Great Sand Dunes National Monument & Preserve (CO)
Three Convicted of Car Clouts in Park
Because of numerous thefts of property from vehicles in parking lots
along the Newfound Gap Road corridor last summer, rangers began
surveillance operations throughout the area. While on one of those
details on July 12th, ranger Jonathan Holter saw a man enter an unlocked
vehicle in the Alum Cave trailhead parking area, then attempt to leave
in a vehicle operated by a woman. Holter confronted and arrested the
pair — N.E., 45, of Telford, Tennessee, and Brenda
Baird, 46, of Jonesboro, Tennessee — and recovered items taken from
the vehicle he was watching and from two other vehicles in another
parking area north of Alum Cave. Investigation led to several other
thefts in the park earlier that summer, some of which had been reported
and others which had not. Many involved vehicles that had been left
unsecured by visitors. Interviews and evidence collection by special
agent Jeff Carlisle, supervisory rangers Steve Kloster and Michael Nash,
ranger Larry Hartman (on detail to the special agent's office), and
numerous park rangers led to the arrest of a third person — Frankie
Hughes, 25, of Johnson City, Tennessee. All three were charged on
several felony counts of theft and convicted in federal court last
month. The investigation also led to a local drug selling ring.
Sentencing for N.E. and Baird will take place in May and for Hughes
in July. Losses to park visitors exceeded $25,000, most frequently by
the use of stolen checks or purchases on stolen debit and credit cards
before the accounts could be cancelled. Police in Newport and Knoxville,
Tennessee, security personnel at several Wal-Marts, Home Depots, and
K-Marts, and ATF handwriting analysts assisted in the investigation.
[Submitted by Chief Rangers Office]
Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area (WA)
"Operation Coldwater" Culminates with Four Smuggling Arrests
On March 5th, "Operation Coldwater," a joint operation by rangers, Border Patrol agents, and Stevens County deputies, resulted in the seizure of 235 pounds of processed "BC Bud" marijuana and the arrest of two Canadians and a couple from Northport, Washington. The foursome were smuggling drugs from Canada into the United States via the Columbia River. The joint U.S. — Canadian operation was begun after several small fishing boats were discovered by rangers in the Kettle Falls District area in late January. A Border Patrol dog was employed to check the boats, which resulted in indications that they'd been used to transport drugs. Bail has been set at $250,000 for the Canadians; the Border Patrol has also placed an immigration hold on them for allegedly entering the U.S. illegally. Rangers Beth Lariviere and Sam Martinsen were involved in the operation. Stevens County is handling the prosecution.
[Submitted by Gig LeBret, Kettle Falls District Ranger]
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
Spaces Still Available for May Training
Spaces still available. A Fundamentals of Special Park Uses training course will be held at the National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia from May 3 — 7, 2004. The 36-hour course covers all aspects of Special Park Uses from First Amendment to Filming and Photography to Wireless Telecommunication Sites. Class includes a field exercise at Antietam National Battlefield. Also included is a component on temporary food services and other health and safety issues related to Special Park Uses. DO-53/RM-53 is covered in depth, as well as 36 CFR and NPS Management Policies 2001. Sign-up deadline is March 26. If the minimum number of 25 participants is not reached the class will not be held. For more information contact Lee Dickinson, Special Park Uses Program Manager, WASO at 202/513-7092.
[Submitted by Lee Dickinson, Lee_Dickinson@nps.gov, 202/513-7092]
Social Science Program
NPS Annual Statistical Abstract for 2003 Available
The National Park Service Statistical Abstract 2003, prepared by the Public Use Statistics Office, part of the NPS Social Science Program is now available. This annual report documents the following:
- Recreation and non-recreation visits to units of the National Park System, reported Systemwide, by state, region, population center, and park;
- Recreation visits and visitor days spent in units of the National Park System, reported Systemwide, by state, region, and park;
- Overnight stays in units of the National Park System, reported by park;
- Forecasts of recreation visits for the 2004 and 2005 calendar years reported by park; and
- Acreage in the National Park System.
An electronic version of the Statistical Abstract is posted on the Public Use Statistics Office Web site at http://www2.nature.nps.gov/stats/ and on the Social Science Program Web site at http://www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/products.htm. For additional information, please contact Butch Street in the Public Use Statistics Office by telephone at (303) 987-6957 or by email at Butch_Street@nps.gov, or Dr. Jim Gramann, Visiting Chief Social Scientist by telephone at (202) 513-7189 or by email at James_Gramann@partner.nps.gov.
[Submitted by Butch Street, butch_street@nps.gov, (303) 987-6957] More Information...
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (DC,MD,WV)
GS-6/7 Supervisory Visitor Use Assistant
The park has advertised for a GS-6/7 supervisory visitor use assistant. The announcement number is CHOH 04-05 and it's open from March 19 to April 1. The duty station is at Great Falls, Maryland. The person selected will supervise three people and oversee an entrance station, group campground and pavilion (which has a user fee). Park revenue is from $450,000 to $500,000. Questions should be directed to Keith Kelly, district ranger, at 301-767-3701.
[Submitted by Keith Kelly]
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.