoked in favor of first-degree 
     murder charges against him. K.P. is expected to receive a sentence of 
     16 to 22 years in prison.   [Robert E. Stinson,  Acting CR,  SAGU,  
     11/26]
     
     99-532 - Colorado NM (CO) - Follow-up: Probable Suicide
     
     A lunch cooler with an apparent suicide note inside was found along 
     Rim Rock Drive at the head of Columbus Canyon on the morning of August 
     29th.  A vehicle and body were subsequently found in Red Canyon, 
     several hundred feet below the rim. The victim was identified as 
     R.M., 26, of Grand Junction.  His death has since been ruled 
     a suicide.  The vehicle was removed on October 15th in an operation 
     that involved cutting up the vehicle in the canyon, then flying the 
     pieces out by helicopter.  After an initial refusal, R.M.'s 
     insurance company was cooperative and covered the costs of the 
     removal. (Ron Young, CR, COLM, 11/23)
     
     99-698 - Blue Ridge Parkway (NC/TN) - Death of Employee
     
     Maintenance employee James Farmer, an equipment operator in the 
     Highlands District, died at home of an apparent heart attack on the 
     evening of November 17th. He is survived by his wife and daughter. 
     James had worked on the parkway in both seasonal and full-time 
     positions since 1976. [John Garrison, Protection Specialist, BLRI, 
     11/18]
     
     99-699 - Lowell NHP (MA) - Probable Falling Fatality
     
     The body of a 43-year-old man was found at the bottom of the granite 
     steps in the transportation lock chamber of the historic Pawtucket 
     Gatehouse at 7 a.m. on the morning of November 22nd. Although the 
     death is still under investigation pending a medical examiner's 
     report, it appears that he fell down the stairs after coming to the 
     site the previous night following an altercation with the residents of 
     a "sober house" where he had been living. He allegedly was intoxicated 
     at the time. The property is owned by the state but the park has an 
     easement on it and it is within the park's concurrent jurisdiction. 
     Lowell and state police are leading the investigation; rangers are 
     assisting. [Dave Redding, SPR, LOWE, 11/24]
     
     99-700 - Canaveral NS (FL) - Drug Seizure
     
     While on patrol on ATV's on the park's beach on November 15th, rangers 
     Bill Hackett and John Wilkins found two 15-pound bales of marijuana 
     washed up on the shore. Two days later, ranger George Yock found 
     another 15-pound bale in the same general location, packaged 
     identically to the first two bales. Customs agents were notified of 
     the find and advised the park that the bales were part of a drop that 
     had recently been made in the area. On November 18th, several pounds 
     of the prescription drug serzone - all in vials - washed up on the 
     beach. The manufacturer's name could not be distinguished from the 
     labels. Rangers and county officers are investigating. [Eric Lugo, 
     LES, CANA, 11/19]
     
     99-701 - National Capital Parks West (DC) - Marijuana Eradication
     
     Park Police officers checked out a report of marijuana plants growing 
     in the Glover Archibald Park early on the morning of October 21st. 
     Members of the Rock Creek Station tactical crime unit located plants 
     valued at about $9,000 in a clearing about 20 yards into a wooded area 
     of the park and removed them. [Sgt. R. MacLean, USPP, NCR, 10/26]
     
     99-702 - Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP (MD/DC) - Poaching
     
     Ranger Todd Gearman checked a car parked adjacent to park land near 
     Pennyfield Lock just prior to dusk on October 30th. He saw a tarp, 
     maps and soft bow case in the vehicle. The car was blocked in, and 
     Gearman and ranger Joe Pond began a search of the woods. They soon 
     came upon a man - W.H. of Alexandria, Virginia - in subdued 
     clothing with a compound bow, portable tree stand and camouflaged 
     backpack with arrows. W.H. had blood on his clothes and told the 
     rangers that it had come from gutting a deer that he'd just killed. He 
     was cooperative and led them to the fresh carcass of an eight-point 
     white-tail buck. He was charged with several violations of 36 CFR Part 
     2. Trophy hunting for large bucks is increasing in suburban and urban 
     park areas. Over the past year or so, several national hunting 
     magazines have published articles about hunting in suburban areas. 
     [Tom Nash, Acting CR, CHOH, 11/1]
     
     99-703 - Yosemite NP (CA) - Poaching
     
     On September 18th, a ranger in the Mather District heard shots coming 
     from inside the park near the boundary and contacted N.S. and 
     two juveniles shortly thereafter. The three  were armed with a hunting 
     rifle, shotguns and handguns, and were in possession of dead 
     squirrels. On November 23rd, N.S. appeared in magistrate's court in 
     the park and pled guilty to hunting, possession of dead animals (16 
     USC 60 and 62), and possession of weapons (36 CFR 2.4). N.S. was 
     fined $500 and placed on a year's probation. The weapons were 
     forfeited to the government for destruction. Also forfeited were 
     N.S.'s California hunting license, ammunition, and other associated 
     hunting items. Under federal juvenile delinquency provisions, the two 
     juveniles will be referred to the county for prosecution. [Beth 
     Stockdale, Acting Prosecutor, YOSE, 11/24]
     
     99-704 - Colorado NM (CO) - Special Event
     
     On November 13th, 367 runners competed in the seventh annual Rim Rock 
     Run, a 37- kilometer foot race.  As was the case last year, the race 
     was managed through a traffic plan that allowed runners use of one 
     lane and a one-way traffic restriction that allowed visitors use of 
     the other lane. Rangers from Canyonlands, Curecanti, and Dinosaur 
     assisted with the event along with local deputies.  (Ron Young, CR, 
     COLM, 11/23)
     
     99-705 - Colorado NM (CO) - Special Event
     
     Secretary Bruce Babbitt, regional director Karen Wade, and Bureau of 
     Land Management state director Anne Morgan visited the park on Friday, 
     November 19th, to discuss permanent protection for public land to the 
     west of the monument that is currently a BLM wilderness study area.  A 
     public meeting was held in the park's amphitheater, during which the 
     secretary heard a variety of opinions from elected officials and 
     members of the public.  The meeting was well-attended and cordial.  
     Park staff assisted the secretary's staff with logistics and security. 
      Local media interested was high.  (Ron Young, CR, COLM, 11/23)
     
     RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, PROTECTION AND EDUCATION
     
     No submissions.
     
     OPERATIONAL NOTES
     
     No submissions.
     
     MEMORANDA
     
     No submissions.
     
     INTERCHANGE
     
     Gateway NRA - The park's Sandy Hook unit is planning on starting an 
     Explorer post and would like to hear from other parks with similar 
     programs.  Contact Eileen Enright, 732-872-5940.
     
     PARKS AND PEOPLE
     
     No submissions.
     
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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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