Shellbrook Chronicle Th The voice i off th the P Parkland kl d ffor over 100 years Shellbrook, Saskatchewan Friday, February 1, 2013
VOL. 102 NO. 5| PMR #40007604
www.shellbrookchronicle.com
Search warrant nets Grow Operation in Blaine Lake A search warrant produced a marijuana growing operation in Blaine Lake. On January 26 at 5:00 PM members of the Blaine Lake RCMP detachment executed a Search Warrant for a residence in Blaine Lake to search for a suspected Marijuana grow Operation. Three members of the Blaine Lake detachment, three members of the Saskatoon Integrated Drug Unit, one member of Shellbrook detachment, and one member of the Spiritwood detachment were involved in this investigation. As a result of the execution of the Search Warrant on January 26, 2013, a hydroponic marijuana growing operation was located in the residence. Eleven plants were seized weighing 11 pounds, with an estimated street value of $5000.00. Twenty grams of drying marijuana were seized, and various pieces of hydroponic growing equipment were also seized. During the search, several stolen items were recovered with an estimated value of $20,000.00. Facing charges in relation to this search are the following: Sharon Mielczarek, 35, of Blaine Lake: Production of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Stolen Property Richard Mielczarek, 38, of Saskatoon: Possession of Stolen Property Sharon Mielczarek will be appearing in Provincial Court on March 7, 2013 in Blaine Lake. A future court date will be established for Richard Mielczarek.
Clearing the way for future upgrades. The Shellbrook Grader was out and about January 25th, clearing the runway at the community airport after the big dump of snow that fell the day before. Two days later we received even more snow. Photo: Tom Pierson Winter in Saskatchewan!
Shellbrook Airport ready to expand By Tom Pierson The Shellbrook Community Airport is ready to expand, and Council is working on making that happen by looking for matching grant money. The estimated cost of the upgrade is expected to cost about $350.000. Council is also open to the idea of private investors. The half-dozen hangars all have aircraft in them, and a runway upgrade might see that number rise. Shellbrook Mayor George Tomporowski said, “The last couple of years, because of the wet conditions, the east end of the runway has been unusable.” Interest from Naber Performace has given the Town reason to look into upgrading the runway. Ted Naber, General Manager of Naber Performance says, “Last year we upgraded our float plane to one that has amphibious floats on it. The amphibious floats give us the opportunity of flying off an air strip and landing in the water.” This new plane needs the full runway. Mayor Tomporowski says, “The existing property there is a half a mile or 2,640 feet. We want to make as much of that usable as possible, so minimum will be 2500, and hopefully we will have 2600 feet.” The Mayor says Council has done some engineering work and have come up with a preliminary design. In order to meet its share of the $350,000, Council is looking for grant money through the
Ministry of Highways and the community airport program. It would be a 50/50 cost sharing arrangement. It is a three year proposition, “if we proceed with it,” said Tomporowski, “and the decision has not been finalized. In the first year the east end would get built up, followed be the remaining half in year two. The final year would include making it a sealed surface, mud free and dust free. “We’ve also had some other folks in the region express interest, if we can improve the air strip,” says Tomporowski. “If its more usable and it is reliable, usable on a year round basis, the potential to attract more folks is good. “We are thinking about the rebirth of the forest industry, as it’s looking like that can come on stream fairly soon. There is nothing definite, but those are the kinds of things we are looking at.” Naber sees it being used for more business, “The sky’s the limit, but all those things would take a bit of encouragement.” He added, “Until there is a facility that warrants that kind of use, nobody will want to use it. I think there is lots of opportunity but the first step in any of it is just having the facility. For his business, there is an added advantage with his new plane. Not only can you fly on and off an air strip, “It lets you keep your investment inside,” says Naber. The old float plane sat outside all summer, so it was subjected to the elements. “Every storm that came by you were crossing your fingers it wasn’t a hail storm or tornado cause it wreaks havoc on the plane.” Continued on page 3
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