Maryland man pleads guilty to illicit sexual conduct with a minor

Frederick Singletary, 42, of Parkville, Maryland, pled guilty on June 21 to federal charges of traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor and possession of child pornography announced the FBI.

According to the evidence, on February 12, 2013, Singletary contacted an undercover officer with the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force, who had posted an ad on a social networking site. Over the next few days, Singletary engaged in online e-mail, instant message, text message, and telephone conversations with the undercover officer, whom he believed was the father of an underage girl. Singletary arranged with the undercover officer to meet for the purpose of engaging in sexual acts with the child.

Singletary also sent the undercover officer 10 images of child pornography. On February 14, 2013, Singletary traveled from Maryland to a pre-arranged meeting place in Washington, D.C. When he arrived, he was arrested. Singletary is scheduled for sentencing by the Honorable Beryl A. Howell on September 20, 2013. Singletary faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison for traveling interstate to engage in illicit sexual conduct and a maximum of 10 years in prison for possession of child pornography, as well as a fine of $250,000 on each count.

Kings Gap ‘Bring Back the Monarchs’

Kings Gap Environmental Education Center Program Director, Gina Padilla announced on June 17 that the center will host “Bring Back the Monarchs” on June 30. This free program is open to the public.

The Center offers this program to educate on, and bring focus to, monarch butterfly conservation efforts. According to the Center, Monarch butterfly populations are down, primarily due to loss of proper food and habitat. “Bring Back the Monarchs” will teach participants how to bring back these beautiful creatures by creating Monarch-friendly habits in your own yard.

The program will run from 2 to 3 p.m. and participants will begin in the education building with an overview of the monarch lifecycle and habitat, then move outside into the garden for a tour of butterfly habitat and explanation of the national certification process for their own habitats. For more information about programs contact the Center at (717) 486-3799.

What: “Bring Back the Monarchs” ages ten and up

When: 2-3 p.m. June 30

Where: 500 Kings Gap Road, Carlisle, PA 17015

Cost: Free

Pennsylvania state parks to offer backpacking program

Regional Outdoor Recreation Coordinator, George Barner announced on June 13 that the Pennsylvania State Parks Southern Region will host “Introduction to Backpacking” and invites the public to participate in this summer long series.

The “Introduction to Backpacking” series will consist of an orientation meeting, four daylong hikes and an opportunity for an overnight adventure. Exploring trail throughout the Lower Susquehanna and Cumberland Valleys, the series is intended to teach participants about how to have a safe and enjoyable backpacking experience.

An orientation meeting will be held on June 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. at Kings Gap Environmental Education Center. Participants can expect to learn about the series, with topics such as preparing your body for a backpacking trip, planning a trip, choosing gear, packing a backpack and Leave No Trace. Complete information packets will be available at this meeting. Although the orientation meeting is free but space is limited and registration is required.

The series will include day hikes at Gifford Pinchot State Park, Codorus State Park, Colonel Denning State Park, and Susquehannock State Park beginning June 30 to July 28. The overnight trip, location to be announced, will take place Aug. 24-25 and the cost of the series if $45. This series is for participants 16 years of age and older and   participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information or to register for the “Introduction to Backpacking” series, please visit VisitPAParks, email Gbarner@pa.gov or call (814) 733-2203. 

Public invited to participate in ‘Appalachian Bat Survey’

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced June 6 that PGC biologists are seeking assistance from the public. Summer 2013 a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data will occur. The monitoring is deemed highly important to measure bat mortalities caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease that affects hibernating bats in Pennsylvania and other parts of the eastern United States.

More than a million cave bats have died from the fungus Geomyces destructans (Gd) that causes WNS over the past five years. The pervasive Gd strikes while bats are in communal hibernation, often clustered like sardines in a tin to conserve energy. Bats spend about sis months in hibernation and live off of a finite supply of energy. Gd irritates the deep-sleeping bats, forcing them out of their hibernation, which requires increased energy consumption from a reserve that barely sustains them through winter. Death often follows, regardless of whether the bat stays put or flies

Although WNS primarily kills bats in the winter, the complete impact of the disease cannot be measured using the winter estimates. The public is needed to help conduct a summer bat count to fully gauge the impact of WNS. While all are encouraged to participate, the PGC urges people who’ve previously participated in a bat count to do so again. For more information and an application to participate in this vital wildlife conservation effort, please visit “Appalachian Bat Count.”

Public invited to participate in ‘Appalachian Bat Survey’

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) announced June 6 that PGC biologists are seeking assistance from the public. Summer 2013 a regional monitoring effort to collect bat maternity colony data will occur. The monitoring is deemed highly important to measure bat mortalities caused by White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a disease that affects hibernating bats in Pennsylvania and other parts of the eastern United States.

More than a million cave bats have died from the fungus Geomyces destructans (Gd) that causes WNS over the past five years. The pervasive Gd strikes while bats are in communal hibernation, often clustered like sardines in a tin to conserve energy. Bats spend about sis months in hibernation and live off of a finite supply of energy. Gd irritates the deep-sleeping bats, forcing them out of their hibernation, which requires increased energy consumption from a reserve that barely sustains them through winter. Death often follows, regardless of whether the bat stays put or flies

Although WNS primarily kills bats in the winter, the complete impact of the disease cannot be measured using the winter estimates. The public is needed to help conduct a summer bat count to fully gauge the impact of WNS. While all are encouraged to participate, the PGC urges people who’ve previously participated in a bat count to do so again. For more information and an application to participate in this vital wildlife conservation effort, please visit “Appalachian Bat Count.”