NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, October 24, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Cape Hatteras NS
Arson Suspected In Burning Of Campground Entrance Booth
During the early morning hours of Thursday, October 23rd, the entrance fee booth for the Cape Point campground caught fire and burned to the ground. The campground was closed for the winter season and no injuries resulted. The permanent structure was declared a total loss. Included in the loss was a ticket sale vending machine worth upwards of $20,000. At around 3:50 am, an early morning fisherman traveling on a nearby park road saw a glow in the night. As he drove closer, he saw that a structure was on fire and placed a 911 call to county dispatch. By the time firefighters arrived on scene, the building was fully engulfed in fire. An investigation has been begun by NPS law enforcement rangers and the Dare County Fire Marshall's Office. Burn patterns strongly suggest that the fire was deliberately set, but this has not yet been confirmed. [John McCutcheon, Hatteras District Ranger]
Grand Canyon NP
Body Recovered From Below South Rim
On October 22nd, park dispatch was notified of an abandoned duffle bag that had been turned in at the Yavapai Observation Station. Responding rangers were shown where the duffle bag was found. During the subsequent search of the area, they spotted what appeared to be a body about 300 feet below the rim. An observer in the park helicopter confirmed their observation. Park staff hiked down to the Tonto Plateau and crossed over to the body's location below and just east of Yavapai Point. When they arrived there, they found the body of a man subsequently identified as R.J., 58, of Chicago, Illinois. An investigation into his death is underway. [Shannan Marcak, Public Affairs Specialist]
OTHER NEWS
Among the stories in today's edition are the following:
Zion NP - Zion has created a program to sell affordable, reusable bottles while providing “Zion Spring Water” filling stations that visitors can use free of charge at three primary locations.
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by the NPS and its partners across the nation. Added to today's listing are three commercial services program monthly call-in chats (one each in October, November and December).
Events Calendar - Today's listing of upcoming NPS and NPS-related events across the nation. Added to the listing this week - additional information on the event celebrating the 150th anniversary of Fire Island's lighthouse and a Centennial partnership celebration at Vicksburg.
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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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