Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (AZ,UT)
DUI and Resisting Arrest Incident
On the evening of April 17th, ranger Amy Mowat saw a vehicle being
driven recklessly on Lone Rock Beach. Mowat contacted the operator,
J.S., and determined that he was intoxicated. When she
attempted to take him into custody, he resisted arrest, refusing to
follow commands and becoming increasingly agitated. He began moving
towards Mowat in a threatening manner, so Mowat sprayed him twice with
her pepper spray, but without any visible effect. J.S. then stumbled
and fell to the ground, where he began fighting with Mowat. J.S. was
arrested for operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and
violating a lawful order. On April 21st, he pled guilty to the latter
charge and was sentenced to 60 days in jail and a year's supervised
probation and was banned from entering Glen Canyon NRA, Lake Mead NRA
and Grand Canyon NP for one year.
[Submitted by Mike Mayer, Chief
Ranger]
Cuyahoga Valley National Park (OH)
Rangers Prevent
Possible Attempted Suicide
On Sunday, April 24th, rangers Robert Hipp and Blane Dolges were closing
the Ledges area when they came upon a distraught man who had broken into
the locked shelter. The man had a history of depression, had
allegedly tried to commit suicide in the past, and was very emotional
about a fight he had had with his spouse earlier that day. The man had
several knives, a screwdriver, and pills in his possession and a loaded
Browning .380 automatic pistol in his vehicle. He was safely taken into
custody and transported via ambulance to a hospital for evaluation and
observation. Charges are pending. [Submitted by by Chris Ryan,
Chief Ranger]
FIRE MANAGEMENT
NIFC/NPS Fire and Aviation Management
National Fire Situation Highlights — Wednesday, April 27, 2005
NPS Fires
For a brief supplemental narrative on each fire, click on the bar with the arrow. Internal NPS readers can link directly to full reports on each fire by clicking on the notepad icon; public readers of the Morning Report can obtain similar information by going to http://www.nps.gov/fire/news
| Park | State | Fire | Type | Acres | Percent Contain |
Est. Full Contain |
| Big Thicket National Preserve | TX | Pipeline West RX | Prescribed Fire Treatment | 106 | 100 | 04/25/05 |
 |
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| Big Thicket National Preserve | TX | West Of Powerline Rx | Prescribed Fire Treatment | 37 | 100 | 04/25/05 |
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| Big Thicket National Preserve | TX | Wildwood Interface Rx | Prescribed Fire Treatment | 156 | 75 | 05/13/05 |
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National Situation Report
The full NIFC Incident Management Situation Report for today can be obtained at http://www.nifc.gov/news/sitreprt.pdf. NIFC's national fire news is at http://www.nifc.gov/fireinfo/nfn.html
OPERATIONAL NOTES
Law Enforcement and Emergency Services
Ranger To Be Honored In 2005 Police Week Events
Police Week will be held during the second week of May. This year, the National Park Service will honor the memory of ranger Suzi Roberts, who lost her life in the line of duty at Haleakala NP in 2004. Suzi's family and ranger escort will be in attendance at events in Washington, DC. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation and the Concerns of Police Survivors organizations schedule many activities during this special week in May. For the most complete listing of events, refer to www.nleomf.org and www.nationalcops.org. The following events will have NPS participation:
Tuesday, May 10
Noon — Annual Blue Mass at St. Patrick's Church **
Wednesday, May 11
10:30 a.m. — Memorial Wreath Laying with Honor Guards at MIB Auditorium **
Thursday, May 12
2 p.m. — Police Unity Tour Arrival Ceremony at the Memorial
Friday, May 13
3 p.m. — 5 p.m. — USPP/Park Ranger Fellowship Gathering, USPP Aviation Unit, Anacostia
8 p.m. — Candlelight Vigil at the Memorial **
Saturday, May 14
11 a.m. — Law Ride Motorcycle Procession
6 p.m. — Emerald Sociey and Pipeband March
Sunday, Mary 15
Noon — Peace Officers Memorial Day Service, West Front of the Capitol
3:30 p.m. — FOP Wreathlaying Ceremony at the Memorial **
** The uniform for these solemn ceremonies will be Class A Winter.
For more information. contact USPP Captain Kevin Hay at 202-345-7084 or SAC Pat Buccello at 202-513-7131.
[Submitted by Pat Buccello, Special Agent in Charge, Investigations Branch]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Midwest Region
A Life Well Lived: Doug Keller 1964-2005
Pea Ridge National Military Park lost a valuable member of its staff with the death of park historian Doug Keller. Doug died suddenly in his sleep Sunday, April 24th. As his death was unexpected, the park is in quite a state of shock.
While Doug was thrown many curve balls at birth and in life and may have been short in stature, he cast a giant shadow and was well respected in the Civil War and historian communities. Originally, a native of Colorado, Doug cut his NPS teeth at what is now Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. After five summers on the high plains of Montana, Doug got his permanent status and returned to Colorado as a museum technician at Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site in 1988 and eventually working his way east in 1991 to Arkansas and Pea Ridge NMP.
Doug became the master of the Pea Ridge story and was a much sought after commodity. People from across the United States and from around the world came to Doug whenever a question about this important battle arose. He was instrumental in all minor and major projects the park did in his tenure and was the leading force behind the return of General Samuel Curtis's coats to the battlefield. He will be fondly remembered for his wicked sense of humor, his passion for knowledge, his love of Las Vegas, his generosity, and his friendship.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to help finish what Doug started and help the Pea Ridge National Military Park Foundation complete the purchase of the Curtis coats.
Pea Ridge National Military Park Foundation
PO Box 700
Pea Ridge, AR 72751
A memorial service for Doug is scheduled for Thursday at Pea Ridge NMP at 10 a.m. and all those that Doug touched are invited to attend. For more information, please contact the chief ranger's office at 479-451-8122 x 226
[Submitted by Steve Black , Steve_Black@nps.gov, 479-451-8122 x 226 ]
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (CA)
Remembering Chuck Hughes
Byron 'Chuck' Hughes, 50, of Simi Valley, California, died suddenly on March 30th.
Chuck was a trails coordinator on the road and trails staff at Santa Monica Mountains NRA, serving there for his entire career of over 20 years. Since the park is just 26 years old, Chuck was involved with planning and implementing the park's trails management program almost from its beginning. He took great pride in working on the park's almost completed Backbone Trail, which runs more than 70 miles along the spine of the Santa Monicas. The most recently completed sections proved to be some of the most difficult to engineer, yet were in some of the most beautiful landscape, and Chuck never lost his appreciation for it. When the trails foreman would visit the various construction sites from the maintenance headquarters, Chuck would look at him, smile, and say, "welcome to my office!"
Chuck was also a positive mentoring influence on the staff. He often took new roads and trails employees and seasonal staff under his wing, sharing his experience and knowledge. A difficult and grueling job, Chuck would remind them that they were building a trail that would be enjoyed for at least a hundred years, instilling in them an amazing pride and work ethic.
Chuck was a native Californian. He is survived by his wife, Marsha; his daughter, Elisa; his parents, Burton and Josephine 'Joy'; his sisters Lucinda and Kathleen; and his brother, Pastor Burton L. Hughes. Services were held on Tuesday, April 5th, in Simi Valley; Chuck's brother officiated.
[Submitted by Marty O'Toole, marty_o'toole@nps.gov, 805-370-2364]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found by clicking here. 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 Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.