Hydroponic Gardening News

Jonathon Scott (left) and Clive Baker at the
hydroponics conference at the Epcot Centre

The teacher and student from the Brac High School get
new ideas for their Agriculture Club

The Epcot exhibit demonstrates the potential of
hydroponics

Friday, February 3, 2006

The innovative Agriculture Club at the Cayman Brac High School (CBHS), which has its own hydroponics systems of growing produce, received an injection of new ideas last November after a contingent from the school attended a two-day conference at the Epcot Centre in Florida.

A permanent exhibit at Epcot demonstrates this space-saving agricultural approach that allows crops to be grown in areas where they can’t be grown by traditional methods, and explores three different methods of hydroponic gardening.

The first uses plastic bags filled with rock wool, a material similar to perlite, which holds the roots of the plants steady while they grow.

In the second method, small seedlings are placed in a Styrofoam “raft” that floats on the surface of a tank of nutrient-enriched water. The third technique is called “aeroponics” because airborne plants receive a spray of nutrient-laden water every few minutes.

In addition to visiting the exhibition, CBHS Head of Science Clive Baker and fifteen-year-old student Jonathon Scott, an enthusiastic member of the school club, attended a series of lectures on methods of hydroponics.

“All the lectures were relevant and valuable. For example, there was one on the use of rock wool, which is basically very similar to insulation in roof blocks, as a growth medium,” said Mr Baker.

Another alternative they learned of is coconut coir matting, which is the fibre-like material from the coconut tree trunks. However, Mr Baker thought that the most interesting talk was given by Dr Howard Resh, a pioneer in hydroponic work.

Dr Resh is now in semi retirement in Anguilla, where he has set up a hydroponics farm that produces all the fresh produce for a high end hotel owned by the Quisinard Company.

The produce is grown within the hotel complex and has become part of its attraction, said Mr Baker, who pointed out that this venture in Anguilla is directly applicable to the Cayman Islands.

“There is real potential to develop expertise to provide high quality fresh produce for our high end hotels,” he thought.

Dr Resh, who talked to the Cayman Brac visitors at some length, uses all the main methods of hydroponic production: the raft method for growing lettuce and other leaf crops, drip irrigation and vertical stacking, which drastically reduces required space.

This is all done in a hurricane resistant greenhouse and, having the entire production in an enclosed environment enables Dr Resh to control pests and the micro-climate.

“We are hostages to fortune here,” said Mr Baker.

“We can’t even approach feeding the population with what is produced on these Islands. With the dependency on the US for supplies, all it takes is for a hurricane in Florida and we’re in trouble.”

The Cayman Islands need to have some cushion against disasters happening in the States, and Mr Baker believes that hydroponics is one answer.

“It’s also a quality issue. We are not able to produce, hydroponically or otherwise, fresh vegetables that can compete with the prices from the US, where agriculture is heavily subsidized.

“The basis for production has got to be quality. We can’t produce cheaper, so it’s got to be better. By using hydroponics, we can grow crops that taste infinitely better that those picked green and ripened on the way,” he observed.

“There is purchasing power in the Cayman Islands. People will pay more if they think the quality is better,” he noted, using fresh herbs as an example of produce that is very easy to grow and in demand by chefs at restaurants and hotels.

“This is a sustainable approach to agriculture. In times of economic hardship, we have a backbone of industrious people who can turn their hand to anything. It’s important to take that mindset into modern society. Hydroponics can be a backyard industry,” he added.

“The Department of Agriculture (DoA) has been very supportive of every new venture of the Agriculture Club. Their efforts after Hurricane Ivan was phenomenal,” said Mr Baker.

The DoA also supports the club in raising awareness of the possibilities. The experts on their staff, notably Alexander Benn with regards to hydroponics, are always available to answer questions and offer practical advice, he said.

“They will also visit prospective growers and discuss plans. If anyone is interested we welcome any enquiries and will show anyone our project – to show that Hi-Tech doesn’t mean Hi- Cost,” he noted.

All their materials are purchased at the local stores, apart from the fertilizers, which are purchased through the DoA, he noted.

As well as methods of growing plants, the club has also incorporated solar power to run the pumps, which brings down the ongoing costs. After the investment of small solar panels, the power is effectively free.

While they were in Florida, Mr Baker and Jonathon visited a strawberry producer in a small town called Bradenton, who was growing 5 acres of strawberries in one acre using the stacking method.

This has inspired them to try growing fresh strawberries themselves at the CBHS. The grower was using a lot of sustainable technology to the whole approach in order to keep the costs down, and doing so in a climate similar to our own, Mr Baker pointed out.

“It was fascinating. It really held a mirror up to the potential for agriculture entrepreneurship here. We came away with lots of ideas, which we have shared with the PTA and students,” he enthused.

Mr Baker said they learned of lots of different methods of hydroponics such as the simple and effective raft system.

“We are now avidly awaiting the rock wool and perlite and vermiculite to begin our experiments,” he added.

In the near future, Mr Baker intends to hold a workshop for members of the public on Cayman Brac on how to build and run a small backyard hydroponics system.

Every year, the science department of the school hopes that some of the students take what they have learned at the club and develop a hydroponics system at home.

Jonathon told Net News that he intends to do so, and another student, Rusty Walton, and his family have enthusiastically adopted both the hydroponics and aquaculture to develop both systems commercially.

“We are planting the seeds of knowledge,” said Mr Baker.

One of the five rooms used to grow the cannabis

FROM the outside it looks like a normal suburban detached house. But inside police found it had been converted into a cannabis factory with more than 700 plants crammed into the rooms - one of the biggest drug-growing operations ever discovered in Herts.

The house at the bottom of Oakridge, a quiet cul-de-sac in Bricket Wood, was a highly organised "hydroponics factory" cultivating the plants. It is estimated that the operation could have been making more than £30,000 a month.

When police raided the house at 10.30am today (Wednesday) they found five of the rooms were full of the plants. Each room was devoted to plants at different stages of development and were fitted with special lights and fans to create optimum growing conditions for the crop.

Sergeant Lynda Coates said: "This is a very big find especially for this area."

The cannabis house in Bricket Wood

The police were tipped off by bailiffs and have arrested one person. People living near-by were startled to find the area crawling with police and had their electricity cut while officers assessed the situation.

* A 39-year-old Vietnamese man is due to appear in court today (Friday) in connection with the cannabis farm.

YOUNG: The Mars rover Spirit recently reached a spot scientists hope will give clues into the planet's past, including whether water laid down it's layers of rock. Some at NASA hope a human mission to Mars will follow the rover's success. And a few scientists are already planning for ways to feed those explorers.

Tony Ganzer of member station KJZZ in Phoenix reports on breakthroughs that could provide fresh greens on the red planet.

[MISSION TO MARS TRAILER]

GANZER: The movie "Mission to Mars" was not a box office-breaker when it was released in 2000. But some of the film's concepts really jived with the interests of University of Arizona professor Gene Giacomelli.

In the movie, a team of scientists creates a greenhouse that provides everything you would need to survive in space. Plants provide oxygen, reuse carbon dioxide, reuse wastewater, and offer fresh foods for a weary space team.

Giacomelli's hopes are to build a self-sustaining greenhouse...on Mars.

GIACOMELLI: The thing about that movie is that it may have awoken a lot of people about the potential of what could be done. But the concept of recycling has been around for a long time, of course.

Professor Gene Giacomelli shows off the fruits of his labor from inside the tubule: tomatoes. (Photo: Dennis Lambert)

GANZER: Giacomelli specializes in a science called hydroponics. Hydroponics utilizes a system of plastic tubing to inject water right to a plant's root structure, and then allows unused water to be recycled. Giacomelli uses hydroponics and high-intensity light to create a closed and controlled environment inside a massive white greenhouse-tent, locked away inside a barn.

[WATER IN MARS ROOM]

GANZER: The greenhouse looks like it should be on Mars. The tent's white outer fabric glows with ultra-bright light. Tomato and potato plants hang from the ceiling, held in place by a piece of string. But there is no soil here. This is another benefit of the hydroponic science. Because the plastic tubing system gives the plants exactly what they need, soil isn't needed. Instead, Giacomelli uses two alternatives. For tomato plants he uses a neutral substance to simply hold the roots in place. This substance could be either the outer substance of a coconut shell, or anything else inert. For potatoes, he uses a small pouch that the potatoes will grow right into.

GIACOMELLI: The plants know what to do. You give them a sufficient amount of light energy and they take it away. I don't want to make it sound like it's trivial. What you're seeing here with these artificial lights is a very unique one, and this is a design of Phil Sadler, which uses a water jacket with cooling water that surrounds the bulb.

GANZER: The water-encased light bulb was a breakthrough for the Sadler-Giacomelli team. It allowed thousands of watts to rest only inches from the tops of plants, without scorching the fragile foliage. The bulbs look almost like a fluorescent light. They are visually brilliant and encased by plastic, and have allowed the greenhouse to remain relatively small, self-contained and portable.

Phil Sadler is an Arizona machinist who builds all the parts for the artificial greenhouses. His work pioneered the efforts to bring fresh produce to Antarctic communities.

SADLER: After I graduated from college, I went to Antarctica and worked as a heavy equipment operator there. And the winter-over people were complaining, they're isolated, there's no planes in or out for half the year, they started complaining about "no freshies," so I organized a volunteer crew and built a greenhouse at McMurto, and later another one at South Pole station.

GANZER: Sadler and Giacomelli teamed up and won the bid to build a new station at the South Pole. But it didn't take long for thoughts to drift to NASA...and to
Mars. Professor Giacomelli says his system would allow space travelers to grow their own food, instead of having to bring it along on a voyage, making them much more self-sufficient.

GIACOMELLI: NASA has the interest to get off the Earth and produce food for people, and that's what we're trying to do, both on the Earth and off the Earth, using controlled environments and using hydroponics. So, they know who we are, we talk to them as much as we can, we make friends.

GANZER: NASA tapped Giacomelli and Sadler earlier this month to create the system for Mars growing. So far they've received $30,000 for production of the water-encased light bulb, and have signed a multi-year contract for further research. So it's looking up from here...

GANZER: For Living on Earth, I'm Tony Ganzer.

SOUTHWEST MIAMI-DADE The smell from a hydroponics lab being run out of a tractor-trailer in Southwest Miami-Dade was so potent detectives say they could smell it from the street before going in to bust the operation.

Brian Andrews was the only reporter to be there as Miami-Dade Police officers went inside of the trailer located at SW 212 Avenue and 162 Street. Detectives got their search warrant to go inside after receiving a tip that pot was being grown inside.

Police have not made any arrests but say evidence inside should lead them to make several arrests in the case.

Inside, they found evidence of 46 plants that had just been harvested, netting $100,000. They also found three fully grown plants and 60 baby plants.

This was the second major marijuana bust of the day. Earlier, police raided a home just 10 blocks away from this site where they found two underground tunnels loaded with marijuana plants and hydroponics equipment.

Daniel Lastra

VANCOUVER -- City council in Chilliwack, B.C., has suspended plans to enact a controversial bylaw that would require customers of hydroponic stores to provide photo ID and personal information that would be entered into an RCMP database.

Mayor Clint Hames confirmed that the city will wait for a report from provincial Privacy Commissioner David Loukidelis before it decides what to do with the bylaw.

Mr. Loukidelis said yesterday that he was pleased the municipality has responded to concerns about the bylaw. His report, which is scheduled to be released within a month, will examine the privacy implications of a growing number of bylaws enacted by B.C. municipalities that require certain businesses to obtain personal information from their customers.

"I am pleased that city council in Chilliwack has decided to give this bylaw some sober second thought," said Jason Gratl, president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, one of a number of groups that voiced concerns about the proposed bylaw.

Mr. Hames said he welcomed Mr. Loukidelis's review, pledging that -- if necessary -- the bylaw will be amended to comply with provincial privacy legislation. But he expressed some skepticism about what he called the hydroponics industry's "passion for privacy."

He estimated the Chilliwack area has about 1,000 marijuana grow operations, and suggested that local businesses must be providing the supplies for many of them.

"If the hydroponics industry wants to be clean, why are they not working with the city to make sure their products are not being used improperly?" Mr. Hames asked.

New South Wales will introduce Australia's first laws to distinguish between hydroponically-grown and outdoor cultivated cannabis, toughening penalties for growing the indoor crops.



Announcing the new laws, NSW Premier Morris Iemma said hydroponically-grown cannabis is up to seven times more potent than marijuana grown outside using less sophisticated techniques.

Iemma said the legislation, to be introduced when parliament resumes on February 28, will help crack down on criminal syndicates growing the drug and could reduce the incidence of mental illness among people smoking it.

Under the proposals, the penalty for growing the traditional "bush" cannabis will remain the same, while the penalty will increase significantly for the cultivation of more than 50 plants grown hydroponically.

For growing 200 or more hydroponic plants, sentencing provisions will double from a maximum 10 years to 20 years' jail.

Growing 50 to 199 hydroponic plants will attract a maximum 15-year prison sentence and/or $385,000 fine, while a crop of 200 or more will constitute a large commercial quantity, qualifying for the maximum 20-year jail penalty and/or $550,000 fine.

Both categories are currently covered by provision for a maximum 10 year sentence and/or $220,000 fine, while 1,000 cannabis plants is considered a large commercial quantity.

The legislation creates new offences for cultivation only and does not impact on current possession laws.

Iemma said hydroponic crops grew faster and yielded about five times more than conventional plants.

He also claimed their cultivation was predominantly the domain of organised crime.

"The research and evidence is that there is a direct link between the potent form of cannabis, hydroponically-grown cannabis, to the development of severe mental illnesses," Iemma told reporters.

The Minister for Mental Health Issues, Cherie Burton, said one smoke of the hydroponic cannabis could bring on a mental illness.

But those claims were rejected by Sydney drug expert Paul Dillon, of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Council, who said the perception indoor-grown cannabis was a "super weed" was largely a myth.

Dillon says the evidence suggests cannabis today is only about 4% stronger than 30 years ago.

"What we do know is that the cannabis that is grown in controlled environments appears to have much more flowering head content which is the stronger part of the plant," he said.

"It's not like all of a sudden the plant has got a lot stronger."

National Association of Practising Psychiatrists vice-president Jean Lennane said while it was well known that marijuana could cause mental illness, it was unclear if there was a difference between hydroponic and conventional cannabis.

"But I believe the differences showing up in users are more likely to be related to convenience and accessibility ... the fact that people are growing more of it and using it more often," she said.

But she claimed Iemma was using hydroponic cannabis as a scapegoat for the "catastrophic" state of mental health services in NSW.

"After cutting services for the past 10 years, the government is now trying to blame the victim rather than the catastrophic state of mental health services," Lennane said.

Under the new laws, houses where hydroponic cannabis is grown will be subject to the same search and warrant powers as amphetamine and heroin dens.

There will also be a range of penalties for people who expose children to the drug and its cultivation.

Penalties for electricity theft will double to $11,000 and/or two years in jail.

NSW opposition leader Peter Debnam said he supported the government's plan to tighten its "lax" cannabis laws.

MIAMI -- Three men were arrested Thursday for allegedly turning a Miami home into a lab used to grow marijuana.



Leonardo Guevarro, 29, his father Luis Guevarro, 54, and Navis Meulener, 27, are all behind bars after police said they recovered 30 marijuana plants being grown out of a hydroponics lab inside their home on Northwest 21st Court.

"What makes this grow house so interesting is the way they've set it up and how elaborate it is, with chemicals and they've drilled many little tunnels," Miami Police Lt. Joe Schiallaci said.

Police said at least one of the men was out on bond for allegedly prostituting a 16-year-old girl.

"Ooooh," the youngsters gasped.

"Watermelons? Grown in water?" several asked.

That's right, said Rich Kolceski, owner of Hydroponic Shops of America on Erie Boulevard East in DeWitt. "I've got sunflowers growing in water in my store. Anything you can grow in the ground, you can grow in water."

"Sunflowers? Wow," one pupil said.

Kolceski recently talked to nearly 50 sixth-graders in the classes of Mary Jo Hoeft and Rosemarie Murray at Driver Middle School in Marcellus about the science of hydroponics, which is growing plants in nutrient-rich water.

Before long, he had them planting zinnias, peppers, lavender and sunflowers in what will become a hydroponic garden.

Hoeft said the science project not only encompasses the fun and excitement of planting and watching things grow, but also includes research into which plants grow better in water and which grow better in soil.

"I have friends at another

store who have a tomato plant that grew up to the ceiling. They tied it there and then it grew back down to the floor," Kolceski said.

"Oh, that's awesome!" the children shouted.

"And you guys can do the same thing," Kolceski said.

The planting process was simple.

On Jan. 25, Kolceski brought in all the materials the youngsters need, including a black plastic container, measuring about 24 inches by 12 inches, with 72 square spaces in it. The bottom of each square space has a little hole for drainage.

Youngsters put a Rapid Rooter, composted tree bark that makes roots grow fast, into each space.

"It looks like a Ho Ho, but don't eat it," Kolceski tells them.

The pupils put a seed into each Rapid Rooter. Then the tray with the Rapid Rooters is placed into another tray that has some water at the bottom. A plastic dome is put on top to create a greenhouse effect.

"In six to eight days, you will see roots. Then you will put the plants into the hydroponic garden," Kolceski said.

The garden is a tray of water with a green fluid full of nutrients added into it. The nutrients in the fluid - potassium, nitrogen and phosphorus - help the plants grow.

The rooted plants are placed in the water. Small clay pellets are placed around the plants to support them as they grow.

An aerator is attached that pumps air into the water.

Kolceski said they should have peppers and sunflowers in a couple of months. He warned the zinnias are more difficult to grow.

The sunflowers sprouted about 3 inches in just eight days, Hoeft said.

The zinnias and peppers are just beginning to poke through the Rapid Rooters.

The sixth-graders studied a lot about plants leading up to their hydroponics project.

While being quizzed by Kolceski, the pupils showed off their knowledge of what plants need to grow (food, air, light, the right temperature and support) and the advantages to growing in water (no diseases, pests, animal attacks or weeds).

They also have some grand plans for what they would like to plant in their hydroponic garden.

"I'd like to grow a watermelon," said Gordon Mason, 11.

"I'd like to grow strawberries. At least I'm going to try," said Christina Guindy, 12.

"I like this," said Robert Coon, 11, about the project. "You can grow inside away from the frost and the acid rain."

"And if you can grow with water, you might be able to solve world hunger," Christina added. "Like when (Hurricane) Katrina hit, they could grow food there."

- 800 Television Stations and 70 Million Viewers -

CALIMESA, Calif., Feb. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ingen Technologies, Inc. (OTC: IGTG - News), a medical device manufacturer of OxyAlert(TM), OxyView(TM), and Secure Balance(TM), announces that the company has signed a contract with Max World News to film and develop a news story about the Secure Balance(TM) products for over 800 television stations worldwide.

"Rosalind Sedacca, Senior Television News Reporter for Max World News had contacted us after she had learned about our Secure Balance(TM) products and how they have helped thousands of people with balance problems," said Chris Wirth, Director of Ingen Technologies.

The Boynton Beach, Florida based MAX World News is a world-leading newsgathering and delivery service and is recognized as the "one-source" for news delivery. When it comes to producing compelling news stories, their award winning, nationwide network of seasoned television professionals create the impact to get the job done. Max World News has aired stories on every major television network in the United States including, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, CNN and CNBC among others and have been seen in over 210 countries around the world, and has personal relationships with health, technology, and consumer interest editors, producers and reporters at every major network in the United States. MAX World News communicates directly with stations to effectively cover breaking news and plan newscasts around observances, seasonal topics and current events.

"This is a very important part of our consumer awareness program. With the "Today's Health" news story about our company being produced next quarter to over 70 million viewers, hospitals and medical professionals; in combination with an unexpected news report being developed by Max World News; our company and the viewers stand to benefit a great deal. Our Secure Balance program can help millions of suffering people, and save billions of dollars spent each year from our Health & Welfare Federal Budget," said Scott Sand, Chairman & CEO of Ingen Technologies.

About Ingen Technologies, Inc.

Ingen Technologies, Inc. is a public company trading under NASDAQ OTC: IGTG, which has been in business since 1999. IGTG is a medical device manufacturer and a growth-oriented company that owns US patent(s), trademarks, and proprietary medical products.

The Company's flagship product is OxyAlert(TM), a second-generation design of the Company's BAFI(TM) product line. Both of these products have been issued two US Patents: Patent No. 6,137,417 issued on October 24, 2000 and Patent No. 6,326,896 issued on December 4, 2001. Both of these products are low-oxygen safety warning devices used on remote oxygen cylinders for patients, commercial aircraft, military transport, and fire and safety equipment. OxyAlert(TM) technology encompasses the use of digital sensing and RF frequency transfer so that care givers can access a hand-held remote to monitor the actual oxygen level of any oxygen cylinder at a reasonable distance.

The newest product, OxyView(TM), has a patent pending, and is a pneumatic gauge that provides visual safety warning of oxygen flow for patients in the hospital, surgical room, outpatient therapy, nursing homes and emergency response facilities. This product enhances the safety, assurance and accuracy of patients being administered oxygen from any source. OxyView(TM) is a lightweight pneumatic gauge that is attached to the oxygen tubing just below the neck. It informs the nursing staff of the oxygen flow rate near the patient. It could quickly inform the physician or technician of any leak or inaccuracy between the delivery source and the patient.

The Secure Balance(TM) product is a private-label product that includes a vestibular function testing system and balance therapy system. The vestibular function testing system is manufactured by Interacoustics LTD. in Denmark and is referred to as the VNG. The balance therapy system is manufactured by SportKAT®, Inc. in San Diego, California. The Secure Balance(TM) program provides equipment, education and training about balance and fall prevention to physicians and clinicians worldwide.

The Pure Produce(TM) product is a continuing research & development program currently under design. This program uses hydroponics technology to grow various plants without the use of soil, fertilizer and water consumption. The Company anticipates entering the nutriceutical and pharmaceutical markets over the next two years.

"Our team of professionals has developed our medical products for the ever-increasing elderly population. Our products are superior to any of our competition and they allow for effective medical product availability to seniors, and at the same time the increasing senior population allows for a steady growth in sales and profits," said Scott Sand, CEO & Chairman of Ingen Technologies.

Thursday February 2, 7:15 am ET

Repository Michael S. Balash A CLEAR VISION William Powell is founder and owner of the historic Clearview Golf Club in Osnaburg Township, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2006. With Powell is his daughter, Renee, a former LPGA tour player.

OSNABURG TWP. - In the story of Clearview Golf Club, golf is incidental. It’s actually the story of a man’s success against inestimable odds, and his family’s determination to maintain his legacy.

The nation’s first golf course to be built and owned by a black man, William Powell, is celebrating its 60th anniversary. It begins Feb. 25 with Celebrities Salute Clearview, a reception, dinner and auction at the Foltz Community Center at 224 N. Wood St. in East Canton.

“We have so many things going on,” said Powell’s daughter, Renee, a former LPGA tour player and Clearview’s resident pro golfer. “Our theme is ‘60 Years with a Clear View of the Future.’ ”

Her brother, Lawrence, said the family has maintained Clearview for 60 years through “perseverance, making good decisions, and innovation.”

As Clearview’s course superintendent, Lawrence Powell has consulted with NASA regarding hydroponics technology, synthetic soils and “zeponics,” a space-age fertilization technique to improve its putting greens.

“It’s also about the willingness of our family,” he said. “Our family has worked extremely long and hard hours and made a lot of sacrifices.”

BREAKING BARRIERS

William Powell’s love affair with golf began at age 9. Powell became captain of the Minerva High School golf team, learning everything there was to know about the sport, golf-course design and even making clubs.

“Back then, a black captain of an all-white team in a little town like that, was something,” he said.

The courses Powell played as a high-school golfer refused to let him play as an adult.

“The only places you (blacks) could play was Edgewater and the Elms,” he said.

After serving in World War II, Powell was refused a G.I. Loan to build a course. Banks in Canton also turned him down. Powell said it was a white man who advised him to keep his plans for a golf course under his hat.

“A person today doesn’t have clue,” he said. “You had to do it, more or less, in secrecy.”

In 1946, Powell and two black physicians who had been taking golf lessons purchased a 78-acre dairy farm at 8410 Lincoln St. SE. Powell worked a full-time night job and built Clearview during the day.

“I knew how to do it because I had initiative,” he said. “I just went ahead. Thinking back, I would never attempt anything like that, now.”

PROGRESS

Though blacks could not join the PGA until 1961, Powell has become a much-lauded legend of the sport. Clearview is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The course also bears an Ohio Historical Society marker.

“Golf is trying to do better,” Renee Powell said. “There’s been a lot of discrimination and racism in the sport, but all sports have had barriers to fight. Golf is sort of the last sport to change, partly because it’s a social sport.”

“It’s always been looked at as an elite sport,” William Powell said. “Parents have to be supportive. When you send your child to the park for nothing (free) why would you pay for it? The only reason Tiger Woods and Renee have succeeded is because of parental support.”

Thursday, February 2, 2006 BY CHARITA M. GOSHAY REPOSITORY STAFF WRITER

Police officers on patrol in Yeovil discovered a suspected cannabis factory on fire.

The Yeovil beat team were on patrol in the Mudford road area at about 11.30am yesterday (January 31) when they noticed a property on fire.

They called the fire brigade who while dealing with the blaze found around 500 suspected cannabis plants and hydroponics equipment.



A woman has been arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis and supplying drugs.

The cause of the blaze is believed to be an electrical fault.