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Vol. 15, No. 23 BRACEBRIDGE EDITION • Friday, October 2, 2009 Pub. Agreement No. 40009759 $1.00 inc. GST Maple Leafs Police bust practise in $4.5 million grow op in Muskoka Huntsville

by Matthew Sitler HUNTSVILLE – Police have HUNTSVILLE – It could be the start of a beautiful arrested several people and con- relationship. fiscated thousands of marijuana Huntsville councillor George Young, who was one of plants in one of the biggest grow the select few to be allowed to watch the Toronto Maple operations Huntsville has likely Leafs practise this week at Jack Bionda Arena, says there ever seen. will be talks between the Town of Huntsville and Leafs On Sunday, Sept. 27, Huntsville management to bring the team back in the future. OPP detachment members were The Leafs came to Huntsville early in the week. Billed made aware of suspicious activity as a team bonding experience, the local stop included in a rural area within the town of a stay at Deerhurst Huntsville. Resort. The team Upon further investigation, OPP practised at the ‘Deerhurst Resort (is a) detachment members located sev- arena to the delight eral marijuana plants growing in of fans who were nice place for them to a swampy area of the property. able to watch. come up for two or three As a result of the investigation, Young, an avid days to relax’ the Huntsville Street Crime Unit, hockey fan, is eye- along with the OPP Emergency ing opportunities Response Team, the Organized to capitalize on the Crime Enforcement Bureau-Drug team’s presence in town. Enforcement Section, the Canine “I chair Huntsville’s economic development com- Unit, and the Rural Agricultural mittee and I hope we can make this a longer lasting Crime Team were contacted to relationship with the Leafs, that they might come up assist. again,” said Young. “And I think (Leafs head coach) Police said the members located Ron Wilson is certainly interested in doing that. I know 4,500 marijuana plants in the area, there will be talks.” which hold a street value of $4.5 Young is also involved in promoting sport tourism. million. He thinks having Huntsville as a home away from home As a result of the investigation for the Leafs would provide the municipality a certain five people were arrested. Wayne cachet in terms of reputation. Griffin, 29, Joel Redmond, 27, “Once we have our Olympic facility, that would be Tanya Walton, 25, all of Orillia, one of the big attractors for them,” said Young. “And Joseph Morton, 48, of Coldwater Deerhurst Resort (is a) nice place for them to come up and Stephen Niskanen, 38, of for two or three days to relax. It’s a win-win for every- Huntsville all face charges of pro- body. And it’s fun for everybody in Huntsville.” duction of controlled substances Young saw the Leafs practise on Tuesday along with and possession for the purpose of about 75 others. trafficking under the Controlled The practice was not open to the general public. Drug and Substances Act. “It was a fairly routine practice … it was certainly Subsequent to the investigation a MONSTER SIGNING. rookie Jonas Gustavsson takes time to sign search warrant was conducted at a more intense than just a skate or a fun two hours,” said some autographs after the team’s Wednesday morning skate at Jack Bionda Arena in Huntsville. Young of the session. “They did definitely go through residence on South Lynx Lake View The Leafs stayed in Muskoka for three days as part of a team bonding exercise before starting the Lane. As a result of the search war- some interesting drills.” season on Thursday against the . (Photo by Todd CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 Carlson) CONTINUED ON PAGE 12