NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Blue Ridge Parkway
Significant Galax Poaching Convictions
On Saturday, February 16th, rangers arrested several people engaged in poaching galax along the parkway. The section of the parkway between its junction with NC State Highway 80 and Mt. Mitchell State Park has historically been an area heavily impacted by commercial galax poachers. Special operations to detect, track and apprehend those involved in this activity have been on-going, conducted cooperatively with the Forest Service since the poaching has been occurring on both agencies' lands. A total of ten people were arrested, with several more seen but eluding contact. Over 50,000 galax plants were seized. The ten appeared before a federal magistrate in Asheville between February 19th and 26th. Two were juveniles and were cited and released. Five of the remaining eight pled guilty; each was sentenced to 30 days in jail, required to pay a stiff fine, and banned from federal lands for two years. Two more requested a continuance and will be heard in April, and one was sentenced to six months in jail for conspiracy. Galax, once gathered, is sold to nearby galax warehouses, where leaves are in turn sold to local florists for flower arrangements and also exported for the same purpose (galax brings anywhere from a penny to five cents a leaf). Park and USFS lands have been severely impacted by these poachers, to the point where significant, healthy galax populations are diminishing or have completely disappeared. The majority of those cited or arrested are undocumented Hispanic immigrants who gather the plant as a means to gain immediate employment and income. Although permits to collect galax may be issued through the Forest Service during particular months, investigation has revealed that most of those contacted with a permit are in violation by either being on NPS lands or not in compliance with the conditions of the permit. Galax poachers are beginning to move north along the parkway due to the diminishing take in the highly impacted area, high officer presence and the severe penalties levied. The support of federal magistrates and U.S. attorneys in the Western District of North Carolina has made a definite impact. Investigations are continuing, as galax poaching is highly organized and continuing to increase. Rangers and officers from the USFS, Yancey and Buncombe County Sheriff's Offices, and Mt. Mitchell State Park officers assisted with the apprehension, investigation and transportation. [Tim Francis, Pisgah District Ranger]
NOTE: The web edition has a good photo of a poacher at work. Go to HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Incidents& ;id=3754" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type= Incidents&id=3754
Rocky Mountain NP
Seriously Injured Climber Rescued
On Sunday, March 2nd, a 32-year-old climber fell on The Squid, a popular ice climb above Emerald Lake. She fell approximately 35 feet and landed on a rock shelf, suffering serious injuries to her pelvis and lower leg. Her climbing partners were able to lower her to the ground and then contacted park dispatch by cell phone. Park employees responded, provided medical care, then lowered her approximately 120 meters down a very steep snow slope using a belay. They then skied her out in a toboggan approximately two miles to an ambulance waiting at the Bear Lake trailhead. She was taken to Estes Park Medical Center, then transported by ambulance to Boulder Community Hospital. Due to the nature of her injuries and the location of this accident, this was likely a life saving rescue. [Kyle Patterson, Public Information Officer]
Kennesaw Mountain NBP
Pedestrian Struck And Injured At Park VC
A pedestrian was struck and injured while crossing Stilesboro Road in front of the park's visitor center on the evening of March 6th. The chief ranger responded along with Cobb County PD and Marietta FD units. Antonio Gonzalez of Kennesaw, Georgia, was taken by ambulance to Kennestone Hospital with multiple aches and pains in his head, neck, back and arms. The driver of the vehicle, Concepcion Garcia of Dallas, Georgia, was issued a citation for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a walkway. Gonzalez was treated and released later that night; fortunately, he suffered no broken bones or critical injuries. The incident is being investigated by rangers and Cobb County Police. [L.R. Morris, Chief Ranger]
Baltimore Washington Parkway
Drug Distributor Arrested, Marijuana Seized
Officers Chester West and David Rodriquez were notified by a local police agency on March 10th of a vehicle traveling on the Baltimore-Washington Parkway that was suspected of carrying illegal narcotics. The vehicle was located near Route 197. After observing the driver commit a traffic infraction, the officers pulled him over. A K-9 officer responded to the scene and the dog detected narcotics near the trunk. A search of the trunk led to the discovery of a bucket containing a bag of suspected marijuana. The driver was arrested on charges of possessing marijuana with the intent to distribute. Approximately 16 pounds of marijuana were recovered with an estimated street value of over $71,000. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Saguaro NP - On March 1st, Saguaro National Park celebrated its 75th anniversary. The event highlighted not only the park's history, but many of the Service's current children's initiatives, including Junior Rangers and the Teacher to Ranger to Teacher program.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6294" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6294
Park Facility Management Division - Nominations are being solicited for the 2008 NPS Environmental Achievement Awards. They are due by April 25th.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6274" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=6274
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).
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