Northeast Region
Passing of Cynthia Wilkerson
Cynthia Wilkerson, the environmental quality coordinator for the
Philadelphia Support Office in Northeast Region, passed away on Monday,
January 20, following a prolonged battle with cancer. Memorial services
for Cynthia will be held on Saturday, January 25, at Bruce Hawkins
Funeral Home, 6828 Old York Road, Philadelphia, PA 19126 (215-549-9910).
The precise time for the service has not yet been determined; once it
has been set, a follow-up notice will be disseminated. Flowers may be
sent directly to the funeral home but must arrive by 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Sympathy cards may be sent to Cynthia's family in care of M.W. Cynthia's
son, daughter, brother and extended family have expressed their
appreciation to all the NPS employees who supported her during her
illness.
[Submitted by David Reynolds]
San Juan National Historic Site (PR)
Follow-up on ARPA Case
In June, 2002, a federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment
against D.M. and J.F. for stealing artifacts from El
Morro fortress. J.F. had been hired by the park to clean up the fort.
He entered a little-known passageway, where he discovered some items
dating back to the 16th century. He subsequently sent D.M., a
subcontractor, to recover the items - a lead bar with a carved
inscription on one side dating to 1550-1660, two lead Enfield .557 type
bullets dating to 1850-1865, and two .69 caliber ball shots. On July 2,
law enforcement specialist Erick Lugo and a deputy marshal arrested
J.F., who later pled guilty to ARPA violations (16 USC 470ee(a) and
18 USC 2). On January 14, Lugo and an FBI agent arrested D.M., aka
Danny Carter. D.M. had fled to Titusville, Florida, following J.F.'s
arrest, then continued on to several other cities before being located
in Pensacola with the assistance of Gulf Island NS law enforcement
specialist John Hughes. D.M. again fled, this time to Haines City,
Florida, where he was found and arrested. He appeared in federal court
in Tampa on January 16, where his case was continued for two weeks.
Since D.M. has no ties to the state or community, he will remain in
jail until that time. Additional charges are being considered by the FBI
and NPS.
[Submitted by Eric Lugo, Law Enforcement Specialist,
Canaveral NS]
Canaveral National Seashore (FL)
Two Convicted for Sex Acts on Park Beach
On January 10, T.R. and J.H. were found guilty of
engaging in a sex act on the park's beach and ordered to each pay a fine
of $500. After years of public complaints about similar activities in
the park and over 100 arrests, this was the first case of this kind to
go to trial. On August 30, ranger Wayne Rose had seen the two naked men
engaging in the act in front of other adults on the beach. The two men
claimed that they were brushing sand off each other's private parts.
Assistant U.S. attorney Bruce Ambrose argued that the ranger "saw what
he saw," and the magistrate agreed, finding the two guilty of "causing
public harm." The magistrate declined a request to ban the men from the
beach, but warned that a second arrest would not be dealt with so
leniently. Ambrose subsequently commented: "We intend to enforce the law
against obscene behavior (at the park)."
[Submitted by Eric Lugo,
Law Enforcement Specialist]
Mojave National Preserve (CA)
Search; Body Recovery
On January 8, a California Fish and Game officer conducting
surveillance near the park noted a mini-van parked in an unusual
location. He checked the plate and found that the owner, K.K.,
had been reported missing from Colorado since November 27. The San
Bernadino County Sheriff's Office organized a search of the area by 65
deputies and volunteers. K.K.'s body was found in the park and
recovered the following day with the assistance of rangers. The time and
cause of death have not yet been determined.
[Submitted by John
Wilkins, Park Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Fox News Show This Evening on Kris Eggle
Bonnie Eggle, the mother of murdered ranger Kris Eggle, and Tom Clynes, the writer from National Geographic's Adventure Magazine who wrote about Kris' death and the situation at Organ Pipe Cactus NM, will appear tonight on the Bill O'Reilly Show on the Fox News Network at 8 p.m. The interview will be rebroadcast at 11 p.m.
[Submitted by Bonnie Eggle]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Rocky Mountain National Park (CO)
Seasonal GS-025-7 Climbing Ranger(s)
Qualified applicants are being sought to fill one or two seasonal non-commissioned GS-025-7 climbing ranger positions in the Longs Peak area in the park's Wild Basin District. Because of the technical nature of patrol requirements, search and rescue demands, and interface with the climbing community, applicants must complete a questionnaire that details climbing skills and experience. The season runs from approximately mid-May through late September. Announcement number ROMO-03-05, which opens today and closes on February 8, can be obtained at www.usajobs.opm.gov. Questions can be directed to personnel specialist Halah Mitchell at 970-586-1260 or district ranger Mark Magnuson at 970-586-1399.
[Submitted by Joe Evans, Chief Ranger]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.