NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

NOTICE

Death Valley NP

Korean Visitor Dies Of Heat Exposure

The park received notification that several people were down with heat-related issues at the Mesquite Dunes area near Stove Pipe Wells on the afternoon of Sunday, July 26th. Rangers were on scene within minutes and found six people at their vehicle who were all displaying symptoms indicating varying degrees of heat exposure. All were South Korean nationals. They told the rangers that another member of their party had collapsed in the dunes and had been dragged into what scant shade was available. Rangers John Fish, Jennifer Yeager, and maintenance worker Kit Oesterling, with assistance from one of the members of the party, located the woman under a creosote bush and determined that she had expired. She was identified as 52-year-old S.K. S.K. and other members of her group were from a Buddhist monastery; they were traveling together, but not as part of a commercial tour group. The ambient air temperature at the time was 123 degrees Fahrenheit, with ground temperatures approaching 140 degrees. The Inyo County Sheriffs Office and the Inyo County coroner were advised of the situation and responded. Group members were triaged and treated at the scene by rangers. Two of them showed symptoms of heat exposure, but refused further medical treatment. Communications proved to be a challenge because only a few members of the group were able to speak English and cultural protocols required them to communicate through a group elder who did not speak English. Next of kin and South Korean consulate notifications were made by the Inyo County Sheriffs Office with assistance from district ranger John Fish. Most of the rangers assigned to this mission had to be diverted to a vehicle fire at Towne Pass 13 miles west of the incident scene, leaving Fish and ranger Amber Nattrass to finish patient treatment, investigation and assist with the recovery of S.K.'s body. The Inyo County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency in this investigation. [Brent Pennington, Chief Ranger]

Rocky Mountain NP

Injured Hiker Evacuated From Longs Peak

On the morning of July 24th, a 64-year-old man from Estes Park fell approximately 10 feet in the “Trough” area of Longs Peak and suffered a head laceration, an ankle injury, numerous abrasions and back pain. A hiker reported this incident at noon to a park ranger who was on a backcountry patrol in the Boulderfield area of Longs Peak. The ranger reached the victim at 12:50 p.m. With assistance from the ranger, the man was able to get to the “Ledges,” which is at the base of the “Trough.” Another park ranger joined him and the first ranger at 5:00 p.m. The group made its way to the Agnes Vaille shelter, located at 13,150 feet. The man was then taken by litter to the Boulderfield area, picked up by a helicopter, and flown to a hospital. Recent photos of the “Trough” and the “Ledges” can be found on the park's website at:

HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_conditions.htm_" http://www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/road_conditions.htm. [Kyle Patterson, Public Affairs Officer]

Natchez Trace Parkway

Stolen Contractor Property Recovered

On the afternoon of July 23rd, rangers were notified of a theft from a construction site at Pigeon Roost, located near milepost 204 in Choctaw County, Mississippi. A project manager for Ellis Construction, a contractor working for the park, found that an excavator valued at $60,000 was missing from the site. A joint investigation was conducted by Tupelo and Ridgeland rangers, the Choctaw County Sheriff's Department, Attala County Sheriff's Department, and Mississippi Bureau of Investigation. Within three hours of notification, the property was located, a warrant was issued and served, and the stolen equipment recovered. At this time, the investigation continues and charges are pending. [Calvin T. Farmer, Supervisory Park Ranger]

Great Smoky Mountains NP

Motorcyclist Killed In Collision With RV

On July 17th, R.V., 73, of Chipley, Florida, was driving a motorcycle with a sidecar northbound on US 441 when he entered a right-hand curve. As he was negotiating the curve, the unoccupied sidecar started lifting up off the roadway. R.V. could not control it and his motorcycle crossed into the southbound lane of travel with the sidecar in the air. The motorcycle's windshield hit the front of a southbound recreational vehicle, causing R.V. to fall off. He was then hit by the RV. The motorcycle continued forward, ending up in the northbound lane of travel. R.V. was found to be dead on arrival. No other individuals were injured. Rangers had to close US 441 for almost two hours to investigate and clear the scene. Ranger Carmen Barnard is the case officer. [Tom Iandimarino, South District Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

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

Director's Office - Director designate Jon Jarvis testified at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources yesterday morning. The text of his opening statement is included along with a link to a video of the hearing.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7979" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7979

Maggie Walker NHS - Students from the College of William and Mary participating in the Maggie Walker Seminar in conjunction with the park recently found 31 boxes of her records in the attic of the St. Luke building. The contents of this extraordinary collection date from 1898 to 1935 and include an estimated 60,000 items.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7977" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=7977

Northeast Region - Nancy Woods has been selected as Northeast Region's chief of partnership development. She succeeds Tom Dyer, who was previously named chief of the region's cultural resource programs.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2423" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2423

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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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