NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

INCIDENTS

Canyonlands NP

Remains Of Missing Professor Found

The remains of a biology professor who came to the park last spring to commit suicide were found by a hiker in a park canyon on March 18th. J.W., 65, who taught at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, entered the park last May with a permit to be there from May 10th to May 15th. He was last seen when a private shuttle service dropped him at his backpacking starting point in the Needles area. A search was begun when he failed to report back to anyone in Minnesota, which was his practice. No sign of him was found. Meanwhile, searchers learned that he'd sent a letter to his relatives just before arriving at the park saying that he'd headed for “a remote wilderness where I can return my body and soul to nature,” adding that there was no reason for anyone to look for him - “just leave me where I am." Evidence at the scene indicated that he'd committed suicide by shooting himself. [Minneapolis Star-Tribune]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:

Brown vs. Board of Education NHS - On March 31st, the anniversary of the birthday of César Chávez, a new documentary film, Viva La Causa!, was screened at the park. The film, produced by the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance Project, depicts the 1960's struggle against exploitation and abuse that was experienced by agricultural workers.

HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7511" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7511

Public Health - A Servicewide, web-based survey on zoonotic diseases and the use of personal protective equipment in the workplace is now underway. All wildlife biologists, biological technicians, and other resource management staff who handle and/or manage wildlife are eligible to complete the survey.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7526" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7526

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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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