OPP wage uphill battle against marihuana grow-ops

(OPP -Dufferin Detachment)
Illicit drugs, particularly marihuana, continue to be a scourge in
society and an ever-increasing threat to the safety of Ontario residents and communities.

Today the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) released the results of its
annual Marihuana Eradication Program. In an eight-week span, OPP Drug Enforcement Section of the Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau seized and destroyed 118,443 marihuana plants in various areas across the province.

Investigations into 220 grow operations resulted in 110 charges against 56 people.

At a media conference today, OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino and
Inspector Bryan Martin of the Drug Enforcement Section issued a warning about
the increasing threat to public and police officer safety posed by the
expansion of marihuana cultivation in Ontario. Police described an alarming increase in the number of loaded weapons, booby traps, cameras and other security devices discovered this year that are being used by growers to ward off ‘pot pirates’ and police. These weapons also pose a significant safety threat to the unsuspecting public who utilize these same outdoor spaces for recreational activities.

OPP investigators have also identified an increase in the involvement of
international organized crime to marihuana cultivation including evidence of exploiting illegal immigrants and grow-op workers who are paid in illicit drugs.

Provincial Constable A.L. Buck, OPP Dufferin Detachment
Phone: (519) 925-3838

<< DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE!! >>

James Doan
Chairman
Mono Community Policing Committee

Commercial Hardware

When it comes to your businesses door hardware needs, The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Builders Hardware Manufacturers Association (BMHA), recommend two classifications of door hardware: Grade 1 and Grade 2.

The differences between the two classifications are significant. The pulling force needed to separate a knob or lever from its spindle is about 60% greater on a Grade 1 than a Grade 2. Cycle tests of a Grade 1 are double that of a Grade 2. Vertical load and bolt strength factors are similarly greater in a Grade 1 than a Grade 2.

Grade 1 rated hardware should be used in schools, factories, and institutions where long hardware life and optimal security are the criteria. Grade 2 rated hardware can be used in less demanding applications such as office or commercial rental properties.

Use the wrong hardware and you just might end up in a class all by yourself – and be poorer for it.

For more information on improving your home or business security, visit:

Pay attention to detail

Great retailers don’t let their stores get messy. They don’t leave the same end caps up forever. They do make sure the shelves are stocked. They do make sure displays are always top-notch. They know that a few badly merchandised areas can make the store look bad.

Detailing your model car engine

Building a good car model involves more than a kit and some glue. Proper research and planning can take up close to half the building time. Photos, magazine articles, TV coverage, and trips to the local speed shops are some of the ways to gather information. Each piece of information eliminates some guesswork and makes a more accurate model. You can enhance your model further with these simple tips.

A small rubber band painted black can represent a fan belt and will almost always look better than the thick, unrealistic kit belts.

Add the often over-looked dipstick to your engine. Remove the insulation from the end of a piece of small solid-core wire (like telephone cord) and clip off the exposed end. Using a reference photo, bend it to the proper shape. Drill a hole in the block, dab the end of the dipstick in superglue and place it in the hole.

Thinned flat black paint brushed into the grooves and valleys of a finished engine block will yield a more realistic appearance.

It’s the small details that win contests. For a more accurate engine, note the firing order of the real car and place the model’s plug wires into the proper holes in both the distributor and the block.

A metal-nibbed, extra-fine, disposable artist’s pen (available from most art supply stores) makes drawing the wires on your model’s firewall easy.

Before they are glued together, engine block halves should be sanded with a piece of 6oo grit sandpaper secured on a flat surface. When the parts are assembled, any visible seam lines should be sanded smooth before the block is primed.

The windshield washer bottle is another neglected item in the engine bay. Cut the shape needed for your car’s bottle from a piece of clear plastic. Paint the bottom and half way up the backside blue. When dry, use white to paint over the blue as well as the entire backside. Carefully glue the bottle in place, and use black ignition wire for the fluid hose.

Kit exhaust pipes can be made to appear more realistic by drilling 1/8 inch holes into their ends. Use a drill bit that is 75% of the diameter of the pipe and dab flat black into the new hole.

Many modellers still paint exhaust pipes and mufflers with a brush. For a better looking exhaust system, spray it.

Essentials for your Scale Modelling Toolbox

For attaching small pieces (especially photoetched parts), nothing beats a high quality pair of tweezers.