NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
INCIDENTS
Grand Canyon NP
Searchers Find Body Of Missing Hiker
A body, presumptively identified as that of 69-year-old R.W., was found yesterday by park search and rescue personnel in the Hermit Basin area of the park. On Tuesday, May 26th, rangers received a report that R.W. was overdue from a Memorial Day weekend trip that included hiking in Grand Canyon. On Wednesday, after finding R.W.'s vehicle on the South Rim, rangers began searching a broad area - from Hermit Basin to the South Kaibab area - that could easily be accessed on foot or via shuttle from the point where R.W.'s vehicle was found. On Friday, rangers were able to narrow their search to the Hermit Basin area based on information received after issuing a public request for assistance to anyone who had hiked in the park's backcountry during the Memorial Day weekend. On Monday, search personnel were once again in the Hermit Basin, using a spotting scope to check difficult to access scree slopes and cliff areas. Based on information received from the spotters, search crews yesterday investigated an area a quarter mile south of Santa Maria springs and found R.W.'s body about 200 feet below the Hermit Trail. His remains were transported by helicopter to the South Rim helibase, where they were transferred to the Coconino County medical examiner. [Shannan Marcak, Public Affairs Specialist]
Death Valley NP
Body Found In Tuber Canyon
On the afternoon of May 29th, rangers received a report of a 2008 Toyota sedan that had been parked and unattended for several days at Wildrose Wash near the entrance to Tuber Canyon, a remote area on the west side of the park. Ranger Ryan Gallagher responded and conducted a hasty search of high probability areas near the car, but without success. Further investigation showed that the Toyota was a long-term rental that had been rented to a 65-year-old man from Santa Ana, California. The car was not overdue and there were no missing persons reports in NCIC or CLETS issued on the missing man. Ranger-pilot Steve Mazur flew the area in the park's Cessna 182, with district ranger Ed Derobertis acting as an observer. They searched until dark without locating the missing man. The search resumed the next morning. Personnel began working the search area at first light, and a California Highway Patrol helicopter and crew were scheduled to join them shortly thereafter if needed. One of the search teams soon found a body in Tuber Canyon about a quarter mile from the spot where the Toyota was parked. The Inyo County Sheriffs Office was notified and assumed control of the case. Investigators believe that the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the neck, but the case remains open pending investigation by the Inyo County Coroner's Office. [Brent Pennington, Chief Ranger]
Yellowstone NP
Man Sentenced On Felony Weapons Possession Charge
On May 15th, S.H., 52, was sentenced in a Wyoming district court to 28 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to a charge of being a prohibited possessor of a firearm (18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1)). In August, 2004, S.H. was arrested by Yellowstone rangers for DUI and driving with a suspended license. A Ruger .22 rifle was discovered by the rangers during the subsequent inventory of S.H.'s impounded vehicle. Through interviews and a review of S.H.'s criminal history, special agent Dan Kirschner discovered that S.H. obtained the rifle by conspiring with a friend to conduct a “straw purchase” and that S.H. had also been convicted on a felony charge of eluding officers in Colorado. Special agent Bruce Applin served a search warrant at S.H.'s residence in Bozeman and discovered additional evidence of gun and ammunition ownership. A subsequent grand jury indictment and arrest warrant led to S.H.'s arrest last September by federal marshals and an NPS agent. He remained in custody pending the plea agreement and sentencing. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS:
Servicewide - Secretary Salazar yesterday announced that the National Park Service will offer three fee-free weekends this summer to encourage Americans seeking affordable vacations to visit the parks.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7769" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7769
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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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