NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, August 8, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Catoctin Mountain Park
Lost Hiker Found After Major Interagency Search
Missing hiker B.F., 81 of Carroll Valley, Pennsylvania, was found by a Mid-Atlantic Search and Rescue air scent dog team at approximately midnight on August 6th in Owens Creek near Route 550 east of Thurmont, Maryland. Despite being lost for 34 hours and suffering minor mobility impairments, B.F. was conscious and responsive at the time she was located about a quarter mile from her last known location. She was transported to Frederick Memorial Hospital, where she is in stable condition. Over 100 searchers from Catoctin Mountain Park and six other national parks, five volunteer SAR organizations, and teams from Maryland State Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police and Maryland State Park Service were committed during the 34-hour-long search for B.F. Search efforts were hampered by extremely steep and rocky terrain with dense vegetation. [Brett Spaulding, Supervisory Park Ranger]
Indiana Dunes NL
Pursuit Culminates In Two Arrests, Warrant Issuance
Ranger Rich Eshenaur was nearly hit head-on by a motorist speeding through the park on the afternoon of August 3rd. A short pursuit ensued that ended when the driver lost control of his vehicle and crashed into the woods. When Eshenaur arrived at the crash scene, he saw a passenger in the vehicle climbing out the driver's window. The passenger physically resisted arrest, but was safely taken into custody after Eshenaur employed his taser. After seeing the taser used on his friend, the other passenger in the vehicle placed his hands on the headliner and said that he would be cooperative. Prior to Eshenaur's arrival, the driver of the vehicle fled into the surrounding woods. A multi-agency search was conducted, but he was not found. The first passenger was charged with resisting law enforcement and being a minor in possession of alcohol. A warrant was issued for the driver. [Mike Bremer, Chief Ranger]
Gateway NRA
Fisherman Saved From Near Drowning
A 37-year-old fisherman with a history of diabetes collapsed in the surf at the isolated and unguarded Area F beach in the park's Sandy Hook Unit on Saturday, August 2nd. An unidentified visitor and a recently-retired police officer rescued him from the surf, checked for vitals, and performed CPR on him for approximately five minutes until pulse and breathing returned. The man also sustained a significant cut to his left arm when he passed out; once revived, his rescuers provided first aid to stop the bleeding. NPS lifeguards, EMTs and rangers responded to a 911 call reporting the incident. The EMT's took over patient care. He was then taken to Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, where he's expected to make a full recovery thanks to the efforts of his rescuers and park lifeguards and EMTs. [Brian Guiney, Park Ranger]
Yellowstone NP
Felony Firearm Conviction
On July 9th, C.P. was sentenced in federal district court following his conviction for being a fugitive in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 153 days in federal custody, followed by five months of home confinement and the balance of 24 months of supervised release. A second count of entering a vehicle with intent to commit burglary was dismissed pursuant to a plea agreement. On August 26, 2007, rangers arrested C.P. for public intoxication and suspected auto burglary (for a copy of the original report, click on the link below). The arrest led to the discovery of evidence of a burglary of Observation Peak cabin and the service of two search warrants. C.P. was then convicted in magistrate's court and sentenced to 60 days in jail. The on-going investigation subsequently revealed that C.P. had a firearm and ammunition in his possession within the park while an active fugitive from another jurisdiction. A felony arrest warrant was then posted and a manhunt conducted for C.P., who was eventually arrested by US marshals in New Mexico. In March, C.P. filed a motion to suppress the evidence in the firearms case, which was denied after a hearing in federal district court. Ranger Justin Ivary, then detailed into a special agent's position, was the case agent. The investigation and eventual convictions involved several hundred hours of work on the part of Yellowstone rangers and special agents, deputy US marshals, and the United States' Attorney's Offices in Wyoming and New Mexico. [Brian Smith, Special Agent in Charge]
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Incidents&id=3725" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Incidents&id=3725
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:
Gateway NRA - Seeking a cost-effective solution to both managing invasives and grooming historic batteries at Fort Tompkins, the park hit on a solution - detail some goats to the unit. These seasonals have proven to be effective, inexpensive, photogenic, and a hit with visitors.
Natural Resource Program Center - “Planning Ahead" was the theme of the Natural Resource Program Center's (NRPC) July 8th convocation. Superintendents, resource managers and over 200 members of the NRPC met to collaborate on ways to integrate science into park decision making and management actions.
Delaware Water Gap NRA - In conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the Student Conservation Association and in the spirit of enduring partnership, superintendent John Donahue was recently honored by the SCA for his active conservation leadership.
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by both the National Park Service and its partners across the nation. Added today are two training courses - one on situational leadership and the other an introduction to resource stewardship - that will be held in tandem with this year's Ranger Rendezvous, park medic training in California, and three structural firefighting courses at Glen Canyon. Deleted is an ICS command and general staff course that was set for August.
Events Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. This week's listing includes the annual Rendezvous of the Association of National Park Rangers in Santa Fe in December.
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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).
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