Biscayne National Park (FL)
Recovery of Remains of Hurricane Andrew Victim
On January 29, park archeologist Brenda Lazendorf and biological
technician Toby Obenauer were on Elliott Key looking for the remains of
a railroad that had been used to ship key limes when they discovered a
skull and long bones about 75 yards from the tip of the key. Dental
testing revealed that these were the remains of G.L., who was
killed in Hurricane Andrew on August 24, 1992. G.L. and two
companions tied up their boat in Caesar Creek, with the objective of
riding out the storm. They incorrectly assumed that the storm would turn
north. During the hurricane, G.L. went out on deck to secure lines
and was swept away. Another person on the boat was killed by flying
debris. The sole survivor remained inside the boat throughout the
hurricane.
[Submitted by Holly Rife, Chief Ranger]
Big Bend National Park (TX)
Search for and Recovery of Visitor Killed by Lightning
On February 21, a woman called the park and reported that her husband
had failed to return from an overnight hike that he'd taken in Chisos
Basin the previous day. E.V., 54, of Menomonie, Wisconsin,
planned to hike to the summit of Emory Peak on February 19, camp
overnight at a backcountry campsite just below the peak, then return on
February 20. A front with thunderstorms passed through the area on
Wednesday night, and rain fell intermittently throughout Thursday before
turning to snow at higher elevations. About three hours after receiving
this report, a searcher found E.V.'s snow-covered body at the
backcountry site. Based on the condition of his clothing and other
indicators, investigators believe that E.V. was the victim of a
lightning strike. The autopsy confirmed this finding. David Yim was the
investigator, Marcos Pardes was IC.
[Submitted by Chief Ranger's
Office]
Saguaro National Park (AZ)
Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle
On February 13, ranger Brian Rutledge saw a pickup heading southbound
on Sandario Road at a speed over the posted limit. He ran a check on the
vehicle and found that it had been stolen in Phoenix. Rutledge followed
the truck, eventually outside the park, until another ranger and Pima
County deputies arrived. Efforts to stop it were begun, but the driver
of the pickup turned it onto a dirt road and accelerated. A brief,
high-speed pursuit ensued, ending when the truck crashed. A man in his
mid-30s was seen running from the pickup with a pistol in his hand.
Rangers, Border Patrol agents and deputies, supported by DPS and Border
Patrol helicopters, established containment around the area and searched
for the man for about two hours. The search was terminated due to
darkness. Evidence in the truck indicated that it had been used to
transport undocumented aliens. NPS and local law enforcement agencies
have seen an increasing number of incidents in which vehicles stolen
from the Phoenix metropolitan area are driven south to the border, then
used to transport illegal aliens or drugs northward. A joint
investigation is underway.
[Submitted by Bob Love, Chief Ranger]
Amistad National Recreation Area (TX)
Drug Seizure
During the eleven-day period from February 13 to February 23, the NPS
and Border Patrol conducted a joint, two-phased special operation called
"Vigilant Neighbor." The first phase was a high-profile, 24-hour-per-day
boat operation on lake Amistad from February 13 to 18. Park and Border
Patrol boats were stationed at a known drug staging area along the
Mexican shoreline. The objective was to stall transportation of any
drugs from this area across the lake into the United States. The second
phase of the operation occurred on the succeeding six days. A Border
Patrol special response team (SRT) moved covertly into the area at the
same time as the high-profile boat operation was terminated. On February
21, agents saw movement in the area that was consistent with drug
trafficking; on February 23, agents tracked the smugglers to a lay-up
spot near Highway 90. They arrested eight backpackers and seized just
over 423 pounds of processed marijuana and a night vision device.
Information obtained in interviews indicated that one smuggler with a
second night vision device was able to elude capture.
[Submitted by
Bruce Malloy, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site (MT)
GS-025-11 Supervisory Park Ranger
Dates: 02/26/2003 - 03/19/2003
Grant-Kohrs Ranch NHS is recruiting for a GS-11 chief of interpretation, education and cultural resources under announcement IMDE-03-20. The person selected will manage a complex division combining museum collections, interpretation and education services. She/he supervises one GS-11 museum curator and two GS-9 park rangers, formulates and tracks budget; prepares, submits and administers SEPAS projects; serves as park GPRA coordinator; and participates as a member of the management team. He/she also directs a comprehensive outreach program encompassing curriculum-based education, publication, VIP program, cooperating association and park website, provides oversight for cultural resources, including developing plans advancing historic research and cultural landscape preservation objectives, maintains park security system and protection agreements with local law enforcement authorities, and represents park and agency on city, county, and state tourism committees and working groups.[Submitted by Anita Dore, anita_dore@nps.gov, 406-846-2070 ext 222]
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.