NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Thursday, June 18, 2009
INCIDENTS
Kings Mountain NMP
Tornado Touches Down In Park
A tornado passed through the park on Tuesday evening, causing damage but no injuries. The tornado touched down in several locations in the park and the adjoining Kings Mountain State Park, where both of their group camps were occupied with youths. The wind and rain were accompanied by golf ball to baseball-sized hail, which caused significant damage to trees and park vehicles. Rangers and fire staff worked well into the evening to clear downed trees on the main park drive. Clean-up efforts continued yesterday and will proceed over the next several days. All structures have been accessed ,with only one noted as having sustained any damage. The park regained power at 6 p.m. yesterday evening. All employees are accounted for and appear to have weathered the storm with only minor damage to personal property. [Chris Revels, Chief Ranger]
Yellowstone NP
Search Underway For Body Of Suicide Victim
Park staff are searching for the body of a Utah man who apparently committed suicide by jumping off the edge of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone on Tuesday afternoon. The 20-year-old man was last seen around 1:50 p.m. on the observation platform at the brink of the Lower Falls along the north rim of the canyon. Witnesses said that he jumped over the railing into the Yellowstone River, then went down over the 308-foot-high Lower Falls. A search of the river was begun immediately, using both observers on the ground and the park helicopter. The search and recovery effort continued on Wednesday. The man's name is being withheld pending notification of family members. The incident remains under investigation. The latest stream flow reading upstream of the falls at the outlet of Yellowstone Lake recorded over 44,500 gallons of water per second flowing into the Yellowstone River. [Public Affairs]
Natchez Trace Parkway
Wanted Felon Arrested In Park Campground
On the afternoon of June 11th, a Mississippi Bureau of Investigations agent notified rangers that a wanted felon might be camping in the Rocky Springs campground at milepost 55 in Claiborne County, Mississippi. The suspect, A.T., was wanted for armed robbery and theft of a motor vehicle in nearby Lawrence County. Ranger Heath Jarratt responded, confirmed A.T.'s presence, then evacuated nearby campers for their safety. Ranger Tim Lacy, the MBI agent, and a Lawrence County Sheriff's Department investigator surrounded the camp site and arrested A.T. without incident. A fixed blade hunting knife and five unused syringes were found in his tent. [Allen Etheridge, Chief Ranger]
Hot Springs NP
Two Women Arrested On Methamphetamine Possession Charges
Rangers Jeff Johnson and Dennis Stock attempted to pull over a Chevy Impala with expired plates on Gorge Road on the morning of June 12th, but the driver declined to stop and a chase ensued. The rangers followed the car to a house on Spring Valley Street, where the two women inside attempted to flee into a house that was not their residence. The rangers stopped and arrested them before they were able to do so. A records check on the driver revealed that she had a no bond “dangerous drug” warrant out against her, and the passenger had a no bond “absconder status” warrant on her. During an inventory of the car, the rangers found a brown paper bag containing materials consistent with methamphetamine production. The local drug task force was called in. Task force officers found and confiscated a methamphetamine pill soak, precursors and finished products, marijuana, a large quantity of ephedrine tablets, and narcotics paraphernalia. The women were charged in state court with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, a felony. [Dennis Stock, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS.
Great Smoky Mountains NP - The park held a three-day series of events to commemorate the 75th anniversary of its enabling legislation. Almost 9,000 people attended one or more of the events, which included a Knoxville Symphony Concert, a park open house, and the ground-breaking for a new partner-funded visitor center.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7833" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7833
Fire and Aviation Management - The new 2009 pay plan for emergency workers hired under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Public Law 111-5) is now available online.
HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7832" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=7832
Office of Public Affairs - Christopher Jarvi has received the American Recreation Coalition's Legends Award for his efforts to advance the NPS's philanthropic efforts, policy, and service to the public. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7824" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7824
Northeast Region - Tom Dyer has been selected as the new division chief for the region's cultural resource programs. He succeeds Robert Page, who remains chief of the Olmsted Center for Cultural Landscapes. Tom assumed his new duties on May 24th. Photo.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2385" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2385
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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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