NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Monday, January 24, 1994

Broadcast: By 0900 ET

INCIDENTS

93-870 - Carlsbad Caverns (New Mexico) - Follow-up on Bomb Threat

On January 21st, Y.C., 19, of Carlsbad, New Mexico, was arrested
for the bomb threat which was made to the park on December 31st.  Y.C.
was employed by the park's concessioner at that time, and was at work when
the bomb threat was made.  The 911 dispatcher who received the call had been
able to immediately determine that it had been made from a park visitor
center phone booth.  Federal charges are pending.  [Felix Hernandez, CR,
CACA, 1/21]

94-13 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Follow-up on Death of Ranger

Further information has been received regarding the death of Bob Mahn, the
park's East Entrance subdistrict ranger.  Mahn left the East Entrance around
7:15 a.m. on January 17th to check the Sylvan Pass area for avalanches and
travel conditions and to undertake other visitor protection activities. No
one had made the patrol to Sylvan Pass more often - he'd been patrolling the
road almost daily since 1982.  The road was open to the public at the time,
but weather conditions were marginal with blowing and drifting snow and poor
visibility.  The East Entrance road has many places along a five-mile
stretch where the south edge of the road drops off over 500 feet; in most
places, the north side of the road is semi-vertical and up to 2,000 feet
high.  Preliminary investigation indicates that Mahn apparently encountered
whiteout conditions in a curvy area of the road about five miles from the
East Entrance.  Mahn probably hit the snow berm on the north edge of the
road, but thought it was a snow drift.  In order to get through a drift, an
operator must accelerate the snowmobile or otherwise stand the chance of
getting seriously stuck.  Mahn, who was one of the most experienced
snowmobilers in the park, had been stuck many times before.  Investigators
speculate that he accelerated to get through, but couldn't tell exactly
where he was because of the poor visibility.  After going through the berm,
he traveled about 40 feet through unpacked snow and drifts until he came to
a 30-foot, semi-vertical drop-off that went into a gully on the north side
of the road.  He apparently rode the snowmobile down the drop; although
wearing a helmet, he was knocked unconscious when his head hit a hard
object.  About four feet of wet, heavy snow filled in on top of him. 
Another patrol ranger found Mahn about an hour later.  CPR was administered
for five hours.  He was evacuated to the Cody Hospital, where he was
pronounced dead just after 1 p.m.  The preliminary autopsy report indicates
that there was a blow to the head that would have rendered him unconscious
and that he died of asphyxiation.  The funeral is scheduled for 10:30 this
morning at the Ballard Funeral Home in Cody, Wyoming.  Donations should be
sent to Cody Search and Rescue, Bob Mahn Memorial Fund, 1131 Eleventh
Street, Cody, WY 82414; cards and letters may be sent to Grace Nutting, East
Entrance, Wapiti, WY 82450.  [Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 1/21]

94-14 - Santa Monica Mountains (California) - Follow-up on Earthquake

Four employees at the park have lost their homes due to structural damage
and have had to relocate.  Another six employees lost significant amounts of
personal property.  The park has received many calls from concerned NPS
employees asking how they can help these and other earthquake victims.  A
special earthquake relief fund has accordingly been established.  Donations
are being accepted by the Parklands Association at 3401 Agoura Road, Suite
100, Agoura Hills, CA 91301.  If you'd like to contact the park directly,
please call David Gackenbach, the park's superintendent, at 818-597-1036,
extension 226.  [Stanley Albright, Regional Director, WRO, 1/21; also
transmitted via memorandum to all employees]

94-26 - Mount Rainier (Washington) - Death of Maintenance Employee

Frank Zurlo, 41, a maintenance worker at the park, was killed early on the
morning of January 21st in a one-car accident just outside Elbe, Washington. 
State police officers are investigating the accident.  No further details
are yet available.  [Bill Larson, MORA, 1/21]

             [More pending incident reports tomorrow....]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) 1993 Law Enforcement Report - The Department of Interior's 1993 annual
law enforcement program report form entitled "Offenses (Other Than Part I)",
which you received with the call for report submissions, does not collect
all the data required by the NPS.  Submitters should instead employ the Part
II offenses form from the 1992 report to submit 1993 data.  [Joe Smith,
RAD/WASO]

2) Authorized Ammunition - Based upon requests from field areas, the Service
has authorized the use of another round in addition to those previously
identified - the 9mm, 147 grain JHP round, made by Winchester, Federal or
Remington.  [Paul Berkowitz, RAD/WASO]

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
SkyPager:  Emergencies ONLY: 1-800-759-7243, PIN 2404843