tj StRoai Estate SPORTS See what's Local lacrosse on the market players shine 9 bsin s i de ae22 wk COMMUNITY; liousing checklist almns to improve life for local seniors Pae a ~jt ~flJ~dn -ON NO W! A METROLAND COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER VOL. 145 NO. 27 TUESDAY JUNE 15, 2004 $1.00O (GST included) 44 PAGES "Using Conmucation toBuidBeter Communities" Police seize $259,OOO Worth of pot plants 'from rural residence By sTEPHANIE THIESSEN The Champion -~ Neighbours residing near a non- descript brown house at the Milton/Acton border were shocked to leamn last week they were living next to a full-blown marijuana grow operation. Wbile executing a searcb warrant at a rural Hwy. 7 home Wednesday aftemoon, police found 259 marijuana plants in vani- ous stages of growth with a potentiai street value of $259.000, Halton Regional Police Oh sald. Also seized at tbe property, which ies between Fourth and Fifth ines, was about $2.000 in growing equipment. s o "I bad no idea - it's sbocking," sald a neighbour who didn't want to give ber naine. "Now-a-days you bave to keep clo se mumi. You cant trust people, unfortunate- DwainMcGilvary Neigbbour Mike Free, who wasn't aware DwalnMcGllvary a raid had taken place, said be couldn't be of Milton Chryslr- more surprised. "We love it here - its Dodg reats t Ne quiet and peacefüuI. mlssed putt durlng Officers searching tbe home were inves- the eldr and tigatmng an alleged tbeft of hydro electrici- Friends Foundation ty. Duning the search, an electricai bypass Golf Tournament was traced to a barn on tbe property wbere RldgeGolf lub. the gruw operation was diseovered. RidgeGolf lub. A police spokesperson said a further arest is anticipated. yJennîfer Murphy, The anonymous neigbbour sald she did- left, and Tarah n't notice anytbing amisa at tbe bouse Cherwonlac - both plc add of Telus Moblllty Sbe added she wouldn't know wbat to (Inset) - have lots look for. offn athe ou aent. 1Iwouldnt know marijuana if I saw it." Inthe event aledt Det. AI Albano, of the Halton Regional Tea ~t r se Police Drug and Moraiity Bureau, said educating the public is key. "'Me more (education) we do, the more Photo by peop~le know wbat to look for, and tbe more GRAHAMPAINE cails we get."~ Signa that a home is being used to grow 00 Ait the foatres of 1h. Sunfire SL plus: 4-speed autont c air condtlonIng, no-charge sunroof, CD player with 6 speakers, 15" aluminum wheels, spoiler 2 DR. marijuana include coverings on ail the win- dows and an odd odor. Some of these bous- es dont appear lived in, but have frequent visitors. An unattended appearance is also characteristic. Richard Murray, vice-president of opera- tions for Milton Hydro, said marijuana grow bouses are becoming increasingly common in Halton. Tlhere are various ways of bypassmng hydro, but the common goal is to tie into the electricity before it reaches the metre 50 it doesnt register the beavy consumption, raismng suspicions, Mr. Murray said. Miltons large rural area is conducive to grow bouses since many of the properties have barns and sheds set back from the road, he said. Charged with production of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled sub- stance for the purpose of trafticking and thefi of electnicity under $5,000 are Robert Gordon Popp, 36, and Troy Vemnon, 23, both of Hwy. 7. Stephanie Thiessen can be reached at shiessen@miltoncanadianchampion. inside Comment ..........6 Chamion Country . .15-20 Datolino ........ 2131 Classflod .......242 fIZILU~ I *0bulay, Jun 15.0 *Cailloum* * Phu Ndr* aRumatuhw.* *SPortchol*. spotnat *8electd reu onU, www.miltontoyota.com n