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z m c economist suntribune crime thursday april 4 2002 bykathleen griffin staff writer more than 1 million dollars in mar ijuana plants were seized by york regional police during raids- on two homes in markham and whitchurch- stouffville in whitchurchstouffville police were called in to a 600000 marijuana lab in the preston lake area north of bloomington road last week after a landlord changed the locks on a rental home and discovered a hydroponic grow operation when officers arrived at the hilltop boulevard house they found more than 600 plants ballasts lights with 1000watt bulbs arid ventilation and exhaust fans they were all very nice plants ready for harvest said drug and vice det mike klimm no one was at the home at the time and suspects are still being sought in the case he said its the second pot lab discovered in whitchurchstoufrville in the last six months with an ivy crescent home raided last fall said det klimm they are moving north everything is getting pushed to the north he said adding part of the reason is because hydro one which supplies electricity to whitchurch stoufrville and other rural areas doesnt have an aggressive program to catch people trying to bypass the meter markham vaughan richmond hill and newmarket their utilities are very proactive det klirrim said if they find a bypass they turn off the power hydro one isnt doing that in markham morethan400000 worth of marijuana was seized from a highgate drive home monday after an anonymous tipster called to report an unusual odour the caller told officers he smelled something funny around the house- when police arrived about noon a male met them at the door and was reluctant to let them in said const steve morrell help us pick york regions best teachers join us in celebrating the many teachers across york region who excel in their profession each mohthfor our at the schools section students are invited to nomi nate the outstanding teachers who are making a difference in their lives and in trie community a teacher of the morith will be cho sen bya panel of judges and meydnriing teachers class in markharir or whitchurchstouffyille will be treated to apizza courtesy pizza pizza at hwy48 and 16th avenue in markham v all winning teachers will be entered m me teacher of me year cntest 7 eritriesdetailing why the teacher deservesxthe honour- should be no ibngerthan 150 words beisure to include your nametelephdhe number rahdschobl c f deadline for april entries is 5 pm april 11 -t- v l entries may be dropped off at the enornisriunr9 hentagevrdv mixolettbwsa fcivic ave istoufrville of you can email us ait edif when officers insisted pointing out the matter could be one of safety they found three other men inside and a hydroponic grow lab consisting of 331 pot plants and two pounds of dried marijuana holes had been punched in the floors and ceilings for ventilation fans and to bypass the hydro meter const morrell said officers also found nine ballasts three water pumps 45 light bulbs six exhaust fans timing boards humidi fiers and a quantity of cash const morrell said while the house is a rental property the owner faces more than 35000 in renovation costs after his most recent tenants modifica tions holes in the foundation roof and floors need repair the electrical system must be inspected and deemed safe and humidifiers have likely damaged the wood he said four men all from scarborough aged 42 48 49 and 61 stand charged with various drugrelated offences including producing an illegal sub stance possession of a controlled sub stance theft of- telecommunications and mischief under 5000 for the bypass equipment police remind residents to call them at 9058811221 ext 7500 or crime stoppers at 1800222tips if they notice anything unusual about neigh bouring homes including these signs a house seems abandoned or peo ple are coming and going at odd hours windows are covered over at all times lights are oh 24 hours a day you dont know the neighbours or have never seen them around learn how to talk to others about their smoking callthe canadian cancer societys toll free smokers helpline 18775135333 this message brought to you as a community service of economist suntribune markham first markham place 905 4152706 pickering r1300 kingston road i- 9058318506 live better i spend less every day rr 2 hhbkmfifh mmmmmmim