NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
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INCIDENTS
Voyageurs NP
Snowmobiler Killed In Accident
C.W., 28, of International Falls, Minnesota, suffered fatal injuries when his snowmobile went off an established trail and hit a tree around 11 p.m. on Saturday, January 24th. C.W. had left a resort on Kabetogama Lake with four other friends on snowmobiles. While traveling an overland trail through the park from the resort to Rainy Lake, he evidently failed to negotiate a turn and hit the tree. The impact caused extensive damage to his snowmobile and knocked off his helmet. C.W. landed in the snow 15 feet from the point of impact. One of the other snowmobilers made a cell phone call to county dispatch and reported that CPR was in progress. The response by park staff, a border patrol officer and county deputies occurred in minus 20 degree temperatures and was hampered by extensive slush en route to the scene. Responding deputies had to abandon rescue equipment that became stuck in slush off trail and requested an additional rescue sled from park staff. C.W. was found to be dead at the scene. His body was transported to a waiting ambulance by park staff. An autopsy is planned, as alcohol may have been a contributing factor. The trail was well marked with cautionary signs at the time and was in excellent condition due to recent grooming. [Jim Hummel, Chief Ranger]
Grand Teton NP
Conviction And Sentencing In Assault On Visitor
On December 11th, M.S., a Wyoming resident, was sentenced in federal court following a guilty plea to a charge of felony assault resulting in serious bodily injury and sentenced to 18 months in jail, three years of supervised probation, and nearly $10,000 in restitution. The conviction stems from an assault that occurred in the park on July 20, 2007. On that date, rangers received and responded to a report of an altercation on the Moose-Wilson Road near the park's south boundary. The Moose-Wilson Road, a winding, scenic secondary road, requires slow speeds due to narrow lanes and a gravel surface and because it is a known wildlife viewing corridor. Travel along the road can be slow and challenging at different times of the year because of fall foliage and/or “wildlife jams.” The altercation occurred due to an instance of road rage in which M.S. assaulted the driver of a slower-moving vehicle whose occupants were looking for wildlife and had stopped because of a “moose jam.” M.S. punched the driver to the ground and kicked him in the head while he was unconscious, then fled. Rangers employed information provided by witnesses and surveillance evidence to develop information that eventually led to photographic lineups which were sent to various witnesses throughout the country. These in turn led to M.S.'s identification. Although initially denying any involvement and refusing to cooperate with the investigating ranger and assistant U.S. attorney, M.S. was eventually indicted by a federal grand jury in March of 2008. M.S. was arrested on a federal warrant in the town of Jackson without incident. The successful investigation and prosecution was due to the combined efforts of the involved park rangers, led by Gros Ventre subdistrict ranger Kevin Albright, and the great assistance and efforts of assistant U.S. attorney Jason Conder. [Karen Frauson, South District Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
Office of Public Affairs - The National Park Service's web site on this month's presidential inauguration has been expanded to include a short video that shows what went on behind the scenes on the day of the event.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7302" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7302
Statue of Liberty NM - Secretary Salazar traveled to New York City last Friday to talk about the issue of reopening the crown of the Statue of Liberty to the public and to look at the rehabilitation work being done on the south side of Ellis Island.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7303" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7303
Department of the Interior - David J. Hayes, one of the nation's foremost natural resource experts, has been nominated by President Obama as the next deputy secretary of the Department of the Interior.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2230" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2230
Intermountain Region - Delpha Maunders will be retiring from Intermountain Region's Santa Fe office on February 3rd. She is leaving the ranger activities specialist position to retire after over 30 years of federal service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2229" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2229
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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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