Plan to bring
All
back trees
crops aren’t
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F INCH
legal
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Aplanisessential for any tree-planting
Police are reminding the public to be
effort.
wary of illicit crop-growing operations in
“A woodlot owner without a
eastern Ontario.
management plan is like a grocery store
The Ontario Provincial Police Organized
managerwithoutaninventoryofhisstock,”
Crime Enforcement Bureau Drug
says Marie-Rose Chrétien, Woodlot
EnforcementUnit(DEU)iswarningresidents
Advisory Service coordinator with South
and visitors of the dangers associated with
Nation Conservation.
marijuana grow-ops.
With the push on to reforest as much of
In 2010, OPP DEU and its partners
Eastern Ontario as possible, South Nation
investigated 586 indoor and outdoor
Conservation has issued a reminder about
marijuana grows, destroying 218,168
two ongoing tree programs available to
marijuana plants in various areas of the
watershed residents.
province.
One is theOntarioTrilliumFoundation-
Another 2,190 kilograms of dried
supported Woodlot Advisory Service
marijuana were confiscated, bringing the
(WAS) which provides a technician to help
Photo SDG O.P P.
total value of seized marijuana to $258
landowners identify such management
Participating in the presentation of a $3,500 cheque from the Caisse Populaire la Vallée
million.Officers also uncovered a solar-
considerations as general tree health,
to the North Glengarry Youth Centre are Caisse board president Raymond Legault,
powered electric fence used to ward off the
species and what their uses are, and basic
event organizer SD&GO.P.P. Constable Joel Doiron, YouthCentre representatives Lisa
unsuspecting public, police, and so-called
forest measurements.
Boyer and Caitlyn Desjardins and Chantal Lajoie, of La Caisse.
“pot pirates.”
Delivered by SNC and several partners,
There were also eight children, ranging
there’s no charge for the bilingual WAS
North Glengarry Youth
program available on a first-come, first-
in age from one to 12, found near various
served basis.
grow operations, as well as playground
Woodlot sizes must be a minimum of
equipment at one particular grow.
five acres.
Centre big winner
Marijuana grown in Ontario is typically
The programhas beenwell-received by
distributed throughout the province and
woodlot owners. To date, over 40 site
exportedtotheUnitedStates.Strongerdrugs,
consultations have been carried out
at golf tourney
suchas cocaine, aswell asweapons andcash
coveringmorethan1,900acres. Thevisiting
often return toOntario to fuel other criminal
technicianprovidesareportincludingaerial
enterprises, which further endanger public
newsroom@eap.on.ca
photography and recommendations on
safety.
how a given landowner might proceed in
A LEXANDRIA
managingawoodlot sustainably. Chrétien
Typically, these illicit crops are located
can be reached at 877-984-2948, ext. 285.
in swamps, corn fields,woodedareas, along
The North Glengarry Youth Centre was again the big winner at the eighth annual
The other program is the Tree Planting
rivers and on rural, rental properties with
Stormont-Dundas-GlengarryOntario Provincial Police golf tournament inAlexandria.
Service (TPS) throughwhich SNC staff has
large acreage.
In total, the event raised over $19,000 for the Youth Centre. It is estimated that over the
begun site visits and planning for
Marijuana plants are bright green in
course of its existence, the tournament has raised close to $100,000, relates Constable Joel
landowners wishing to add seedlings to
colour and grow to between three and five
Doiron, the organizer of the event.
their holdings in 2012. This spring, SNC
feet in height.
“I am truly overwhelmed and thankful of the support received by members of the
provided and helped plant 154,000 trees,
community and our personnel as well,” said SD&G O.P.P. Detachment Commander,
Leaves have seven jagged fingers and
including 100,000 under the Trees Ontario
Inspector Mike McDonell, who took part in the day’s activities. “This was a great day and
the plants give off a strong, pungent, musty
and Green Acres programs. Under TPS,
for a very good cause, providing our youth with opportunities to make right choices and
odour.
South Nation staff will assist landowners
be future leaders of tomorrow.” The event, which has become one the elite tournaments in
Commonindicatorsofoutdoormarijuana
design plantations of 2.5 acres or more,
the area, was a sell-out with 144 golfers registered. Several prizes were available to bewon
arranging if desired contractors to prepare
grow operations include: Abandoned
throughout the course, thanks to generous donations from several area businesses. The
sites, as well as plant and tend seedlings to
vehiclesparkedonsideroadsortrails;people
tournament’s success is largely due to the hard work and dedication of its organizing
aid them in surviving competition from
observed walking in remote areas for no
committee where SD&GOPP receives support and partnership from the Caisse Populaire
grasses and weeds.
apparent reason; bags of fertilizer, planting
de la Vallée (Alexandria), Centre de Santé Communautaire de l’Éstrie, Équipe Psycho-
Trees Ontario provides up to $1.19 per
trays or chemicals located in remote areas;
Sociale, Glengarry Inter-Agency Group, North Glengarry Youth Centre and community
tree to help cover costs; landowners are
well-trampled trails in wooded or swamp
volunteers. The tournament’s major sponsor (Caisse Populaire de la Vallée) inAlexandria
required to contribute a minimum of 20
areas; cleared-out areas inswamps,wooded
presented a cheque for $3,500.
cents per tree.
areas or corn fields; numerous “No
In addition, Green Acres funding is
Trespassing” signs appearing out of
available to landowners within the rural
nowhere.
areas of the City of Ottawa. With a 500 tree
minimum, the Green Acres program
Typically, marijuana crops will be
provides 20 cents per tree for orders of 500
harvested starting as early as lateAugust up
to 1,000 trees.
until the beginning of October. There are
When planting over 1,000 trees,
numerous safety risks — the presence of
landowners will get up to 50% of their
criminals,weapons, ammunitionandbooby
eligible costs covered by the program.
traps.
“It’s important to order early to secure
Allofthesefactorscouldleadtodangerous
species best suited to specific sites,” said
confrontations for unsuspecting, innocent
SNC’s Michael Petryk who can be reached
people-includingchildren-whojusthappen
at 877-984-2948, ext. 295.
to be in the area of these illegal crops.These
criminal operations usually involve the
Auditions
unregulateduseofmanychemicalsandother
environmentally-damaging products.
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Public Safety Tips
H UDSON
If you discover or suspect an outdoor
marijuana grow operation, as soon as
Do you love to sing and dance?
possible, call your local police or Crime
Here is a chance to share your talent.
Stoppers. Donot touch themarijuanaplants
Auditions are being held for the March
due to potential chemical residue on the
2012 presentation of the Hudson Music
plants. If confrontedby amarijuana grower,
Club’sproductionof “42ndStreet,”thegroup’s
leave the area immediately and contact
60th musical.
For an audition appointment, call 450-
police. If possible and safe to do so, record
424-8293
or
email:
any licence plate or GPS information and
hudsonmusicclub@gmail.com.
notify police. Do not enter the area.
AuditionswillbeheldSeptember10,from
For your personal safety, turn around
9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., September 11, from 2
and immediately leave the area the same
Photo Richard Mahoney
p.m. to 5 p.m., at Wyman Church, 513 Main
wayyoucamein.Ifyouhaveanyinformation
Four-wheel electric scooters have become more popular over the years, presenting some
Rd., Hudson, and September 18, from 12:30
about grow ops, contact your local police or
new challenges for automobile drivers. In Hawkesbury, the traffic flow regularly
p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Hudson Community
includes the slow-moving vehicles.
Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
Centre, 394 Main Rd.
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