NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, February 19, 2009

INCIDENTS

Hovenweep NM

Visitor Center Burglarized

On the night of Saturday, February 14th, a burglary occurred at the park's visitor center. A person or persons gained access to the building by prying open the public entrance to the visitor center, then unsuccessfully attempted to breech a secured door between the visitor center lobby and rear offices. Losses included a computer monitor and keyboard, a CD player and speakers, and cooperating association sales items. No money was taken, though, and the intruders were unsuccessful in their attempt to pry a plasma screen from the auditorium wall. In the staff parking lot, the windows of a GSA SUV were smashed, though the in-car radio was still in place and nothing but siphoned gasoline appears to have been taken. San Juan County and NPS law enforcement rangers investigated the crime scene. There are no suspects at present. There's been an increase in crime in the county lately. The nearby historic Hatch Trading Post was recently robbed at gunpoint. When the park's protection ranger is absent, response time to Hovenweep NM is over one hour, since no other law enforcement officers reside in this isolated portion of the county. [Scott Ryan, Chief Ranger]

Baltimore-Washington Parkway

Man Killed In Parkway Ramp Accident

J.L., 21, of Suitland, Maryland, was killed in a single vehicle accident on the ramp from the parkway to Route 50 just before 2 a.m. on February 17th. J.L.'s Chrysler Sebring was heading west when it hit a light pole, traveled a short distance, then went over a low stone wall. Speed was a likely factor in causing the accident. [Sergeant Robert Lachance, Public Information Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS, found at HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index . They can also be read at HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest :

Denali NP&P - The winter edition of NPCA's quarterly magazine has a cover story in which a writer reports on two weeks he spent with the park's search and rescue team.

Risk Management Division - The two highest awards bestowed by the National Park Service for outstanding public and employee safety achievement - the Andrew Clark Hecht Public Safety Achievement Award and the Director's Safety and Health Achievement Award - have been presented to Mount Rainier and Glacier Bay National Parks.

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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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