NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

MORNING REPORT

Friday, December 3, 2010

INCIDENTS

Sequoia-Kings Canyon NPs

Man Shooting Weapon Taken Into Custody

Park staff encountered a man speeding into the park though the exit side of the Ash Mountain entrance station in Sequoia National Park in Three Rivers around 2 p.m. on November 25th, Protection rangers responded and found the man near the Ash Mountain Visitor Center, where other park staff had encountered him a few minutes earlier. When they arrived, the man threw a pistol to the ground. Additional rangers arrived on scene within moments, and he was taken into custody without further incident. After further investigation, it was found that the man, a 42-year-old Sacramento resident, had discharged at least eight rounds in the vicinity of the visitor center while shouting about the end of the world and Armageddon. He was taken to a local hospital and held for psychiatric evaluation. Rangers found drug paraphernalia and approximately 10 pounds of packaged and processed marijuana (valued at approximately $35,000) in his vehicle. [Dana Dierkes, Public Affairs Officer]

OTHER NEWS

The following stories are among those in today's edition of InsideNPS. To see the full text, including images, NPS employees should go to the InsideNPS home page ( HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index). Non-NPS employees can see most of them on the NPS Digest page ( HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/):

Outer Banks Group - The North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) and the National Park Service have teamed up to create and launch a new endeavor - a seminar on the national parks as “America's Best Idea.”

Director's Office - Director Jarvis has released the fatality investigation report that was prepared following the death of Appomattox maintenance employee Teddy Garrett last June. His message to the field appears within, along with a link to the full text of that document.

Colorado Northwestern Community College - Students from the NPS seasonal law enforcement academy at Colorado Northwestern Community College traveled to Capitol Reef in October for an orientation session - and also to hear from the park's chief ranger, an academy graduate. Photo.

Grand Canyon NP - Mike Ebersole, aviation officer for Grand Canyon National Park, has announced his retirement, effective December 31st, following 36 years of federal service, 32 of those with the NPS at the Grand Canyon. Photo.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP - Dave Roberts, management assistant for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area for the past 15 years, is retiring on December 31st with over 35 years of federal service. Photo.

Servicewide Training and Conference Calendar - A compilation of upcoming training courses and conferences across the nation. Added to this week's calendar are three TEL station broadcasts - legal updates in December and January and retirement planning in January.

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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov).

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