NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, February 9, 2015
INCIDENTS
Pea Ridge NMP
Arkansas Man Sentenced In ARPA Case
On February 6, 2013, NPS resource management staff reported seeing a man using a metal detector and excavating archeological resources near two tour stops in the park.
The man, later identified as T.C. II, of Springdale, Arkansas, was found to have in his possession numerous artifacts that he knowingly confessed came from the park on that date and to having excavated one of the artifacts “at a creek in Missouri.”
Ranger Matt Fry and an NPS special agent responded to the report and conducted further investigations, processing the crime scene and collecting evidence. The investigation revealed that T.C. had excavated a total of seven features in key areas of the park, resulting in felony damage to an archeological resource in violation of 16 U.S.C. § 470. T.C.'s activities caused $6,290 in damages to the park.
In 2014, T.C. pleaded guilty to one count of violating 16 U.S.C. § 470 and was ordered to pay $525 in fines and costs.
The NPS wishes to acknowledge the Benton County Sheriff's Office (Arkansas) and Deputy Giovanni Pop for the initial investigative assistance provided to the park. Ranger Gabe Bell at Wilson's Creek NB assisted with the interstate investigation in Missouri, NPS Archeologist Caven Clark conducted the damage assessment for this investigation, and Assistant US Attorney David Fergeson prosecuted this case in the Western District of Arkansas at Fort Smith.
[Investigative Services Branch]
Hawaii Volcanoes NP
Visitor Dies After Hike Up Thurston Lava Tube
On February 5th, a 71-year-old Japanese national with a tour group was hiking the Thurston Lava Tube. Soon after walking up the steepest section, he began to experience shortness of breath and felt fatigued. Shortly after sitting to rest on the ground near the entrance to the lava tube, he collapsed, lost consciousness and stopped breathing.
Several nurses who were also visiting at that time and a tour operator began CPR until rangers arrived with an AED and took over care. Rangers went through three cycles of CPR and AED analysis with "No Shock Advised" (because his heart was not in a rhythm that the machine could recognize).
After the three cycles, Hawaii Country Medic 19 arrived and assumed care. After county medics completed their protocols, a doctor at the Hilo Medical Center ER pronounced the man dead through on-line medical control.
[John Broward, Acting Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's webpage editions of InsideNPS (available to NPS employees only) and the Morning Report (available to all readers):
Southeast Region - Over the three days from February 2nd to February 4th, the Southern Area Interagency Incident Management Teams (Red, Blue, and Gold) met for a training exercise in Atlanta, Georgia, in preparation for the upcoming year.
Biological Resource Management Division - Natural Resource Stewardship and Science staff have been recognized for their work on a North American bat monitoring program developed in conjunction with specialists from other agencies and NGOs in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings, newly introduced bills, and the status of legislation of interest to the Service. This report covers activities in Congress through February 6th.
Harper's Ferry Center - Cynthia Mann Coffelt, exhibits specialist for HFC's Northeast Region group, retired on January 31st after 36 years in the federal government.
To see the full text of these stories, readers should go to one or the other of the following sites:
NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/
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).
--- ### ---