NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, July 14, 2008
===============================================================================================================
INCIDENTS
Grand Teton NP
Former Concession Employee Sentenced For Assault, Malicious Mischief
A 39-year-old man who admitted to breaking into his ex-girlfriend's cabin, assaulting her and intentionally damaging her truck has been sentenced to more than two years in prison. A.C., who was an employee at Triangle X Ranch, a park concession operation, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to malicious mischief, a felony, and simple assault and trespass, both misdemeanors. The incident occurred in 2006, when A.C. was an employee at the ranch. Although the precipitating incidents occurred the night before the park was contacted, investigating rangers were able to piece together the string of circumstances from interviews with witnesses, the victim and A.C. Rangers were also able to secure evidence of criminal behavior that contributed to the guilty pleas. The primary investigating ranger, Jay Shields, now at Blue Ridge Parkway, acted on information received during follow-up interviews to determine that A.C. had deliberately severed the brake lines of his ex-girlfriend's vehicle and was able to prevent a potential motor vehicle accident. Shields' investigation resulted in the conviction. A.C. was sentenced to two years and one month for malicious mischief and to six months for simple assault, with the sentences to be served concurrently. A.C. also will serve three years of supervised probation once released and was ordered to pay $2,346 in restitution for the damage to his ex-girlfriend's vehicle. [Andy Fisher, Chief Ranger]
Grand Teton NP
Injured Climber Extricated From Middle Teton
On the Fourth of July, T.W., 24, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, tumbled approximately 150 feet and suffered a severe ankle injury while descending a snowfield on the Middle Teton. T.W. and his climbing partner, C.L., 24, of Wilson, Wyoming, were descending the South Couloir route - a rarely climbed couloir between the Southwest and Ellingwood couloirs - when the accident occurred. T.W. tumbled over several rock bands, injured his ankle when he hit a rock, and came to a stop above a cliff. C.L. placed an emergency cell phone call, which was transferred to park rangers at 12:30 p.m. Rangers began coordinating a rescue operation and requested the assistance of an interagency contract helicopter. Because the two climbers were unable to describe their exact position on the mountain, an initial reconnaissance flight was required to locate them. During this flight, rangers and the pilot determined that winds were too strong to allow for the insertion of rescue personnel to the climbers' location. Instead, six rangers and a helitack crew member were flown to a landing zone in the Garnet Canyon Meadows, then climbed to the injured man's location. Two rangers reached the climbers at 3:45 p.m., and another helicopter flight was then launched to determine if weather conditions had stabilized enough so that the pilot could perform a shorthaul evacuation. Since they proved to be acceptable, the helicopter lifted T.W. and an attending ranger from the mountain and transported him to a waiting ambulance. T.W. was wearing crampons and a helmet at the time of the fall; he was also carrying an ice axe. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer]
Golden Gate NRA
Body Found On Stinson Beach
On the evening of July 9th, several beachgoers reported finding a body at the water's edge at the northern end of Stinson Beach. Supervisory ranger Aline Forbes was monitoring Marin County Sheriff's Office radio traffic at the time; she notified the park communications office, then headed to the beach. Protection rangers and volunteer firefighters from the Stinson Beach Fire Department also responded and secured the area until the Marin County coroner and a Park Police detective arrived on scene. The body appeared to have been in the water for some time. Determination of the cause of death and the victim's identification are pending. [Kim Coast, Operations Supervisor]
OTHER NEWS
Other stories can be read on InsideNPS at one or the other of these two sites:
NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS readers - HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/
Please note that both publications carry a combined NIFC/NPS fire report. That is generally posted around 8 a.m. Eastern.
Among the stories in today's edition are the following:
WASO - On Friday, Secretary Kempthorne and Director Bomar both issued memoranda asking that all qualified personnel immediately be made available for fire assignments.
Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs - This year marks the 40th anniversary of the National Park Service's first “managed” lightning fire, which occurred in Sequoia-Kings Canyon in July of 1968.
Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service.
NPS Alumni - A celebration of the life on long-time NPS ranger Bob Haines has been set for Saturday, August 16th.
Fire and Aviation Management - Shad Sitz has been selected for a one-year detail position as the Service's national helicopter program manager, with duties that include aviation support, training, and safety oversight.
* * * * *
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found at the following web site:
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=3363
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).
--- ### ---