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2 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 19, 2000 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Program proving successful, board decides Police renew lease for chopper patrols here Christmas cheer at open house By Rik Davie Special to the Star The skies of Durham Region will be patrolled by the Air-1 helicopter for at least another year. Staff Sgt. Ron Rollauer, the officer who oversees the air support program, said that following a motion by the Durham Regional Police Services Board in November, a 12-month extension to a leasing agreement with National Helicopters Inc. was signed last Friday. Helicopter patrols have led to millions of dollars in drug seizures in the past year, and are credited by many police sources as being a contributing factor in a drastic drop in police chases in the region. "We are making our pres- ence known as a deterrent in the northern areas," said Staff Sgt. Rollauer. "In one patrol flight alone last week, we covered Sunderland, Beaverton, Port Perry, Uxbridge and Cannington. "We fly low and light up the search light to let peo- ple know we are up there," Holi Hi 3 LOLOL So Publishing Schedule The Port Perry Star will be publishing Dec. 19 & Jan. 3 The Weekend Star will be publishing Dec. 22 & 29 Hours: Refer to classified section for Office/Store Hours Season Greetings he said. The new lease allows for 50 hours flight time per month at a cost of $53,000 a month, including the salary . for the pilot, Bruce Buck. Two Durham cops, Rick Ross and Todd Petzold, will con- tinue with their flight officer duties. One duty will be check- ing ice conditions on Lake Scugog this winter. "We will do low level passes on the lake looking for pressure ridges and open water from time to time, and passing on that information," Staff Sgt. Rollauer said. He said the Durham Regional Police Service will look into the benefits of - buying a chopper or contin- ue to lease one, with a view to adopting the helicopter as a full-time aspect of the police service. Since the adoption of air support by Durham Region several other police ser- vices in the province, including Toronto, have begun helicopter programs. The Nutty Chocolatier "Quality And Service Like It Used To Be" Open seven days a week 9am to 10pm 182 Queen St., Port Perry 985-0671 The Co-operators Insurance in Port Perry held an open house Saturday (Dec. 16), at which they accepted donations of toys and food for the Operation Scugog food bank, and the Durham Regional Police toy drive. Here, Shannon Porter and Bruce Walker of the Co-Operators display some CHRIS HALL/PORT PERRY STAR "of the items collected during the day. Great Christmas ~ Gift Idea! 1AVING ah ard Lime thinlir TOF a SPC Rl Person thal ust keeps on giving [or ve. hore SCUGOG: The Eanly VEL Hh NERY SCNes ol local hie HOIA CN] | ll HE RINGTALES BER Of Port Pony and Scugog Township GET ONE FOR THAT SPECIAL Bd 91 24STO JN TODAY! SLM 8 [C1010 1 ATEN S13 YAN (SH Tas 35.1 EE EE de dn 2 RE