NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, July 17, 2009
INCIDENT
Grand Canyon NP
Investigation Underway Into Report Of Possible Abduction
Rangers are investigating the possible abduction of a woman from a residential area within the park. At approximately 7:50 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15th, park dispatch received a report of a woman being pushed into the trunk of a white passenger car. The incident was reported to have occurred in the vicinity of the Mohave Apartments, a residential area in Grand Canyon Village that is not frequented by park visitors. Rangers immediately set up a containment area, establishing checkpoints at all of the major access and egress points to the village, and canvassed the area where the abduction was reported to have occurred. Additionally, a BOLO (a “be on the look out” message) was distributed to local law enforcement agencies and rangers began searching for the vehicle in Grand Canyon Village and in the community of Tusayan immediately outside the nearest entrance station. Although rangers searched throughout the night, the vehicle was not located. Investigators are asking anybody who believes they might have information about this incident to call 928-638-7805. Reports can be made anonymously if that is the caller's preference. [Shannan Marcak, Public Affairs Specialist}
Katmai NP&P
Park Archeologists Shoot Attacking Brown Bear
Two park archeologists were forced to kill a brown bear on July 13th after it attacked them. The archeologists had been camping and working on an offshore Island for several days when a lone bear appeared at their campsite. The bear showed continued aggressive behavior towards both members of the crew and was not easily chased away from their campsite. Various means were employed to dissuade the bear from approaching, including loud noises, visual displays and at one point pepper spray. At no time did the bear obtain food or other items from the campsite. On the morning of July 13th, the bear made an unprovoked charge at one of the archeologists while the camp was being dismantled for departure. Both archeologists fired their weapons to stop the charge, resulting in the bear's death. The investigation remains open while additional information is collected. There were no injuries to either of the archeologists. Samples have been collected from the animal and will be examined as part of the investigation. While this level of aggression towards people has been rare in the Katmai area, it should serve as a reminder to all visitors and staff that bears and other animals in the park are wild and exhibit unpredictable behavior. Adherence to existing food storage and viewing regulations are essential to the safety of both people and the wildlife around them. [Neal Labrie, Chief Ranger]
Lake Mead NRA
Rangers And Firefighters Suppress Bridge Blaze
Rangers and wildland firefighters responded to a fire at the Hoover Dam bypass project on Sunday, July 12th. The fire was reported to the Lake Mead Interagency Dispatch Center at about 9:40 a.m. Bureau of Reclamation police officers from Hoover Dam were first on scene and reported that there were flames at the base of the bridge pier on the Nevada side. Rangers and firefighters faced steep grades and 70 to 100 foot cliff drops getting down to the fire. A report that explosives might be in the area delayed the initial attack on the fire. A helicopter from Las Vegas Metro PD was able to check the area for explosives; none were sighted. The flames were extinguished by noon, and no injuries were reported. The Colorado River Bridge is part of the $234 million Hoover Dam bypass project. When completed, it will have a nearly 2000-foot road deck on 1,060-foot twin-rib concrete archs that will span the Colorado River 900 feet above the water just down river from Hoover Dam. [Andrew S. Muñoz, Public Affairs Officer]
Denali NP&P
Conviction For Illegal Commercial Operations
In 2006, the park received several tips that D.R.L., 53, of Talkeetna was conducting glacier landing flight instruction on several glaciers within the park through his business, Alaska Floats and Skis. D.R.L. did not have a permit or authorization to conduct such business activity. He was advised both verbally and by letter to cease his activities in the park, but failed to do so. An undercover operation was accordingly planned. In 2007, ranger/pilot Pete Christian from Gates of the Arctic worked online to sign up for D.R.L.'s three-day course offering. Over two days in March, D.R.L. flew a total of 5.1 hours with Christian and made about 20 landings, approximately ten of which were on glaciers in the park. A search warrant for business records was subsequently executed at his Talkeetna residence. Special agent Beth Shott assisted Denali rangers with the seizure of computer records and subsequent forensic analysis. On July 7th, D.R.L. pled guilty in federal court in Anchorage to one count under 36 CFR 5.3. Pursuant to a plea agreement, he was fined $5,000, placed on supervised probation for three years, and banned from flying within the boundary of the park for three years. The magistrate judge ordered that the fine be paid into the park's wildlife protection fund. The park received superb support from AUSA Steven Skrocki, who prosecuted the case. The case agent was lead mountaineering ranger John Leonard. [Peter D. Armington, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS.
Pea Ridge NMP - Eight young Cherokee cyclists retracing the 1838-1839 northern route of the Trail of Tears passed through the park on July 13th. The main goal of the 900-mile ride was to promote awareness of the removal of 16,000 Cherokees from their homes and their subsequent forced migration to Oklahoma.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7933" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7933
Public Affairs - The NPS has reached a historic agreement to develop a national museum dedicated to the American Revolution. The Service has signed a land-exchange agreement with the American Revolution Center to establish this museum at Independence National Historical Park.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=877" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PressReleases&id=877
Training Calendar - A listing of upcoming training courses offered by the NPS and its partners across the nation. New this week are three structural firefighting courses - a recertification course at Glacier in September, a driver/operator course at Glen Canyon in October, and a structural firefighter course at Grand Canyon in October-November.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1805" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Conferences&id=1805
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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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