De Soto National Memorial (FL)
Arson Fire
A boater reported a fire in the park around 7 p.m. on November 29th.
West Manatee County Fire and Rescue responded along with county
deputies. They found a chickee hut on fire within the park's living
history camp. The fire was quickly extinguished. Arson is considered
probable. The county sheriff, state fire marshal and rangers from Big
Cypress are investigating. The park suffered from an arson attack in
February, 2001, in which all of the chickee huts were burned and much of
the living history camp was destroyed. That incident culminated in a
successful prosecution. The park continues to move forward with its
plans to open up the camp for the winter season on December 13th.
[Submitted by Charlie Fenwick, Superintendent]
Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area (KY,TN)
Burglary and Car Clout Arrest
Rangers Jimmy Barna and Randy Justice received a report of a break-in
at the Bandy Creek campground entrance station on the morning of
November 29th. They discovered that a window had been smashed, the
security light had been broken, and the phone lines had been cut, but
found no indication that anyone had entered the building. Later that
day, park visitors told the rangers that their car and two others at the
Leatherwood Ford trailhead had been forcibly entered. In each case, the
passenger side window had been broken and personal items had been
stolen. One of the victims requested an activity check on his credit
card and found that one card had been used at a local retail store at 4
a.m. that morning. Barna, Justice and ranger Kevin Moses investigated
further, and were able to identify a suspect — 18-year-old J.H.
— from a surveillance camera photo. A search warrant was
obtained and served at a local residence with the assistance of Oneida
City Police Department officers. Several of the stolen items were found
during the search. J.H. identified a second suspect, 19-year-old
Jeffery Lowe. A second search warrant was obtained and served at a
second residence, where the remainder of the stolen property was
recovered. J.H. and Lowe were taken into custody; Lowe's stepfather was
also arrested for drug possession. Federal and state felony charges are
pending at this time. The investigation continues.
[Submitted by F.
Graham, Chief Ranger]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Drug and Illegal Alien Smuggling Arrests
Rangers checked out a report of illegal aliens on foot near a Border
Patrol checkpoint around 1 p.m. on November 28th. While en route, they
passed an empty vehicle with its hood up and facing south. That vehicle
later passed them with five people inside. The rangers stopped the Chevy
Lumina and found that all five were illegal aliens. They were turned
over to the border patrol. Shortly thereafter, the rangers pulled in
behind a vehicle traveling well below the speed limit. When they passed
the Olds Achieva, they saw that there were stuffed animals inside —
but no children or car seats. Moreover, neither of the occupants would
make eye contact with the rangers. The rangers pulled over and waited
for the car to pass them again. When they again pulled in behind the
car, the driver turned back south and took off at high speed. The
rangers pursued for about 20 miles. Meanwhile, other rangers set spikes
on the road and made calls to close the visitor center access and the
port of entry at Lukeville. The Olds left the highway and traveled back
to Mexico on illegal roads with the rangers in pursuit. Mexican
authorities, who had also been alerted, took up pursuit at the border
and arrested the two occupants after they rolled their car. They found
330 pounds of marijuana within it.
[Submitted by Matt Stoffolano,
District Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Kris Eggle Visitor Center Dedicated
Dates: 11/27/2003 - 12/05/2003
On November 22, approximately 300 NPS employees, local residents, friends, and family joined Director Fran Mainella in the formal dedication of the Kris Eggle Visitor Center. Park Ranger Eggle was killed August 9, 2002 by a Mexican drug trafficker in a confrontation along the border in the park. President Bush signed legislation earlier this year authorizing the renaming of the visitor center to honor Eggle and to highlight the important role that law enforcement officers play in protecting park visitors.
Highlights of the dedication event included Organ Pipe Cactus employees who sang two songs in tribute to Eggle. A joint NPS and Border Patrol Honor Guard posted and retrieved the colors. Speakers included Larry Parkinson, DOI Deputy Assistant Secretary for Law Enforcement and Security, Paul Charlton, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Brandon Fewins, representing Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Steve Martin, NPS Intermountain Regional Director, and Robert Eggle, Kris's father. Robert Eggle challenged all NPS employees to continue to make a difference every day on the job. Several letters from Congressional representatives who were unable to attend were also read. Bonnie Eggle, Kris's mother and Jennifer Eggle, Kris's sister, did the honors of unveiling the new lettering on the outside of the visitor center.
After the completion of the ceremony, Pima County Sheriff's Department made a special presentation to the Eggle family, returning Kris's NPS badge, name bar and Law Enforcement ID card.
[Submitted by David Hutson, dave_hutson@nps.gov, 520-387-7661 x7301]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks (CA)
Russ Wilson Named Park's Deputy Superintendent
Russell (Russ) Wilson has been selected as the new Deputy Superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Wilson will begin his new job some time in January of 2004.
"Wilson is no stranger to California," said Superintendent Richard Martin. "He will bring the experiences that he gained as a ranger at Channel Islands National Park and at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the wisdom gained as a park superintendent, most recently of the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area, in New York."
Wilson has worked with the National Park Service on and off since 1977. His previous experience has been in the areas of Visitor and Resource Protection, Interpretation, and Natural Resources at a variety of national park units across the country including parks in Florida, Alaska and Guam. He also brings with him 5 ½ years of experience as a trial and appellate attorney and environmental prosecutor for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
"I'm excited about heading to the Sierra," Wilson said, "and immersing myself in the history and resources of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. I'm looking forward to working with the parks' staff, concessionaires and park partners."
Wilson is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Recreation and Park Management. He received his Doctor in Laws from Golden Gate University.
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.