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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Thursday, November 1, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS War in the Pacific NHP Update: Additional Details Received On Plaque Theft Case On October 29th, J.E., 24, who was charged with stealing bronze panels from a park memorial, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Guam to theft of government property, destruction of a veteran's memorial, and conspiracy to transport stolen goods in foreign commerce. Sentencing is set for January 28th. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Guam and Northern Marianas Islands. The charges stemmed from last summer's theft of 34 bronze panels from the memorial, which were then sold to a local recycling company and shipped to Hong Kong. The replacement cost of the panels has been set at approximately $85,000. The panels were etched with the names of U.S. servicemen who died liberating the island of Guam in 1944 and the indigenous Chamorros who were killed and suffered war atrocities between 1941 and 1944. J.E. was also charged in Superior Court of Guam with theft by receiving stolen property and crimes against the community. Agencies participating in the investigation included the Office of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Guam Police Department, Crime Stoppers (Guam), Office of the Attorney General (Guam), FBI, Department of Customs and Quarantine (Guam), Hong Kong Customs, U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Guam, and National Park Service rangers and a special agent. [Scott Hinson, Special Agent in Charge, Pacific West Region] Shenandoah NP Update: Search Continues For Missing Man Rangers yesterday continued the search for C.D.B., a 40-year-old Fredericksburg area man who has been missing since Sunday, October 28th. Operations have centered on the Route 211 corridor in the park, but it's possible that he may have left the area. The search began Sunday evening when the park received a report from C.D.B.'s fiancé saying that he was despondent and had walked off into the woods near Panorama. Christopher C.D.B. is described as a Caucasian male, with short sandy-brown hair, 5' 11” tall and weighing approximately 220 pounds. He was last seen wearing khaki pants and a yellow T-shirt. Over 40 employees and volunteers, including ground searchers and dog teams, are currently involved in the search. National Park Service personnel from both Shenandoah and Blue Ridge are being assisted by Dogs East Search and Rescue, Blue and Grey Search and Rescue Dogs, Virginia Search and Rescue Dogs Association (VSRDA), Public Safety Dogs Inc., Appalachian Search and Rescue, Piedmont Search and Rescue, Shenandoah Mountain Rescue Group, and the Page County Sheriff's Department. Gordon Wissinger is IC. Anyone with any information about C.D.B. is asked to call 1-800-732-0911. [Karen Beck-Herzog, Public Affairs Officer] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS: Glen Canyon NRA - The park is beginning an environmental assessment to examine the effects of deepening an area on Lake Powell commonly called the Castle Rock Cut. Due to long-term drought and low lake levels, the cut has not been usable since 2003. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=5938" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=5938 Risk Management Division - MSA, a corporation that provides health and safety equipment, has determined through quality testing that certain canisters used in gas masks that they make may not be effective against chemical warfare agents as indicated on the canister packaging and other information describing these products. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5933" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5933 St. Croix NSR - Bob Whaley has been selected as the park's chief ranger and Julie Galonska as its chief of interpretation and cultural resources. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1730" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1730 Lowell NHP - Daniel Walsh, museum specialist and collections manager at Lowell National Historical Park, retired on October 31st after over 23 years with the National Park Service. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1732" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1732 US Park Police - Federal and local law enforcement leaders joined surviving family members and colleagues of officers who have died during 2007 to mark the 16th anniversary of the national memorial to fallen officers on October 10th. The US Park Police honor guard represented the NPS at the event. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5935" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=5935 * * * * * 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 ( Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |