Pubdate: Wed, 31 Oct 2007 Source: Standard, The (St. Catharines, CN ON) Copyright: 2007 The Standard Contact: http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/676 Author: Tiffany Mayer 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." - --- MAP posted-by: Derek