NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Thursday, August 6, 2009

NOTICE

World War II Valor in the Pacific NM

Former Interpretive Ranger Sentenced On Voyeurism Charge

Law enforcement rangers at WWII Valor in the Pacific National Monument - formerly the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial - have successfully investigated and prosecuted former interpretive ranger A.R. on a federal charge of video voyeurism. Visitors to the park saw A.R. using his personal cell phone to capture images taken underneath the skirt of a female visitor. They reported the “up skirting” incident to rangers, who intercepted A.R. and began an investigation. The federal crime of video voyeurism is used for those who use cameras or digital equipment to secretly invade another person's privacy. A.R. was sentenced to three years of federally supervised probation, community service, court fines and psychiatric evaluation. [David Stransky, Chief Ranger]

Yellowstone NP

Park Special Response Team Captures Fugitive

On July 22nd, the park received a be-on-the-lookout message (BOLO) for a registered sex offender who'd failed to surrender himself to authorities on a $300,00 warrant and was thought to be in the park. California detectives suspected that Robert Odenthal was on a pack trip in the park and that he had a child with him. The backcountry office found a permit for Odenthal and rangers quickly found his vehicle. The park's special response time began an overnight hike to his campsite, where they set up listening and observation posts and maintained them through the night. Odenthal was arrested by the team at daylight without incident and flown out of the backcountry by helicopter. The child was his son and was unharmed. The boy was transferred to child protective services and reunited with his mother. Odenthal waived extradition and was returned to California. [David Barland-Liles, Special Agent]

Badlands NP

Unexploded Military Ordnance Discovered

On the morning of Thursday, July 23rd, rangers learned of the discovery of unexploded military ordnance near the heavily-visited Fossil Exhibit Activity and Trail area along Norbeck table. The ordnance - a belt of unexploded 20 mm shells - was found by park paleontologists who were conducting surveys in the rugged formations east of the visitor use area. A military EOD team from Ellsworth AFB was contacted and came to the park. Team members inspected the shells, determined that they were too unstable to move, and exploded them on site. The detonation was heard at the park visitor center more than three miles away. It's believed that the rounds were dropped by a military aircraft during training exercises in the 1940's. [Mark Gorman, Chief Ranger]

Saguaro NP

Driver Killed When Corvette Hits Telephone Pole

A single-vehicle accident occurred on Old Spanish Trail less than a quarter mile south of the park's entrance - but partially within the park's boundary - just after 2 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, August 1st. It appears that the driver of a Chevy Corvette was heading down the road at a high rate of speed when he lost control and hit a metal power/telephone pole. The 59-year-old man died at the scene. A passenger was taken by ambulance to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. [Bob Love, Chief Ranger]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. The first story on the list is the lead story.

Grand Teton NP - The park recently launched a refurbished replica of Menor's Ferry on the Snake River and is offering naturalist-led free ferry rides across the river between Bill Menor's general store and Dornan's - replicating the ferry service that exited there in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8011" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8011

Office of Policy - The NPS Arrowhead store is now carrying a pocket guide to 36 Code of Federal Regulations entitled the 2009 National Park Service Pocket Reference Guide. Only NPS employees and other approved partners may order this product.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8014" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8014

Redwood N&SP - Redwood National and State Parks have been recognized by the National Weather Service as TsunamiReady, making the national park the first NPS area to earn that designation. Photo.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8012" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=8012

Fort Pulaski NM - Jack Allen Hood, Sr. passed away on August 2nd. Jack spent 40 years at Fort Pulaski NM, retiring as chief of maintenance in 1982.

HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2431" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=2431

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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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