The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

CRN I RR S00 eB iain "A Family Tradition for 132 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, May 20, 1998 - 5 They'll watch activity in Durham Region Police vow stepped-up battle with biker gangs By Rik Davie Port Perry Star Police across the province are vowing to step up their battle with motorcycle gangs. "Where ever outlaw biker gangs are, we'll be there too," said OPP Detective Superintendent Dave Crane, head of the multi-force police intelligence unit that includes Durham Regional Police and other forces across the province. The new initiative is, in part, the result of a government announcement last week of an immediate grant of $3.4 million to help 16 local forces, the OPP and the RCMP in their combined intelligence gathering on organized outlaw bike gangs. Durham is among the forces taking part, and will be one of the areas targeted, said Det. Crane. "Rest assured that Durham Region will be one of our focal points," he said. "We intend to go after the gangs and (under new seizure laws) their goods and property that are obtained by crime." Insp. Walter Hall of the Durham Regional Police's Intelligence Unit, which keeps an eye on outfits such as the Satan's Choice, Para Dice Riders and Vagabonds here, said the provincial funding is wel- come news. "We all saw the benefits of Project Dismantle," he said. Project Dismantle was a police sweep that resulted in arrests of members and associates of the bike clubs and the seizure of gang-owned property. "This is another step in the right direc- tion," said Insp. Hall. "Any operation that gathers intelligence that is available to all of us is naturally of great use to us." Det. Crane said that the "Special Squad", as it is known within the force, is aware of heightened bike gang activity in north Durham and all over the province. "We see a lot in the papers about Hell's Angels coming, or trying to comeé into Ontario," he said . "Well, they're here. The Angels are currently conducting business in Ontario. "We know that other clubs are trying to form alliances (with the Angels), said Det. Crane. "But these alliances are, so far, very fragile." The latest anti-biker initiative will concentrate on club property, and property used by clubs like bars and restaurants police say are used to launder money made through illegal activities. "Ontario is a large area, and there is a lot of money to be made by these crimi- nals," he said. "The problem is to get legitimate businesses through which to launder the large sums of money they make. We will target this type of operation whenever we can." Neither Durham or their OPP coun- terparts expect the type of open warfare that has killed 70 people in the last three years in Quebec to erupt in Ontario, but they are being vigilant. . In addition, local police will continue to be on the look-out for movement of bik- ers, said Ross Bingley of the Special Squad. He defended such actions as road- blocks which have been criticized -- and even fought in court -- by Para Dice mem- bers who gather summer weekends in Caesarea. "The gangs we target are criminal groups who operate in drugs, prostitution, extortion and murder, among other things," he said. "The fact that they ride motorcycles is sort of secondary to the main point, don't you think?" By John B. McClelland Port Perry Star Ward 4 Councillor David Dietlein says Scugog should back away from a confrontation with a major land devel- oper because the township may not have much chance of winning. He made the comments last week about an upcoming Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing with Ribcor Developments over a building lot on Ash St. The company wants to develop the land, and the municipality wants it left as open space. Councillor Dietlein said the township should follow the advice of its municipal planner, who has said winning the case may be a difficult fight. . "We have already paid him (planner Jim Dyment) for his advice. Why spend more money (on an OMB hearing) if we may lose?" asked Councillor Dietlein: Despite the Ward 4 rep's fears about the outcome of a hearing, council agreed to press on with it. "If you believe in what we have done, we have to stand up and be counted, " Back off on OMB fight, Ward 4 rep urges fellow councillors said Regional Councillor Ken Gadsden. And Ward 2 rep Ken Carruthers was blunt in his assessment, stat- ing the township "must make Ribcor understand they cannot stampede us into any deci- sion they want us to make. We would be very remiss if we did not support this. Citizens feel we have abandoned them." Residents in the immediate area have told the township they were under the impression the lot on Ash St. would not be developed, and in fact, they pur- chased homes in the area with that understanding in mind. The developer says no such guarantee was given. The township is about to spend money on an OMB hearing to find out who is right. David Dietlein Green Team holding 'Dear Neighbor' effort again Over the next few weeks you may be having visitors to your door offering alternative lawn care information. The Scugog door to door with their "Dear Neighbor" letter. The group have been active in the community for the past five years and have just completed their booklet, A Green Team will be going Homeowner's Guide to Growing Lawns Without Pesticides, which is available at the Scugog Memorial Public Library, (985-7686) and at Reid's Organic Farm Market, 1615 Scugog Line 8 (985-2123). For more information please call Penny Reid (985-2123) or Janet Banting (985-3225). RIK DAVIE/PORT PERRY STAR Scugog Firefighters from the Caesarea station arrived to find this truck fully engulfed in flames on Durham Rd. 57 Wednesday night. The vehicle and its contents were destroyed, but the driver and a passenger escaped unhurt. REGISTRATION and DETAILS LIBRA Ve (MAY 20) 7 P.M. IND RIE MAY 23 2 P.M. (CTeYole |" eYole H®12IV (ela Register Early RINGERS ERIS FUN [0 ACTIN MMER THEATRE Cane During July and August at Goodwood United Church - = Southeast comer of #21 & Front JESTERS CHILDREN'S THEATRE -416-266-1090 eEstablished 1972 TABNULAND Entire Stock of Drapery TIL9PM - WED., JUNE 3 OR WHILE QUANTITIES LAST! & Home Decor 20% off reg. price ON SELECTED MERCHANDISE FROM OUR SPECIAL SELECTION BUY ONE METRE OF FABRIC AT OUR ORIGINAL REGULAR PRICE AND GET ANOTHER 2 METERS FREE of equal or lesser value (FULL METRES ONLY) Tee 21.9 FREE : Ret. Price ALL SPECIALS LIMITED TO PRESENT STOCK ONLY 600 Grandview St. S., Oshawa * (905) 436-7589 1801 unis Che tl = CClale E11 Ve ele Plaza) V Wh (905) 721-9