Independence National Historical Park (PA)
Break In at First National Bank
Rangers responded to intrusion alarms at the First National Bank at
11:30 p.m. on December 5th. The First National Bank is the temporary
museum for the original artwork usually found in the Second National
Bank museum. The collection, which includes an original printing of the
Declaration of Independence, is valued in the millions of dollars. Two
people were discovered inside. Rangers determined that they'd gained
access by breaking a slide lock on an old cellar door that a
construction crew had been utilizing. The pair, both students at Penn
State, had fake identification in their possession and were under the
influence of alcohol. They were taken into custody and transported to
the Philadelphia Police Department for processing.
[Submitted by
Katherine Korte, Law Enforcement Specialist]
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (AZ)
Drug Smuggling Incident
On December 7th, rangers attempted to stop a 2000 Nissan Pathfinder
for speeding, but the driver declined to pull over and fled. The pursuit
continued south towards Mexico for 20 miles at speeds of up to 100 mph.
The Intermountain Region SET team was in the park on assignment and had
just completed training on pursuit of vehicles, including spiking tires.
They spiked the Nissan's tires and stopped it five miles north of the
international boundary. The driver and passenger escaped, but 16
packages of marijuana weighing about 360 pounds were found under a
blanket in the rear of the vehicle and seized. Also seized was a
Motorola radio charge that was hot-wired directly to the car's battery.
[Submitted by Bo Stone, Park Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Wilderness Stewardship
NPS Leave No Trace Video and DVD Available
The National Park Service has produced a short video introduction to the Leave No Trace program. This video outlines the seven principles of Leave No Trace and provides information on the skills and ethics associated with the program.
The video is just under ten minutes long and is appropriate for visitor centers, backcountry permit stations and for those giving training courses or short presentations on Leave No Trace.
The video is available free of charge in VHS and DVD formats and can be obtained by contacting Kelly Hartsell.
[Submitted by Kelly Hartsell, kelly_hartsell@nps.gov, 540-999-3482]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center
Detailees Sought to Serve as Acting Director
The interagency Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center is advertising for four or more detailers to serve successively as acting director during the 2004 calendar year. The acting director serves as advisor to the national group leaders for wilderness for each of the land managing agencies. The detail periods are as follows: January — March, April — June, July — September, and October — December. Salary, travel and housing/per diem will be covered by the Carhart Center. Employees from the Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service, National Park Service, US Geological Survey, and Forest Service are eligible to apply. Applications must be received by December 12th. For additional information about this opportunity, please contact Don Fisher, U.S. Forest Service, at 202-205-1414.
Montezuma Castle/Tuzigoot NM
Steve Sandell to Retire
Steve Sandell, Chief Ranger for Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments, is retiring January 2nd with nearly 35 years of Federal service, and 33 of those years with the National Park Service. His National Park Service career includes permanent and seasonal assignments at Grand Teton, Acadia, Fort Point, Fort Caroline, Everglades, Organ Pipe Cactus, and finally Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot.
Steve's wife, Vicky, will continue to teach elementary school for a few more years. Steve and Vicky are parents of two sons, Steve Jr. a Phoenix Firefighter/Paramedic and Jeff a practicing attorney, both sons in the Phoenix area.
A retirement party honoring Steve will be held on Friday, January 9, 2004 at 6:00 PM at the Lodge at Cliff Castle in Camp Verde, Arizona. Please join us in celebrating Steve's career. For additional information or to send congratulatory comments, please contact
Mary Ontiveros at 928-567-5276 x 221 or mary_ontiveros@nps.gov.
[Submitted by Mary Ontiveros, Mary_Ontiveros@nps.gov, 928 567-5276 x 221]
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.