NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Friday, August 30, 2013
NOTICE
An unannounced change made by Google in its email system two days ago has caused formatting problems when translating the Morning Report, produced in Word, into an email message. Efforts will continue at finding a fix. In the interim, apologies for any changes that make the publication more difficult to read.
INCIDENTS
Chiricahua NM
Park Employee Remains In Critical Condition After Assault
An NPS contractor discovered park employee Karen Gonzales, 60, unconscious in the Faraway Ranch picnic area restroom just after noon on Wednesday.
Responders at first believed that her injuries might have been caused by an accidental fall, but foul play seemed more probable after her government vehicle was discovered missing. Investigators ultimately determined that she'd been assaulted, probably while performing her duties as a seasonal building and utilities employee.
Based on physical evidence at the scene and her injuries, it appears that one or more people assaulted her, possibly with a rock, striking her in the head multiple times. Gonzales sustained life-threatening head trauma and was transported via helicopter to University Medical Center in Tucson, where she remains hospitalized in critical condition. She is intubated and in a medically induced coma.
The Cochise County Sheriff's Office was advised of the assault and was asked by the park's chief ranger to take the lead in the investigation. Sheriff's office personnel processed the crime scene and began a trace of Gonzales' mobile phone, which was believed to be in the vehicle. An “attempt to locate” message was issued to law enforcement agencies throughout the county, as well as to the ports of entry to and from Mexico.
Gonzalez' vehicle was found around 7 p.m. in the border town of Douglas, Arizona. The vehicle was secured and transported to a sheriff's office facility in Willcox. The Tucson-based FBI evidence response team has processed the vehicle. The sheriff's office also collected evidence from Gonzales' person at the hospital.
The Cochise County Sheriff's Office, FBI and NPS, including personnel from the ISB, Tumacacori, Saguaro and the Southeast Arizona Group, are cooperatively managing the investigation.
Karen Gonzales remains in critical condition at the University Medical Center in Tucson, surrounded by family and friends. The NPS continues to have a presence at the hospital to support the family.
Although Karen is unable to receive flowers in the hospital at this time, cards may be sent to the Gonzales family, care of Chiricahua National Monument, 12856 East Rhyolite Creek Road, Willcox, AZ 85643.
A fund is being set up to help assist the family. Information on how to donate will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
The incident management team appreciates all the support that's been offered by employees: “Thank you for keeping Karen and the rest of the Gonzales family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. The family wishes to extend its appreciation for all of the support.”
[Bob Love, Incident Commander, and Michelle Fidler, Information Officer]
Olympic NP
Rangers Search Ozette Area For Overdue Day Hiker
Rangers are searching the Ozette area for a 71-year-old Seattle man who's been missing since August 22nd.
B.J. headed out on that date for a planned two- to three-day trip to the Olympic Peninsula. Before leaving home, he spoke of plans to day hike on the Ozette Loop Trail. He was reported overdue the day before yesterday.
Rangers immediately began a hasty search for B.J. and located his truck in the Ozette Ranger station parking lot. Hasty teams searched the Ozette Loop Trail, beach areas and Lake Ozette, and a helicopter search was also conducted until dark. Six ground search teams and two search dog teams were in the field yesterday to continue the search. A team also searched Lake Ozette via boat.
B.J. has white hair in a ponytail and blue eyes and is 5'10” tall. Family members describe him as active and physically fit. He is believed to have been wearing blue jeans and to be carrying a black day pack.
Anyone with clues or information regarding B.J.'s whereabouts is asked to call Olympic National Park at 360-565-3120.
[Barb Maynes, 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/):
Northeast Region - On August 17th, George Washington Birthplace was honored to host members of the Rappahannock Tribe for an event celebrating the tribe's heritage. A record number of visitors attended.
Southeast Region - The Southeast Archeological Center is working with an Auburn University field archaeology team to search for the location of the Creek barricade used during the 1814 battle against U.S. troops at Horseshoe Bend National Military Park.
Great Smoky Mountains NP - Patricia M. Wissinger has been selected as the park's deputy superintendent, replacing Kevin Fitzgerald, who retired earlier this year.
Northeast Region - Twelve Student Career Intake Program interns from Massachusetts parks hosted 150 youth representing ten Boston area youth programs at the SCIP Youth Summit at Lowell National Historical Park on August 16th.
Natural Resource Stewardship and Science - Natural resource award winners for 2012 gathered in Fort Collins on August 12th to receive their awards, which recognize employees who go above and beyond in the performance of their duties.
Servicewide Training Calendar - A compilation of upcoming training courses, webinars and online training offered by the National Park Service and related agencies. Added to this week's listing are five new courses at FLETC at the end of October.
Daily Almanac - A ridge of high pressure will bring another day of record-breaking heat across portions of the central states. Relief will arrive by late weekend as temperatures fall behind a cold front.
National Fire/Incident Situation Highlights - The daily national fire summary is posted around 8 a.m. EDT each day and can be found at either of the links above. For the most current information on the Rim Fire in Yosemite, click on this link: HYPERLINK "http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3660" http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/3660
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The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
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