GROW-OPS HURT LINCOLN'S REPUTATION: COUNCILLOR

It's one crop for which Lincoln Coun. John Kralt doesn't want his
municipality known.

But after Niagara Regional Police busted another marijuana grow
operation in the Town of Lincoln Monday, Kralt is growing worried the
buckle of Ontario's fruit belt is reaping a reputation for a bounty of
more than just peaches and grapes.

"Once you get off Regional Road 81 or the QEW, we've got miles and
miles of country roads. It's not the image you want to portray," Kralt
said. "We prefer to be the neat little wine community or tourist
destination, not the grow-op capital of southern Ontario."

Since Sept. 23, police have unearthed four large marijuana grow
operations within Lincoln's borders. They've ranged in size from a few
hundred plants to 450 kilograms of mature marijuana stalks worth $4.5
million - the largest pot bust in the NRP's history.

The latest addition to the list was shut down Monday night when police
discovered an elaborate hydroponic grow lab at 2828 Bayview Blvd. in
Jordan.

Police seized 522 plants worth $522,000. Another $27,000 worth of
dried pot and growing equipment valued at $17,000 was also found.
Their search also turned up two long-barrelled firearms, a handgun and
ammunition, none of which was properly stored.

Tony Heim, 65, of Lincoln faces 11 charges, including production of a
controlled drug, three counts of unsafe storage of a firearm and
ammunition, and operation of a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol
level over 80.

Kralt said he and his fellow councillors have been caught off guard by
the busts. Council meets with police four times a year. Until now, the
focus has been curbing serious car crashes on the municipality's many
country roads.

"I'm hoping it's an unusual blip," Kralt said. "The concerns of course
are, this is big business, it's a nasty business. There are crimes and
criminals behind this. It has the potential to get really ugly."

But NRP Const. Sal Basilone said the rash of busts doesn't mean the
problem with grow operations in rural Lincoln, where homes can be
separated by great distances, is worse than elsewhere in Niagara.

"It could be contagious in terms of people recognizing that police are
able to do something," Basilone said. "It's coming forth and as they
see there are more arrests, the information flows more freely....
General awareness has been raised in the area and people are calling."