Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Two Drown Off Freshwater Lagoon Spit
On Friday, January 2nd, state and national park rangers were
dispatched to Freshwater Lagoon Spit in Redwood National Park to
investigate a report of two people swept out into the Pacific Ocean. The
Coast Guard, Humboldt County Sheriff's Office, California Highway
Patrol, California Department of Forestry, and the Orick Volunteer Fire
Department also responded. Nine members of a large, extended family had
been playing at the water's edge when two large 'rogue' waves swept over
eight of them. All were able to escape the surf and get back to the
beach except for an eight-year-old boy. The boy's 38-year-old uncle
entered the water in an attempt to rescue him, but was swept out to sea.
Rescue personnel, who arrived on scene about 20 minutes later, obtained
descriptions of the victims and began searching the shoreline northward
from the point where they'd entered the cold ocean water. NPS ranger
Paul Tibbetts entered the surf in a wetsuit with a rescue board, but was
unable to locate either victim. Rangers and bystanders eventually found
the boy's uncle washed up in the surf approximately 500 yards north of
his entry point. He was pulled from the water unconscious and lacking
vital signs. Rangers, assisted by other agency personnel, administered
CPR until paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim dead. The
interagency search for the eight-year-old, who is presumed dead,
continued into the evening and resumed the next morning. The north coast
of California continues to experience severe winter weather, causing
rough seas. Rogue waves, which take lives almost every year, are common
during the winter and can occur without warning, even on seemingly calm
days. Rangers will continue to warn park visitors of these hazardous
conditions. Warning signs are also permanently posted along this stretch
of beach and were in place at the time of the accident.
[Submitted by
Scott Wanek, Chief Ranger]
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
Felony Conviction and Sentencing
On December 16th, R.S. of Cody, Wyoming, was sentenced in
federal court after being convicted on two charges — possession of
methamphetamine with intent to distribute and being a drug user in
possession of a firearm — that stemmed from a traffic stop the year
before last. R.S. will spend two years in prison and another three on
supervised release and pay a $500 fine. Ranger Robert Lester stopped
R.S. in the Lake District in the summer of 2002 and arrested him. An
investigation conducted jointly with ATF, DEA and the Wyoming Division
of Criminal Investigation led to the filing of the charges. It was
conducted under the auspices of Wyoming's "Project Guardian" and the
national "Project Safe Neighborhoods," both designed to facilitate the
prosecution of criminals who use firearms in the commission of crimes.
[Submitted by Brian Smith, Supervisory Special Agent]
Big Bend National Park (TX)
Suicide at Backcounty Campground
A 50-year-old Austin man was found dead in his vehicle at a
backcountry campsite on the morning of December 30th. A note was found
in the permit drop box advising park staff that he intended to commit
suicide. Other evidence found at the scene indicated that he was
suffering from health problems.
[Submitted by David Van Inwagen,
Acting Chief Ranger]
Ozark National Scenic Riverways (MO)
Probable Suicide
Two local trappers who were tending their trap line on the Current
River came upon an unresponsive man lying on the river bank, holding a
shotgun, near the Round Springs group campsite. Rangers found the body
of a 38-year-old Rolla, Missouri, man at the site. A lengthy suicide
note and handwritten will were in his backpack, and his hands were still
wrapped around a .410 single-shot shotgun.
[Submitted by Bill Terry,
District Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Servicewide
"Wildlife Wars" Will Appear Tonight on Cable
"Wildlife Wars," volume one of retired USFWS special agent Terry Grosz's autobiographical series on his career as a state and federal game warden/agent, will air today on Animal Planet on cable TV. It will actually be shown twice in each of the "lower 48" time zones: 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. CST, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. MST, and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. PST. Grosz was the chief of law enforcement for FWS in Denver for several years, so his accounts should be of interest to NPS employees. Profits from his books, this show, and any subsequent series go to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. The program will last two hours; if ratings are high enough, a series will follow.
[Submitted by Katy Sykes, Assistant to the Superintendent, Rocky Mountain NP]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Colonial National Historical Park (VA)
Passing of Jack Stout
Jack Stout, former chief of maintenance at Colonial National Historical Park, passed away on December 17th. He was 79. Survivors include his wife, Mary Anna Elizabeth Bowman Stout, and children Anna June Stout, Susan Hall, Mark Stout and Paul Stout. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.reinssturdivantfuneralhome.com.
[Submitted by Mike Litterst, Public Affairs Officer, mike_litterst@nps.gov, 757-898-2409]
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.