NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, April 7, 2008
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NOTICE
Due to a significant power outage in Washington, DC, that knocked out NPS internal communications from early last Friday until this morning, readers were not able to access that day's editions of either the Morning Report or InsideNPS. Those stories - plus others - are therefore being re-disseminated today.
INCIDENTS
Agate Fossil Beds NM/Hubbell Trading Post NHS
Man Sentenced For Thefts From Two Parks
In August, 2007, M.G., 51, and his brother Gary M.G., 45, were indicted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado for transporting items stolen from Hubbell Trading Post in Arizona and Agate Fossil Beds in Nebraska to the state of Colorado. They were also charged with aiding, abetting, counseling, inducing and procuring each other's participation in these offenses. The charges stemmed from thefts of more than $200,000 worth of Navajo rugs and other Native American artifacts from the two parks. In early January, Gary M.G. pled guilty to the charges in federal court. He also pled guilty to possession of marijuana. On April 1st, M.G. was sentenced to 29 months in federal prison and 29 months for possession of more than eight ounces of marijuana. The two terms will be served concurrently. [News report, Journal-Advocate, Sterling, Colorado]
Delaware Water Gap NRA
Search Underway For Two Missing Fishermen
On Thursday, April 3rd, three men - R.P., 58, T.P., 57, and R.S., 62, all from New Jersey - were fishing in a boat on the Delaware River near the Dingman's Bridge when their anchor became snagged. The men tried to free it, but ended up capsizing the boat instead. Although they had life jackets with them in the boat, as required by law, they were not wearing them. Panella was caught underneath, so R.P. and R.S. tried to maneuver the boat to the New Jersey shore. R.P. finally made it to land and was able to flag down a passing motorist. They saw R.S. still with the boat and tried to reach him, but were unsuccessful. A 911 call was made, prompting an immediate response by the park and local fire and rescue organizations. The water was about 40 degrees at the time and running high and fast. Search and rescue crews found the boat about four miles south of the bridge, but neither T.P. nor R.S. was with it. A full-scale search was begun, involving the National Park Service, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Game Commission, New Jersey State Police and other organizations. Searchers scoured 24 miles of the river from the bridge south to Arrow Island, employing boats, dog teams and a helicopter, but found no sign of the men. Efforts are continuing. [Deb Nordeen, Public Affairs Officer, and news sources]
Cape Cod NS
Suicide At Newcombe Hollow Beach
On the afternoon of April 1st, Wellfleet PD notified rangers that they'd received several 911 calls reporting an apparent suicide at Newcombe Hollow Beach, a town beach located within park boundaries. Local police and EMS units were first on scene and found a middle-aged man on the beach immediately in front of the parking area with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. He was transported by EMS and died en route. Investigators determined that the man was a local Wellfleet resident and that he'd shot himself in the head. A .45 caliber Colt 1911 was found at the scene. Although many visitors use the parking lot to access an old shipwreck located just south of the lot, the suicide was apparently not witnessed. Rangers assisted Massachusetts State Police troopers and Wellfleet PD officers with the investigation and evidence collection. A note was found at the man's Wellfleet residence. The state police are handling the investigation. [Bob Grant, District Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS:
Weir Farm NHS - The park and the Weir Farm Art Center are celebrating this year's theme for Women's History Month - Women's Art: Women's Vision - with a new exhibition of still life paintings and woodblock prints by Dorothy Weir Young.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6354" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6354
Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services - The division has announced the establishment of a new partnership with BAE Systems, a major government contractor and manufacturer of body armor.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6353" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6353
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the NPS and its partners across the nation. Today's additions include a change in closing date for the previously listed ICS command and general staff training course at NCTC and a course on funding strategies for nonprofit partners.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=775
Events Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. Added this week are a conference in September on the 20th anniversary of the 1988 fires in Yellowstone and the northern Rockies (and a call for papers for same) and a Native American art auction at Hubbell Trading Post in May.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=776" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=776
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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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