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Lan oandh i dh an aati aan ads ali aad a EE TH FF NW yy NY vv TW A Tw Ae aed aaa adie gi al aah audi JE J eal al w folie. i i. i. i adiniiniaiibeice did. 4 Ri. Git I 1 I EIT I =r NN RR, TT TH rope. 2 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, August 22, 2000 "Stugog's Community Newspaper of Choice™ Chopper Cops nab illicit crops By Rik Davie Special to the Star Durham Regional Police helicopter crews are finding that despite this year's unfavourable weather, some crops are doing just fine. Cops in the Durham Regional Police force's heli- copter located and seized what they said is almost a quarter of a million dollars worth of nearly mature pot plants from area fields last week. Seizures were made in two fields in Scugog Township. Flight observer Const. Rick Ross, pilot Bruce Buck and Const. Rebecca Ruttan, a 17 Division officer on an orientation flight, spotted several locations with mari- juana plants at various stages of growth while they patrolled the skies last week. In some cases, the officers directed ground offi- cers to the sites, where the plants were pulled from the ground. In areas where ground units would have difficulty gaining access, the chopper crew simply lands and starts harvesting. The crew was all smiles last week as they posed beside the Air-1 chopper with enough drug plants in their arms to pay for a luxu- ry automobile. The chopper has changed the face of the war on drugs in Durham « ', Durham Regional Police Constables Rick Ross and Rebecca Ruttan show off some of the marijuana crop they confiscated last Tuesday evening while on helicopter patrol over Scugog Township. Police will step up their dope-detecting over the next couple of weeks. Region since it took to the air over a year ago. Const. Ross said that tar- geting dope farmers has been a high priority for the crew from the beginning. "This time of the year, spotting growths (of mari- juana) is a part of our patrol," he said. "When we are not answering regular calls, we are observing areas we know are likely spots for marijuana fields." So far this year the air unit has amassed almost S| million in drug seizures, and the figure is expected to rise. "We have over $600,000 in seizures just in the past few days," said Const. Ross, "and we are far from through." Chopper crews will con- tinue to pinpoint marijuana fields as the growing season for the illegal crop reaches it's peak over the next few weeks. Some police sources say that dope farmers are leaving Durham Region for greener pastures. Man walking on dark road is struck and killed A man was struck by a car and killed as he walked down the middle of a dark road near the vil- lage of Pontypool last week. Ontario Provincial Police said that 28-year- old Joseph Barker of Campbellford was appar- ently walking in the mid- dle of Hwy. 35 around 10 p.m. Tuesday (Aug. 15) when he was struck and killed by a southbound vehicle being driven by a Pontypool resident. The victim was rushed to hospital in Bowmanville, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. In a twist to the story, OPP from the Whitby detachment found a late 1980s model Pontiac that had apparently been used by the deceased earlier, abandoned in the live lanes of eastbound Hwy. 401. The vehicle had one window smashed, and no license plates. Officers from the OPP's criminal investigation branch helped identify the victim, who was not carrying identification, but no foul play is suspected at this time. Sources say that the victim was taking medica- tion for a recently diag- nosed illness, and may have become disoriented. The motorist has not been charged with any offense in relation to the accident. Thieves make off with pick-up A 1986 GM pickup was stolen from a Caesarea home recently, say police. The theft of the white truck, which was left parked in a driveway at a Regional Rd. 57 home, was reported to police at 8 p.m. on Aug. 11. The time of the theft is unknown, police say. FALL SCHEDULE FREE CUE VP NE NF SESE ER aE | 4 Floor Aerobics Floor Aerobics i... interval Kick Stretch Strength Box 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | High Basic Kick |Advanced| High Low Step Box Step Low 7:45 7:45 . Kick High Box Low Personal Training with Michele Valentino - 10 Years Experience Starters Package $150.00 4Hours Includes: » Consultation * Program eo Two Training Sessions Z VALENTINO'S FITNESS ™ 0 Water Aerobics Water Aerobics ss. hiss 9:00 9:00 | 9:00 9:00 | 9:00 La Shallow Aqua Stations Aqua Shallow Deep Jog Jog Deep 10:15 | 10:15 | 10:15 | 10:15 _-- " Light & Shallow Light & Deep Easy Easy 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 |uu Shallow Aqua Stations Aqua Shallow Deep Jog Jog Deep 7:45 7:45 7:45 7:45 Aqua Stations Aqua Stations Jog Jog For more registration information please call Michele Valentino 905- 985-7617 EARLY REGISTRATION BY AUGUST 31, 2000 eh ee SE we Se Re TR OR ED Ja oe ea om ae A EE EE OW Re he ow ES oe ee Roe woe PS -------- Prp----